Final answer:
Joseph Pulitzer introduced a comic strip to the New York World in 1896 to increase the newspaper's entertainment value and appeal, as part of the sensationalism and yellow journalism strategies to expand readership.
Step-by-step explanation:
Joseph Pulitzer added a comic strip to his New York World newspapers in 1896 primarily to boost entertainment value. The inclusion of comic strips was part of a broader strategy to expand newspaper readership and increase circulation through sensationalism and yellow journalism, an approach characterized by scandalous news, bold headlines, and vivid illustrations. This style became popular as it attracted a wider audience, including younger readers, and other newspapers soon emulated Pulitzer's approach. While comics may have indeed attracted a younger demographic, the primary goal was to entertain and engage the broader audience in order to sell more papers.