Newspapers: Where Journalism Begins Chapter Outline  History  Industry  Controversies

 The First Newspapers  First newspaper, printed from wooden blocks ▪ Over 1200 years ago  Early 1600s Gutenberg’s printing press (moveable type) ▪ Allowed newspapers to be mass produced.

 The Newspaper in Early America  Publick Occurrences ▪ Published in 1690 by Benjamin Harris, ▪ First “newspaper” in America. ▪ Kidnapping, suicide, & other sensationalism ▪ British rule closed down the paper after one issue.  Boston News-Letter ▪ Published by John Campbell ▪ First American paper to last more than one issue ▪ Started off handwritten, began printing after growth

 The front page is for Hard news  Current event stories that have impact on people’s lives.

 The Editorial page  Place for properly labeled opinion pieces

 Feature news, also known as soft news,  Directed more toward human interest and curiosity.

 The papers in early America  Faced seditious libel laws ▪ Illegal to print negative content about government  Small weeklies (about 4 pages) ▪ Expensive for majority of people  Fought the stamp act ▪ “No taxation without representation”  Helped gain support for revolution

 The penny press ▪ Created by the New York Sun ▪ Published by Benjamin Day ▪ Sold for one penny, in  Newsprint ▪ Inexpensive paper & steam press helped to rapidly produce copies.  Information was more accessible ▪ Huge circulation ▪ Lot’s of advertising revenue ▪ Sensationalism

 Associated Press in 1848 led to a more objective news. ▪ (How?)  Yellow journalism, ▪ Increased competition led to unprecedented sensationalism ▪ (What is that?) ▪ Reached height in the Hearst-Pulitzer wars of the 1890s.

 The first Tabloid was the New York Daily News ▪ Sensationalism of the yellow press, abundant use of pictures ▪ Tabloid = Smaller, easier to handle, page.  What are some cuurent examples of Yellow Journalism  What characteristics define a tabloid?

 The Newspapers  Most newspapers are local dailies; ▪ Strength is presenting in-depth local news, information and advertising not handled as well by other media.  Lets see if we can name 6 local daily’s ▪ Outside of California, New York, and Washington DC

 Alternative press  Underground press ▪ Radical views of politics, questioned the mainstream

 Alternative papers  Provide viewpoint that’s usually radical or out of the mainstream.  The Chicano press, which targets Mexican-Americans, ▪ Makes up the majority of Hispanic papers.

 Ethnic press ▪ Newspaper aimed at particular cultural groups, has important role in U.S. history. ▪ African Americans, Hispanics or Native Americans, ▪ Freedom’s Journal, ▪ The first black newspaper, was established in 1827.

 There are more than 170 African American newspapers  More than 800 Spanish language newspapers  Plus a variety of publications targeting ▪ Other ethnic groups ▪ Subcultures  What are some local ethnic papers in (Your Area)  What some benefits or disadvantages of ethnic/subculture papers?

 Newspapers have shifted to mostly morning editions. ▪ Historically they have adapted to competition from ▪ Newsreels ▪ Radio ▪ Television ▪ Cable ▪ Internet ▪ What do newspapers offer that broadcast news lacks? ▪ How did newspapers adapted to each of these? ▪ Will Newspapers be able to adapt to convergence? How?

 Lack of Diversity in the Newsroom  Do you think Lack of diversity in Newsroom affects the quality and variety of news presented?  Why/Why not?  What effect does little or no media representation have on these groups?

 There are many organizations that help promote fairness  NABJ  NAHJ  AAJA  NLGJA

 The Staff  Advertising ▪ includes sales representatives and layout people.  The production department ▪ Runs the presses.  The circulation department ▪ Arranges for delivery to newsstands, homes, stores, and vending machines.

 Concentration of Ownership  Critics fear this reduces diversity of opinions to readers.  Chains respond that broadcast, cable, and Internet news ▪ Provide access to a diversity of viewpoints.  What are two competing local newspapers in the Bay Area?

 Lack of Diversity in the Newsroom  In the 1970s, National Commission on the Causes of Violence ▪ Pointed out that lack of minority viewpoint in the nation’s press was partially to blame for the alienation felt by many ethnic groups.  In 1978 The American Society of Newspaper Editors resolved ▪ Minority employment should match the % of minorities in the population  In 2010, 13 percent of daily newspaper journalists were black, Hispanic, Asian-American and American Indian, ▪ The Census bureau reported that 32 percent of the population belonged to those groups. (The