1. Reflection of a Democratic Society
Newspapers
Reflection of a Democratic Society

2. Inventing the Modern Press
Martin Luther and John Calvin:
published newspaper-like broadsheets in the 1500s
Newspapers first appeared in England in the 1620s.

3. Publick Occurrence: Boston News Letter:
first newspaper in the American colonies (1690)
Boston News Letter:
first to publish multiple issues (1704)

4. Benjamin and James Franklin
James started the New England Courant in 1721:
first newspaper published without approval of the British government

5. 16-year-old Benjamin takes over after James is jailed.
Benjamin Franklin purchased the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1729:
featured first political cartoon
introduced the weather report as a regular feature

6. The Penny Press: Newspapers for the People
Before 1830s, papers contained shipping news and political essays.
designed primarily for the wealthy elite
underwritten by political parties
expensive, as much as 6 cents a day
Average worker might make 85 cents a day
available only by annual subscription, paid in advance

7. Penny Press (cont.)
September 3, 1833—Benjamin Day begins publishing the New York Sun:

8. paper’s motto was “It shines for all”
inexpensive, sold for a penny or two on the street
derived the name penny press
profits came primarily from advertising revenue
invented the concept of “news”

9. A Modern Democratic Society
Increase in number of papers in just a decade:
In 1830—650 weeklies and 65 dailies in the United States
In 1840—1,241 weeklies and 138 dailies
Changes wrought by industrial revolution:
Shift from rural to urban, agricultural to industrial society
People working for wages, purchasing consumer goods
Penny press—provided means for advertising these goods

10. Pulitzer, Hearst, and the Battle for New York City
Joseph Pulitzer came to the United States from Austria in 1864 to fight in U.S. Civil War
in 1878, bought the St. Louis Post and Dispatch

11. in 1883, bought the failing New York World
boosted circulation from 15,000 to more than 250,000 in 3 years
credited with shaping the modern front page
featured prominent stories “above the fold”
reached out to women and immigrant readers
established Pulitzer Prize

12. William Randolph Hearst
began career as editor of the San Francisco Examiner
purchased the New York Journal
used ideas developed by Pulitzer in his paper
fierce battle between Pulitzer and Hearst

13. Yellow journalism—shocking, sensationalistic reporting derived from the Pulitzer-Hearst rivalry
name derived from popular “Yellow Kid” comic
featured in both Pulitzer’s and Hearst’s papers.

14. The Newspaper Business
Newspaper Conglomerates
1,500 daily newspapers
down 25 percent from 100 years ago
Chains—corporations that control a significant number of newspapers or other media outlets
Before World War II—80 percent of newspapers were owned independently
Today—80 percent owned by chains

15. Gannett: chain with the largest circulation (USA Today)
owns more than 90 daily newspapers
combined circulation of approximately 7.3 million
goals as high as 30 to 40 percent profit

16. National Newspapers USA Today (1982):
“McPaper” serving up “News McNuggets”
lost more than $800 million in first decade
is found everywhere
changed the look of newspapers industry-wide
forced the industry to reconsider news priorities
2.3 million daily circulation

17. The Wall Street Journal:
retains old-fashioned look
last major paper to start using color
uses pen-and-ink drawings over photos
the definitive source of financial news
heavy national and international news coverage
daily circulation of 2 million

18. The Christian Science Monitor (1908):
owned by the Christian Science church
started by Mary Baker Eddy
“appeal to the literate, concerned and moral citizen”
cover serious issues, especially international stories
downplays news about medicine and health
72,000 daily circulation

19. English-Language International Newspapers
International Herald Tribune (1887):
published in Paris, distributed in 180 countries
Financial Times:
owned by Pearson companies
primarily a business newspaper
The Wall Street Journal:
publishes European and Asian editions

20. The Metropolitan Press
The New York Times:
most influential newspaper in United States
1.1 million daily subscribers
one third of them live outside of New York City
bought by Adolf Ochs in 1896
nicknamed “Gray Lady”
on October 16, 1997, used color photos on front page

21. The Metropolitan Paper (cont.) The Washington Post:
Watergate created a national reputation
reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein / editor Bill Bradlee

22. The Metropolitan Paper (cont.) The Los Angeles Times:
gaining national reputation as solid paper
mainstreaming—quoting nonwhite and nonmale sources in stories that aren’t about minority issues
can cause confusion with reporters
policy established to reach out to minority readers

23. The Tabloids Tabloid newspapers: Broadsheet newspapers:
feature 11x14 inch format
usually have a cover rather than a front page
Broadsheet newspapers:
feature 17 by 22 format
Examples of Tabloids:
The New York Daily News:
big photos, huge headlines, sensationalistic stories
January 13, 1928 cover featuring Ruth Snyder’s execution

25. Community and Suburban Papers
Community press—weekly and daily newspapers serving individual communities or suburbs
rely on Web presence
1,100 daily, 1,200 nondaily community papers in United States
loyal readers
stories not being covered nationally

28. News and Society News characteristics: timeliness proximity prominence
consequence
rarity
human interest

29. News and Society (cont.) Sources, advertisers and readers:
editors increasingly looking to appeal to advertisers
surrounding news stories with similar ads
Patriotism and the press
2006—92 journalists have died in Iraq since March 2003
2006 alone—32 killed in Iraq, 23 internationally
targets: deliberately murdered (Daniel Pearl)

30. Daniel Pearl

31. The Alternative Press Alternative papers—serve specialized audiences:
Freedom’s Journal (1827):
“Black citizens were humans who were being treated unjustly”
North Star (1847):
Frederick Douglass, editor
pushed for end of slavery, black rights
Chicago Defender (1905):
profit as well as advocacy
urged southern blacks to move north

32. Rev Samuel Cornish (L) John B. Russwurm

33. The Gay Press: Underground Papers: The Washington Blade (1969)
promotes gay causes, highlights problems
Gay City News (New York City)
purchased by a straight-owned company in 2002
targeted a gay audience for profit, no longer for only the promotion of gay culture
Underground Papers:
attract young people
being bought up by chains

35. The Future of Newspapers
Are newspapers a dying medium?
major urban papers: losing circulation, staff cutbacks
afternoon papers first casualty historically
Falling circulation figures:
in 2005, circulation fell 2.6 percent for dailies
it fell 3.1 percent for Sunday papers
convenience factor still strong

36. The future of newspapers (cont.) Newspapers and the Web:
breaking news—news story that requires frequent updating
Web allows for easy updating
Breaking news online
role of Dallas Morning News
Oklahoma City Bombing, Clinton-Lewinsky stories broke online first
advantages/problems of online publishing

37. The future of newspapers (cont.) What the Web offers newspapers:
good at presenting interactive features on breaking news
Pew Research Center for the People and the Press:
roughly 30 percent of people use Internet for news on a regular basis
more turn to network sites rather than paper sites
Importance of new technologies and formats:
podcasts
PDA-designed versions
blogs