How Journalism Began Highlights of the history of journalism in the United States

America’s First Newspapers Did not look like newspapers today Often only one long sheet that consisted of more letters or essays than “news” Publick Occurences - First American newspaper;published in Boston in 1690 by Benjamin Harris PO suppressed by British colonial authorities after only one issue because they disliked what Harris said

America’s First Newspapers cont. The Boston News-Letter - First continuously published newspaper in the colonies Started by John Campbell in 1704 Published “by authority” (had government approval) QUESTION: Are newspapers today published “by authority”?

Establishment of Freedom of the Press In colonies, newspapers that criticized government were guilty of sedition Even the truth could not be used as a defense against sedition - “The greater the truth, the greater the libel” Changed with 1735 court case

The Zenger Trial John Peter Zenger - Published the New York Weekly Journal beginning in 1734 Charged with libel for printing articles that criticized the governor of New York, William Cosby Defended in court by Andrew Hamilton Hamilton convinced the jury that libel had to be false, malicious and seditious and therefore Zenger was innocent because he printed the truth; New precedent set for journalism

The Press and the Revolution By 1775, when the American Revolution began, 37 newspapers were being published Some historians actually say there would not have been a revolution without the support of the press At the time papers were very partisan After the Revolution, press rights were guaranteed by the first amendment in the Bill of Rights in 1791.

The Newspaper Industry Grows The Pennsylvania Post - First daily paper; founded in 1783 The Students Gazette – First student newspaper; founded in 1777 “Penny Press” – name for the kinds of papers that were forerunners of modern day newspaper New York Sun - founded by Benjamin Day in 1833; filled with news; sold for a penny

The Penny Press Penny press achieved mass audience – sold on the street rather than subscription and very inexpensive Advertising took a major role for the first time in journalism Soon papers similar to the New York Sun appeared throughout the country At this time it was not unusual for one major city to have eight or nine competing newspapers

Effects of the Telegraph In 1861 reporters begin to use telegraph to report from Civil war battle sites; change style of journalism Develop inverted pyramid and become more concise so as to get outcome in the story incase telegraph breaks down

Yellow Journalism Style of journalism popular in the late 19 th century Name derived from the Yellow Kid, a cartoon in the Sunday World in the 1890s Unethical and irresponsible form of journalism; involved hoaxes, altered photographs, screaming headlines, “scoops,” frauds, and endless promotion of the newspapers themselves

Yellow Journalism cont. William Randolph Hearst (New York Journal) and Joseph Pulitzer (New York World) most notable yellow journalists Color supplements, illustrations, cartoon strips and dramatic coverage of sports events filled their papers and gave them high circulations William Randolph Hearst Joseph Pulitzer

Yellow Journalism cont. Nellie Bly (aka Elizabeth Cochrane) most famous female yellow journalist Worked for Pulitzer’s World; known for pulling stunts Pretended to be mentally ill and got herself committed to asylum to investigate the asylum’s conditions; wrote story about trip around the world inspired by Jules Verne novel

Did You Know? Some say it was really Hearst that got the U.S.A. in the Spanish American War Reportedly an artist for paper telegraphed to say there was no war – Hearst said “You furnish the pictures, and I’ll furnish the war.” USS Maine blew up in Havana harbor in 1898 Hearst paper headline – “DESTRUCTION OF THE WAR SHIP MAINE WAS THE WORK OF AN ENEMY”

Muckraking New kind or journalism Writing with a social consciousness Critics of the style called the writers muckrakers – Do you know why? Muckraking spread from newspapers to new medium – the magazine Ida Tarbell – famous muckraker; wrote about Standard Oil and attacked big business

Minority Media Nation grew and minority groups began to take important roles in journalism The Chicago Defender - one of largest/most influential African-American newspapers Founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott Encouraged blacks to move north Hispanic, Native-American, and Asian papers soon followed

The Advent of Radio 1906: radio invented First newscast made in 1916 – broadcast of the Wilson-Hughes presidential election Regular broadcast programs began in Detroit in 1920 NBC formed in 1926 and CBS formed in 1927 Today more than 500 million radio stations are in use and nearly 10,000 stations broadcast in the U.S.A.

QUESTION? Do you ever listen to news on the radio? How do you think news writing had to change to be effective over the radio?

The Impact of Television 1940 – First TV newscast took place Changed role of newspapers and radio dramatically Took entertainment role away from radio and most of the breaking news from newspapers Today newspapers put less emphasis on breaking news…Why? Many say TV is today’s yellow journalism…Do you agree? Why?

Journalism Today 200 years ago just beginning penny press Now have 24 hour access to up-to-date news through radio, TV, Internet, papers and magazines Which is your outlet of choice and why? What is the value of news in today’s society?