Pressing for Progress
Ancient Beginnings:
The first recorded newspapers are traced back to ancient Rome where government buildings posted announcements of daily happenings including births, events, deaths, assemblies, and daily gossip for people to read. These printings were called "acta Diurna" meaning daily acts, which date back to 59 BCE. Although no copies have survived it is thought to be the earliest form of news publishing.
The Printing Press:
In 1440, Johannes Guttenberg paved the way for modern journalism through his invention of the Printing Press. This new groundbreaking technology increased the production of printed materials by 1000 times. Before the printing press, scribes had to handwrite information on paper limiting the production to about 4 papers per day, but with the printing press about 4,000 copies were able to be produced per day. This reshaped the scope and reach of the newspaper making it more accessible and cheaper.
News in Early Europe:
In 1609, the first weekly papers using Gutenburg's press were published. They were called Relations. These newspapers, written in German, concealed their cities to avoid government persecution. However, the papers were successful, leading to the spread of newspapers across central Europe. Within five years, weekly papers emerged in various cities such as Vienna, Berlin, and Amsterdam. England printed its first newspaper in 1621 called Corante, covering news from various countries. Then, by 1641, newspapers were published in nearly every European country.
Government Control over the Press:
During these times, government-regulated publications didn't cover local news. However, during the English Civil War in 1641, people turned to local papers for updates. A weekly paper called "The Heads of Several Proceedings in This Present Parliament" started writing on local news, sparking discussions about press freedom. In 1644 John Milton's "Areopagitica" criticized the strict regulations on press content, which influenced a shift in printing rules in England. In England, newspapers were freed from government control and people started to understand the power of free press. This prompted the printing and publication of more newspapers in England.
Newspapers in Colonial America:
In 1619, Benjamin Harris introduced the first American Newspaper, "Public Occurrences." Fourteen years later, "The Boston News-Letter" was published, followed by "The Boston Gazette" and the "American Weekly Mercury." These early newspapers avoided publishing anything about government or politics, until 1721, when James Franklin criticized smallpox inoculations. When James Franklin's paper mocked religion, he was banned from publishing it. He passed the paper to his brother Benjamin Franklin, who later published "The Pennsylvania Gazette."
Crown v. John Peter Zenger
In 1733, John Peter Zenger started the "New York Weekly Journal," criticizing the colonial governor, William Crosby. Crosby had Zenger arrested for publishing "seditious reflections." Zenger's trial, defended by Andrew Hamilton, resulted in a not-guilty verdict. This showed that newspapers could criticize the government without fear. As tensions between the British and the colonists grew, newspapers became platforms for political discussions. This led to the birth of partisan press during the American Revolution.
Free Press through the First Amendment
In 1791, the United States adopted the First Amendment, guaranteeing freedom of the press. However, in 1798, Congress passed the Sedation Act, punishing those who published false or malicious writing against the government. President Thomas Jefferson let the Sedation Act expire in 1800, supporting the idea that ordered government and free press could coexist.
Newspapers as a form of Mass Media:
In the early 1800s, newspapers were costly to purchase. These papers included crucial updates but cost about 6 cents per copy. The cost of newspapers made them out of reach for the working class, so newspapers were a luxury mainly read by the elite.
Penny Papers
In 1833 Benjamin Day revolutionized newspaper publishing with "The Sun." This publication only cost a penny and was printed using a high-speed press. This steam-driven press could produce 18,000 copies per hour, aiding Day's goal of making news affordable to everyone while creating a platform for advertisements. This marked the beginning of penny papers, with "The Sun" selling 15,000 copies daily by 1835.
The impact of the Telegraph:
Samuel Morse's invention of the telegraph was a significant technological advance for newspapers. They began using telegraph companies to receive news updates from around the world in real-time. This was costly so the Associated Press was formed in 1846. The Associated Press consisted of five major New York papers. This cooperative effort enhanced news reporting in turn made stories come out faster and more accurately.
Yellow Journalism:
In the late 1800s, Joseph Pulitzer started writing stories that focused on crime, violence, sex, emotion, and scandal to increase newspaper sales. This style of writing influenced todays tabloids and transformed the topics journalists and reporters wrote on.
The history of newspapers is extremely fascinating. Throughout history, freedom of the press and First Amendment rights have been explored through news publications creating milestones in history toward these rights. Newspapers were crucial to gaining First Amendment rights as Americans and the developments have made news accessible to anyone anytime in our modern day and age. Something that stood out to me while researching the history of newspapers as a Strategic Communications student was how Penny Papers transformed news through the use of advertising. The advertisements made papers more appealing but also helped with the cost. Overall, news has influenced global society for the better helping events be made aware of, sparking discussions on government issues, and for creative purposes as well.
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