Newspaper A geographically limited medium issued regularly from a press on unbound paper containing news, commentary, features, photos, and advertising to serve the general interests of a specific community or audience

5 Departments of most newspapers News/ editorial News/ editorial Advertising Advertising Production Production Circulation Circulation Administration Administration

“Acta Diurna” Roman newspaper Roman newspaper Daily, handwritten gazette launched by Julius Caesar, 59 BC Daily, handwritten gazette launched by Julius Caesar, 59 BC Reported newsworthy events, private and official notices Reported newsworthy events, private and official notices

“Ti Pao” China’s early version of the newspaper China’s early version of the newspaper Provided news to gov’t officials and intellectual elite Provided news to gov’t officials and intellectual elite

Forerunners to modern American newspaper Tracts Tracts Pamphlets dist. by English printers containing topical newsPamphlets dist. by English printers containing topical news Corantos Corantos Single sheet tracts dealing w/ current/ foreign affairs (common by 1621)Single sheet tracts dealing w/ current/ foreign affairs (common by 1621) Diurnals Diurnals 4 page bulletins of local news (1640’s)4 page bulletins of local news (1640’s)

1 st newspaper in colonial America “Publick Occurrences, both Foreign and Domestick” “Publick Occurrences, both Foreign and Domestick” Banned by authorities after premiere issue Banned by authorities after premiere issue Suppressed under 1662 ordinance that prohibited printing without a license Suppressed under 1662 ordinance that prohibited printing without a license

Prior restraint Strategy of licensing that effectively prevented “dangerous” ideas from being printed Strategy of licensing that effectively prevented “dangerous” ideas from being printed

“The Boston Newsletter” Issued in 1704 by postmaster John Campbell Issued in 1704 by postmaster John Campbell America’s 1 st continuing newspaper America’s 1 st continuing newspaper Published with support of colonial gov’t Published with support of colonial gov’t

“Boston Gazette” Published in 1719 by Boston postmaster William Brooker Published in 1719 by Boston postmaster William Brooker “published by authority” “published by authority” Contents similar to “Boston Newsletter” (trite/ boring) Contents similar to “Boston Newsletter” (trite/ boring)

“The New England Courant” Published in 1721 by James Franklin Published in 1721 by James Franklin Differed from predecessors in content and lack of proper license Differed from predecessors in content and lack of proper license Franklin arrested/ prohibited from publishing Franklin arrested/ prohibited from publishing

Other early newspapers 1725 “The New York Gazette” 1725 “The New York Gazette” 1729 “The Pennsylvania Gazette” 1729 “The Pennsylvania Gazette” 1733 “The New York Weekly Journal” 1733 “The New York Weekly Journal”

Challenges of early newspapers Struggle for freedom of the press without prior restraint Struggle for freedom of the press without prior restraint Quest to allow truth of statements as a defense for libel Quest to allow truth of statements as a defense for libel

Pre-Revolution Newspapers became imp’t sources of news and vehicles for advertising Newspapers became imp’t sources of news and vehicles for advertising Opinions and viewpoints became more prevalent in published articles as disenchantment w/ British rule spread Opinions and viewpoints became more prevalent in published articles as disenchantment w/ British rule spread

Persuasion, Propaganda, Public relations “The Crisis Papers” – Thomas Paine “The Crisis Papers” – Thomas Paine “The Federalist Papers” – Alexander Hamilton “The Federalist Papers” – Alexander Hamilton

Press as political party advocate Political factions paid subsidies to newspapers to act as their mouthpieces Political factions paid subsidies to newspapers to act as their mouthpieces Editors defined themselves as either Federalist or Republican Editors defined themselves as either Federalist or Republican

End of partisan press period Congress est. a gov’t printing office Congress est. a gov’t printing office The days of giving lucrative gov’t printing contracts to private print shops ended The days of giving lucrative gov’t printing contracts to private print shops ended

“The Sun” 1 st true mass-circulation newspaper 1 st true mass-circulation newspaper Started by Benjamin Day in 1833 Started by Benjamin Day in 1833

Era of the penny press Cost per unit of newspapers declined due to shifting of production costs to advertisers Cost per unit of newspapers declined due to shifting of production costs to advertisers This reasonable price made “The Sun” the most successful newspaper in the country. This reasonable price made “The Sun” the most successful newspaper in the country.

Era of the personal editors Bridge btwn old and new press Bridge btwn old and new press Editors pursued principle of popular appeal Editors pursued principle of popular appeal Began methodical organization of press into major social institution Began methodical organization of press into major social institution

Yellow journalism Editors invented incidents and headlines to go with them Editors invented incidents and headlines to go with them Facts played relatively small role – excessive sensationalism Facts played relatively small role – excessive sensationalism Consequence of circulation wars Consequence of circulation wars Newspapers became big business Newspapers became big business

Explosion of non-news content in newspapers 1890’s and 1900’s 1890’s and 1900’s Comic strips, advice columns, puzzles, features, weekly columns Comic strips, advice columns, puzzles, features, weekly columns

Muckrakers Crusading journalists who focused their attention on major problems caused by rapid industrialization and urbanization Crusading journalists who focused their attention on major problems caused by rapid industrialization and urbanization Investigated businesses Investigated businesses Exposed political and social ills Exposed political and social ills

Newspapers since 1900 More temperate press More temperate press “The New York Times” “The New York Times” Launched by Adolph Ochs in 1896Launched by Adolph Ochs in 1896 Motto “all the news that’s fit to print”Motto “all the news that’s fit to print”

Jazz journalism 1920’s and 30’s 1920’s and 30’s Represented renewed appeal of sensationalism Represented renewed appeal of sensationalism

The “New York Daily News” Smaller tabloid format provided easier reading for subway riders Smaller tabloid format provided easier reading for subway riders Largest circulation in the U.S. Largest circulation in the U.S.