Question

why did late - 1890s newspapers publish sensational stories about cuba and the spanish - american war?
newspapers used the stories to sell more papers.
the stories were meant to attract more spanish and cuban readers in the united states.
the stories helped elected us officials learn about what was happening.
newspapers wanted other countries to know that the united states was watching cuba closely.

Explanation:

In the late 1890s, yellow journalism was prominent. Newspapers, in a bid to increase circulation and profits, resorted to publishing sensational stories. Such stories were not primarily about informing elected officials (as there were other channels for that), nor about attracting Spanish - Cuban readers in the US (the main readership was American), and not about signaling to other countries. The main motive was commercial - to sell more papers.

Answer:

Newspapers used the stories to sell more papers.