Prehistory of journalism editions
Kushaliyeva Tamiris, 209 group
The history of journalism, or the development of the gathering and transmitting of news, spans the growth of technology and trade, marked by the advent of specialized techniques for gathering and disseminating information on a regular basis that has caused, as one history of journalism surmises, the steady increase of "the scope of news available to us and the speed with which it is transmitted."
Historians believe that the first prototype or piece of news originated during the Roman Empire. It was called Acta Diurna. This news sheet was published daily in 59 BC and hung in prominent places. It recorded social and political events (The Encyclopedia Americana, 184). There is also evidence that the Chinese had a news sheet called Tching-Pao or news of the palace. This was during the T'ang dynasty. This report was handed out to government officials in various forms, and often under different names. It was discontinued in 1911 by the Ch'ing dynasty. The first printed newspaper was produced from wooden blocks in Beijing. This occurred around sometime between the 7th and 8th century AD
News during the 15th to 18th century was usually just a single sheet or a pamphlet describing one event. There were no advertisements or any comics, just news. News sheets and newspapers were difficult to produce and distribute. This changed with Johann Gutenberg's 1450 invention of the printing press (The Encyclopedia Americana, 184). This invention revolutionized journalism. It also laid grounds for the current printing press we have today.
Back in what is now known as Europe, news sheets and newspapers were becoming increasingly popular. In 1457 the first printed news sheet appeared in Nuremberg, Germany. Letters announcing Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World were distributed in Spain 1493. The first magazine published was Mercurius Gallobegicus in 1593. It was printed and distributed in Cologne, Germany. The defeat of the Spanish Armanda was announced in 1588 with 800 leaflets (The Encyclopedia Americana, 184). In 1629, newspapers began to appear in cities like Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna, Amsterdam and Antwerp. Paris saw their first newspaper printed in 1631
In England, journalism was starting to take root. Queen Elizabeth I began using the news as a means of imparting important information to her nobles. By 1622 the first continuous paper was the Weekly News. This paper ran from 1622 to 1641. It usually printed foreign news. It wasn't until 1628 that clerks who listened to debates in the English Parliament were reporting domestic news. This started one of the greatest debates in the world. In 1630 King Charles I came to reign upon the English throne. During his time as king, he imposed restrictions on the press. With censorship in place, the press was no longer able to report freely. This opened the debate of Freedom of Speech. These restrictions continued throughout the civil war of the 1640's. During the 1650's a man named Oliver Cromwell came to power. He furthered these press restrictions. It was not until 1660 that press restrictions ceased under the power of King Charles II. The press was now allowed to speak freely, but it was not allowed to criticize the government. In 1702 the first daily newspaper, The Daily Courant was published in London. In 1712 a British stamp tax was imposed on all newspapers, and their publishers. This stamp tax made things a lot harder for publishers and their newspapers. It wasn't until 1855 that this stamp tax was abolished. But Britain wasn't the only place where journalism was flourishing
Newspapers were expanding, and as they expanded so did their readers. The News was big business. Newspaper circulation started to reach into the thousands. Newspapers were soon very cheap to make (thanks to low pulp prices), and very cheap to buy. Next came the formation of the penny press. For 1 penny you could buy a paper, which in those day was a very good price. The first penny paper was the Pennsylvania Evening Post, and then the Daily Advertiser. These two newspapers debuted in 1783. By 1800 there were over 20 daily newspaper. As the Industrial Revolution spread more companies were producing daily papers instead of weekly papers
Also until 1833 most newspapers were reserved for the few privileged rich people who could afford newspapers. That changed when Benjamin Henry Day published the New York Sun. This was one of the most influential newspapers throughout the 19th century. In Day's paper were stories on crime, politics and other forms of violence. Day's paper was an instant success. Soon after the New York Sun came the New York Herald and the New York Tribune (New Book of Knowledge, 198). With the development of the fast rotary presses circulation reached tens of thousands.
Also until 1833 most newspapers were reserved for the few privileged rich people who could afford newspapers. That changed when Benjamin Henry Day published the New York Sun. This was one of the most influential newspapers throughout the 19th century. In Day's paper were stories on crime, politics and other forms of violence. Day's paper was an instant success. Soon after the New York Sun came the New York Herald and the New York Tribune (New Book of Knowledge, 198). With the development of the fast rotary presses circulation reached tens of thousands.
During the civil war journalism in America reached its second peak. The first telegraph line was strung between Washington D.C to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1844. When war began in 1861 most of the east was connected by telegraph lines to the south. There were over 150 reporters covered the war. A big establishment was created in 1848. Six New York City newspapers joined together to share the cost of bring news to New York by telegraph. They were called the Associated Press; the countries first news agency. The Associated Press expanded rapidly and stared to serve many newspapers. Because of the many different political views these newspapers had the Associated Press was forced to be totally non-partisan.
The 20th century began with amazing editors. Some of these people included Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World and William Randolph Hearst of the San Francisco Examiner and New York Morning Journal. Commercial Advertising and the need for brand name goods started in 1883, when Cyrus H. K. Curtis founded the Ladies Home Journal. In 1897 Curtis bought the Saturday Evening Post for $1000, which rapidly increased its circulation
In 1920 radio journalism hit the airwaves with KDKA of Pittsburgh broadcasting news on the hour every hour. In 1944 when the allies invaded Normandy, everybody heard the news on the radio. When France surrendered to the Nazis in the beginning of the Second World War, General Charles De Gaulle appealed to the people of France to resist the Nazis from a radio broadcast (The Encyclopedia Americana, 185).
In the 1950's, television debuted, and television journalism started. In 1960 the Nixon-Kennedy debates were televised and on the radio. On the radio it sounded like Nixon was winning the debate, but on television you could see that Nixon was sweating
In the 1950's, television debuted, and television journalism started. In 1960 the Nixon-Kennedy debates were televised and on the radio. On the radio it sounded like Nixon was winning the debate, but on television you could see that Nixon was sweating
Now we have million of radio news stations, and television stations. Newspapers now are very profitable businesses with the latest technology.
All in all journalism has come a long way since Acta Diurna to today's CNN. Who knows what form journalism may come in next?
All in all journalism has come a long way since Acta Diurna to today's CNN. Who knows what form journalism may come in next?
