Final answer:
The two publishers most associated with yellow journalism in the late 1800s were Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. They used sensationalist reporting to increase newspaper sales, which influenced public perception and events significantly during that era.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two publishers most associated with yellow journalism in the late 1800s were A. Pulitzer and Hearst. Joseph Pulitzer's New York World and William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal were notorious for engaging in sensationalist reporting, particularly concerning Spain's activities in Cuba, to boost their newspaper circulations. The term yellow journalism comes from the usage of eye-catching headlines with minimal factual reporting to provoke public emotion, reminiscent of today's click-bait and fake news. However later, Pulitzer sought to counterbalance his earlier practices by establishing the Pulitzer prize for journalistic excellence.