听力文本

Welcome to the VOA Special English program PEOPLE IN AMERICA. Today, Steve Ember and Rich Kleinfeldt tell about American publisher William Randolph Hearst.

Mister Hearst created what was once the nation's largest newspaper organization. He bought newspapers in many areas of the United States. He spent millions of dollars to gain readers in sometimes shocking ways. He forever changed the American newspaper business.

William Randolph Hearst was born in San Francisco in eighteen sixty-three. He was the only child of George Hearst and Phoebe Apperson Hearst. His father became rich by developing mines. His mother was a philanthropist who gave her time and money to help others. William Randolph Hearst had everything he wanted as a child. But, he was a rebel. In eighteen eighty-five, he was expelled from Harvard, one of the best universities in America, for playing a joke on a professor. George Hearst wanted his son to take control of developing the mines or the land he owned. But William had other desires.

He became interested in newspapers while at Harvard. He started working as a reporter for the New York World newspaper owned by Joseph Pulitzer. George Hearst owned the San Francisco Examiner newspaper. But he was more interested in politics than in newspaper publishing. In eighteen eighty-seven, George Hearst became a United States senator. He gave control of the newspaper to his son William who was twenty-three. William Randolph Hearst wanted to create a newspaper that people would talk about. He worked long hours and put high energy into his newspaper. He employed some of the best reporters and writers he could find. And, he paid them the highest wages. Mister Hearst improved the appearance of his newspaper and bought modern equipment. He also improved relations with advertisers. Advertisers pay to have their products shown in newspapers to increase sales. Newspapers profit from the money paid by advertisers.

News stories in the San Francisco Examiner were written with force, energy and excitement. Some stories were written to shock readers and affect them emotionally. However, the stories were simple and easy to read. Mister Hearst believed in doing whatever it took to get readers. His newspaper policy was: make the news complete; print all the news; shorten it if necessary, but get it in. That became the policy in newsrooms across America. By eighteen ninety-one, the San Francisco Examiner had three times more readers and advertisers than when Mister Hearst took control of the newspaper. In less than five years, William Randolph Hearst made the new San Francisco Examiner a huge success.

Mister Hearst repeated his success in New York City. He borrowed five million dollars from his mother to purchase a second newspaper, the New York Journal. In his first two months, he increased the number of copies sold from thirty thousand to one hundred thousand. Joseph Pulitzer was a very successful publisher in New York. Mister Hearst shared Mister Pulitzer's excitement and energy about the newspaper business. During the eighteen nineties, Mister Hearst and Mister Pulitzer began a fierce newspaper war. Mister Hearst hired many reporters from Mister Pulitzer's New York World newspaper. He paid them more than two times as much as they had been earning. He also reduced the price of his newspaper below Mister Pulitzer's. Mister Hearst won readers by making the news more exciting and entertaining.

He created a kind of newspaper reporting known today as "yellow journalism." News events were made to seem greater than they really were. His methods went beyond what would be accepted today in major newspapers. Critics said his newspapers were only for entertainment. Yet many other newspapers tried to copy his methods.

Mister Hearst attacked big businesses and dishonest politicians in his newspapers. There were also reports about sex, murder and other crimes. His newspapers became a voice for working people and the poor. His influence grew across the nation through his newspapers and the magazines he bought or began. Many experts say Mister Hearst's reporting methods and his battle with Mister Pulitzer for readers led to the Spanish-American War.

In eighteen ninety-eight, the United States fought Spain to help the people of Cuba gain independence from Spain. Mister Hearst's newspapers had accused Spain of sinking the American battleship Maine and killing two hundred fifty sailors. This increased public support for the war. However, it still is not known how the ship sank. The war greatly increased readers for the Hearst publications. Mister Hearst's battle with competitors widened after the war. Some newspapers blamed him when President William McKinley was murdered in nineteen-o-one. The assassination happened after one of the Hearst newspapers seemed to suggest killing Mister McKinley.

In the early nineteen hundreds, William Randolph Hearst became deeply involved in politics. He represented New York in the United States House of Representatives from nineteen-o-three to nineteen-o-seven. In nineteen-o-four, he unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for president. He also failed in his campaigns to become governor of New York or mayor of New York City. Mister Hearst had hoped to change the way things were being done in New York City. He hoped to defeat dishonest New York City politicians who controlled the city at the time. Mister Hearst also campaigned against big business. He supported labor unions and government ownership of public utilities, railroads, and other big companies. And, he sought political reform and the return of economic competition in the country. Mister Hearst's opponents accused him of being disloyal to his country because of his support for Germany during the first years of World War One. He was opposed to American involvement in the war. Mister Hearst was sharply criticized for his political ideas. Many people refused to deal with him. Some hated him. His newspapers were banned in many communities.

Mister Hearst strongly supported Democrat Franklin Roosevelt for president in nineteen thirty-two.

Then he became increasingly conservative and turned against President Roosevelt. He opposed American involvement in World War Two. He also led a fierce campaign against communism during the nineteen thirties. Through the years, Mister Hearst continued to buy newspapers and magazines across the country and around the world. He also controlled a number of radio and television stations and a movie company.

William Randolph Hearst and his wife Millicent were married in nineteen-o-three. They had five sons. She remained married to him until her death. However, Mister Hearst spent almost thirty years of his life with Hollywood actress Marion Davies in San Simeon, California. They met in nineteen seventeen and later lived together at San Simeon. He started a movie company to produce movies for her. Their relationship shocked the nation. Mister Hearst spent thirty years and thirty million dollars to build a huge home at San Simeon. It has one hundred sixty-five rooms. Mister Hearst and Marion Davies entertained many famous people there. He continually bought costly art objects to fill it. By nineteen thirty-seven, Mister Hearst's heavy spending threatened to ruin his publishing organization. He was forced to sell much of his property and many art objects. The economic recovery after World War Two saved what was left of his media organization. When William Randolph Hearst died in nineteen fifty-one, he still owned what was then the largest newspaper company in America.

Today, the Hearst Corporation includes more than one hundred thirty separate businesses. They include newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations and business media companies. The communications business William Randolph Hearst began continues to influence and inform people around the world.

重点解析

1.philanthropist 慈善家

But Lissoos is an entrepreneur, not just a philanthropist.
但利索斯是企业家，而不只是慈善家。

2.expel from 驱逐；开除

Two attache at the embassy is expel from the country.
大使馆的两名随员已驱逐出境。

3.take control of 掌管；控制

We, each of us, can take control of the world.
我们，我们每一个人，都能够控制这个世界。

4.fierce 激烈的

Consumers have a wide array of choices and price competition is fierce.
消费者的选择面很广，价格竞争也很激烈。

5.Many experts say Mister Hearst's reporting methods and his battle with Mister Pulitzer for readers led to the Spanish-American War.

lead to 导致

Heart failure led to her father's death.
心力衰竭导致她父亲的死亡。

6.In eighteen ninety-eight, the United States fought Spain to help the people of Cuba gain independence from Spain.

gain independence 获取独立

These Jewish patriots wanted to gain independence from the Romans at all costs.
这些犹太教的拥护者想要不惜一切的代价从罗马的统治下独立出来。

参考译文

欢迎来到VOA慢速英语栏目《美国人物志》。今天史蒂夫·恩伯和里奇·克莱因菲尔德将为大家讲述美国出版商威廉·蓝道夫·赫斯特的故事。

赫斯特先生曾一度创建了美国最大的报业集团。他曾在美国许多地方购买过报纸，他花费数百万美元争取读者，有时甚至是以一种令人震惊的方式。他永远地改变了美国的报刊业。

威廉·蓝道夫·赫斯特于1863年出生于旧金山。他是乔治·赫斯特和菲比·阿珀森·赫斯特唯一的孩子。他的父亲通过开发矿业致富。他的母亲是一名慈善家，她将自己的时间和金钱都用于帮助他人。童年的威廉·蓝道夫·赫斯特拥有一切他所想要的。但他却是一名反叛者。1885年，因开教授的玩笑，他被美国著名学府之一哈佛大学开除。乔治·赫斯特希望他的儿子能够接管矿业或是拥有一片属于自己的土地。但是威廉却有着其他的愿望。在哈佛读书期间，他对报纸产生了兴趣。他成为了一名记者并开始为《纽约世界报》工作，《纽约世界报》的所有者是约瑟夫·普利策。
乔治·赫斯特是《旧金山纪事报》的所有者。但比起报纸出版，他对政治更感兴趣。1887年，乔治·赫斯特成为了一名美国议员。他将报社交给了当时只有23岁的儿子威廉。威廉·蓝道夫·赫斯特希望创办一种人人都会谈论的报纸。他长时间地工作并将高度精力都放在了他的报纸上。他尽可能地雇佣了一些最好的记者和作家，并给他们高额薪资。赫斯特先生改进了报纸的版面并购入了现代设备，还改善了和广告商之间的关系。广告商们出钱在报纸上刊登他们的产品以增加销量。报社的利润则来自于广告商们支付的钱。《旧金山纪事报》上刊登的新闻故事既强劲有力又很刺激。一些故事是为了震惊读者并在情感上影响他们。而这样的故事也简单易懂。赫斯特先生相信为了争取读者应尽全力。他的办刊方针是：报道完整的新闻，刊登所有的新闻；如有必要则有所精简，但要切中要害。这也成为了全美新闻编辑行业的方针。1891年，《旧金山纪事报》的读者和广告商比赫斯特先生刚接管报社时增加了三倍。在不到五年的时间里，威廉·蓝道夫·赫斯特就带领《旧金山纪事报》取得了巨大的成功。

赫斯特先生在纽约市取得了同样的成功。他从母亲那借了五百万美元用于购买第二家报社—《纽约杂志》。在头两个月里，他将《纽约杂志》的销量从三万增至十万。当时约瑟夫·普利策是纽约的一名非常成功的出版商。赫斯特先生和普利策先生对报刊业有着相同的兴奋和精力。在1890年代，赫斯特先生和普利策先生之间爆发了一场激烈的报纸之战。赫斯特先生雇佣了许多来自普利策先生《纽约世界报》的记者。他向这些记者们支付高额薪酬，这是他们之前薪酬两倍多。他还降价自己的报纸，使其比《纽约世界报》更加便宜。赫斯特先生通过刊登更加刺激有趣的新闻争取到了更多的读者。
他还开创了一种现在被称为“黄色新闻”的报纸新闻报道，让新闻事件看上去比现实更加精彩。他的这些方法远远超出了现在主流报纸所能接受的范围。评论家认为他的报纸仅仅是为了娱乐而已。但是有很多其他报业试图模仿他的方法。赫斯特先生在他的报纸中攻击大财阀和不诚实的政治家，也报道关于色情、谋杀和其他犯罪之类的新闻。他的报纸为劳作人口和穷人发声。通过购买和开创报社和杂志社，他的影响遍及整个国家。

许多专家表示赫斯特先生的报道方法以及他与普利策先生之间的读者争夺战导致了美西战争。1898年，美国为了帮助古巴人民争取独立向西班牙开战。赫斯特先生报纸控诉西班牙炸沉美国缅因号军舰并杀害了船上250名水手。这使得更多公众支持这场战争。但是，这艘军舰的下沉之谜至今仍未解开。这场战争大大增加了赫斯特出版刊物的读者。战后，赫斯特先生与其竞争者间的战争升级。1901年威廉·麦金莱总统被谋杀，一些报纸对他进行抨击。赫斯特报纸之一似乎暗示要杀死麦金莱先生，随后就发生了暗杀事件。

1900年代早期，威廉·蓝道夫·赫斯特深陷政治博弈之中。自1903年到1907年，他在美国众议院中代表纽约。1904年，他在谋求民主党总统提名时落选。他在纽约州长以及纽约市市长选举中失败。赫斯特先生曾希望改变纽约市的办事方式。他希望击败当时掌控纽约的那些不诚实的政治家。赫斯特先生还开展了反对大财阀的运动。他支持工会以及公共设施、铁路和其他大型公司的国有化。他还寻求国家政治改革并恢复经济竞争。赫斯特先生的对手指控他对自己的国家不忠诚，因为他在第一次世界大战的头年中支持德国。他反对美国加入这场战争。赫斯特先生因其政治观点而遭到了尖锐的批判。许多人拒绝和他做生意。一些人厌恶他。他的报纸在许多社会群体中被禁。1932年，赫斯特先生极力支持民主党人富兰克林·罗斯福当总统。此后他变得越来越保守并转而反对罗斯福总统。他反对美国加入二战。1930年代，他还领导了一次激烈的反共产主义运动。这些年来，赫斯特先生一直在购买美国和世界各地的报纸和杂志。他还掌管了几家广播和电视电视台以及一家电影公司。

威廉·蓝道夫·赫斯特和她的妻子米利森特在1903年结婚并有五个儿子。他们的婚姻一直延续，直至她去世。但在三十多年里，赫斯特先生一直都和好莱坞女演员玛丽恩·戴维斯生活在加利福尼亚的圣西蒙。他们相遇于1917年，随后在圣西蒙同居。他创立了一家电影公司为她拍摄电影。他们的关系震惊了美国。赫斯特先生花了三十年时间，斥资三千万美元在圣西蒙建了一幢大房子，房内有165个房间。赫斯特先生和玛丽恩·戴维斯在那里招待了许多知名人士。他还不断购买昂贵的艺术品装饰这个房子。到1937年，赫斯特先生的巨大花销危及到了他的出版集团。他不得不售卖自己的资产和众多艺术品。二战后的经济复苏拯救了他剩余的媒体集团。

1951年赫斯特先生逝世时，他仍是美国当时最大报纸公司的所有者。如今，赫斯特集团拥有一百三十多个独立业务。其中包括报纸、杂志、广播和电视台以及商业媒体公司。威廉·蓝道夫·赫斯特开创的通信业务还在继续影响着全世界。

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