E.W. SCRIPPS “People’s Champion” -- felt a responsibility to working people. “I have only one principle, and that is represented by an effort to make it harder for the rich to grow richer and easier for the poor to keep from growing poorer.”

In 1878, Edward W. Scripps borrowed $10,000 from his brothers to set off America's first information revolution. With a loan from his brother, the young entrepreneur launched a newspaper in Cleveland aimed at an emerging - but yet unserved - mass audience of urban workers. How it started … Cleveland Press – 1878 Cincinnati Post From Cleveland, he took the formula to dozens of other cities, building the first chain of newspapers under common ownership.

The Day Book Carl Sandburg—Chief Reporter Adless tabloid An effort to provide journalism untainted by commercial pressure Reached $25,000 circulation Within $500 a month of being in the black Price of newsprint (paper) during WWI went up so much that it killed The Day Book 1911

Scripps was unusual – a true believer in worker’s rights. Fought for the right for workers to organize through unions Crusaded for public ownership and against utility abuses Attacked political bossism and corruption Supported anti-monopoly reforms through Theodore Roosevelt’s candidacy as a third party candidate Closer to being “labor” papers than any other general circulation newspapers Also won support of intellectual liberals who Scripps sometimes tried to avoid.

Some other lessons about the rise of newspapers. The commercial aspect of newspapers gave them independence from political parties. The business of selling newspapers has always pushed, to some extent, tawdry aspects of news coverage. All newspapers require advertising to make a profit so no newspaper is independent of business pressures.

The Chinese Wall Why “Chinese”? I don’t know. It means an invisible wall between the business side of newspapers and the journalism side. Advertisers are not supposed to influence reporters, editors and so forth.

The Liberal Media A myth has been purposely spread since the 1960s that the news media has a liberal bias. Objective analysis of news does not support this. Some media critics like Ben Bagdikian claim that media does have a bias – it favors the powerful and generally has a pro-corporate slant. Objective analysis provides evidence that supports this thesis.

What is important in a news story? Timeliness. Hard news is new news. Accuracy. Not the same as truth, but reporters ought to at least get the facts right. Relevance. Issues important to our well being. Sources. Who says what in a story is as important as accuracy. Truth. The best stories go beyond mere accuracy and inform us about the big issues.