Final answer:
The two publishers who fought over the Yellow Kid were William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, key figures in the era of yellow journalism, which was characterized by sensationalist reporting and fierce newspaper competition.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two publishers who fought over the Yellow Kid were Hearst and Pulitzer. Yellow journalism, named after the popular cartoon character Yellow Kid, was used by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer to stir up public emotion and increase circulation. This technique involved using inflammatory headlines with little factual reporting. Ironically, Pulitzer is now best known for the prize for journalistic excellence that he established in his will.
The two publishers that fought over the Yellow Kid were William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. This conflict is indicative of the era of yellow journalism, where sensationalist reporting was rampant, and the competition between newspapers was fierce. The 'Yellow Kid', a popular cartoon character of the time, became a symbol of this journalistic approach. Hearst and Pulitzer's battle for readership extended to their comic sections, with both trying to capitalize on the popularity of the 'Yellow Kid' in their papers, ultimately leading to aggressive tactics to outsell each other.