Chapter 1 Looking Back: The History of American Media

Quiz What was the first American newspaper? How many issues did it run? Who stopped it? What case in 1735 made freedom for newspapers occur? During the partisan press, whom did the newspapers line themselves up with? What Amendment protects our freedom of press?

Quiz continued 6. Why were the papers like the New York Sun and such during that time called the “penny press”? 7. What is yellow journalism? 8. Who is the journalist that created stories by putting herself in the situations to create a story? 9. What did William Randolph Hearst, publisher of the New York Journal have to say to a correspondent during the Spanish-American War that caused some controversy? 10. What is a muckraker?

Key ideas from the introduction The job of journalists is someone who sorts out information, makes sense of it, organizes it, judges it, and interprets it. Journalists need to know about everything, because that’s what they cover: everything. They need people skills and language skills. Fundamentals that will always apply to journalists: good sense, good judgment, good writing, poise under pressure, ethical and moral standards. Journalists don’t tell us what to think, but they do tell us what to think about. Journalism is devoted to providing accurate, objective, untainted information that the public can use in their lives and in decision-making, particularly political decision-making.

First American newspaper Publick Occurrences In 1690 in Boston by Benjamin Harris. Authorities didn’t like what he had to say (bad about the government) so they stopped it after only one issue.

Next papers 14 years later The Boston News-Letter Started by John Campbell in 1704 It was a continuous paper. It was continuous because it was government approved. More newspapers started but most were tagged “by authority” and were closely supervised by the British government. Newspapers that criticized the government were guilty of sedition, the stirring of rebellion.

John Peter Zenger trial The trial against John Peter Zenger established the freedom of the press. Zenger printed an article – he didn’t write it – that criticized Governor William Cosby. Accused of libel He went against his charge of libel, stating that he was just telling the truth.

Partisan Press Came next Papers aligned themselves with political parties

The First Amendment In 1787 the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law … abridging freedom of speech, or of the press …”

Other papers First student newspaper = The Students Gazette in Pennsylvania in 1777. First daily newspaper = The Pennsylvania Post in 1783. Late 19th, early 20th century – magazine Minority media began to grow (1905 The Chicago Defender, Robert S. Abbott) Papers were mostly essays, letters, editorials, and a few advertisements. Advertising pays for producing newspapers and newscasts on air.

Penny Press In 1833 The New York Sun Founded by Benjamin Day Was full of news and only a penny

Wire services In 1861 Reporters went to the Civil War battle sites and used the telegraph, which began wire services Got news from around the world to papers for a price

Yellow journalism Late 19th century Unethical, irresponsible brand of journalism that involved hoaxes, altered photographs, screaming headlines, “scoops,” frauds, and endless promotions of the newspapers themselves

Nellie Bly Changed journalism as she created stories/lived them herself Mentally ill asylum Around the world in 72 days

Spanish-American War Articles contributed to the war Hearst said to a reporter, “Please remain. You furnish the pictures, and I’ll furnish the war.” Newspapers getting over confident

Muckrakers Tried to fix yellow journalism by doing crusades for social justice or to expose wrongdoing. They crusaded for child labor laws, promoted hospitals and tuberculosis sanitariums, collected money for the needy, and exposed public graft.

Radio First radio newscast in 1916 by DeForest, who invented the vacuum tube that made radio possible. Shock jocks-radio hosts that say things that are insulting, outrageous, vulgar, or offensive about people or situations. They are entertainers, not journalists - Howard Stern

TV First television newscast – 1940. Got news to people faster than papers. Papers shifted focus from explaining current events Since they probably already saw it on TV Instead they had to examine the background of current news events and cover trends and lifestyles in depth.

Computer Internet allows us to get news quickly as well Computer-assisted reporting – finding information to report about on the internet/databases