Today, my newest article in the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research was published. Titled “The Seduction of Journalism in Atlanta: William Randolph Hearst and the Atlanta Georgian,” the article looks at the media mogul’s ownership of the forgotten daily Atlanta newspaper. While Hearst officially bought the paper in 1912, I argue he was involved as early as 1906. This article was sponsored by Dr. David Bennett of Kennesaw State University, who was an invaluable help in preparing this submission.
The full abstract is below:
The Atlanta Georgian was founded in 1906, quickly becoming a rival of the already established Atlanta Constitution and Atlanta Journal. Its founding editor, John Temple Graves, was a devoted believer of the New South Movement and a prominent ally of newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. In 1912, Hearst purchased the Georgian, expanding his influence into the South. The Georgian was a small piece of his grander plan to become President of the United States, and he quickly turned it into Atlanta’s most discussed newspaper. However, since the first edition of the Georgian was published in 1906, Hearst’s presence can be felt, implying he may have been more closely connected to the paper earlier than previously thought. This paper examines Hearst’s connections to the paper years before his official acquisition and his relationship with its editor, John Temple Graves.
I am honored to say it received this year’s Undergraduate Research Award. My previous article, on Vice President Thomas R. Marshall, was the runner-up in 2024.
The full paper can be found here: https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/kjur/vol12/iss2/4/
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Andrew J. Bramlett 