Part 1: Hearst's San Francisco Sensation

In 1887, a 24-year-old Harvard dropout takes over a struggling San Francisco newspaper. Within weeks, he's arrested for libel. Meet William Randolph Hearst, the audacious young publisher who transforms The San Francisco Examiner from a money-losing headache into the 'Monarch of the Dailies.' Discover how Hearst's outrageous stunts—like timing how long it takes a ferry to rescue an overboard reporter—skyrocket circulation from 5,000 to 55,000 in just three years. And meet the mother who controls his purse strings. From championing racist policies to laying the foundations of his media empire, Hearst's rise proves as controversial as it is meteoric. Listen as this mercurial maverick makes his mark on journalism. Learn more about American Experience  Follow the show on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads ------------------------------ Credits:  Lead Producer: Devin Maverick Robins Associate Producer: Meiqian He Scriptwriter: Galen Beebe Story Editor: Devin Maverick Robins Editorial Advisor: John Bredar Sound Designer: Jack Pombriant Narrator: James Edwards Executive Producer: Cameo George