1. The History of the American Media
Journalism I – Unit 1
Mr. Dudek

2. America’s First Newspapers
Were usually one page and rarely covered “news.”
Letters, essays, etc.

3. America’s First Newspapers
Publick Occurences, Boston 1690 – lasted one issue
Suppressed by British colonial authorities

4. America’s First Newspapers
Boston News-Letter, 1704 lasted because it was published “by authority”

5. America’s First Newspapers
Some were jailed for writing unflattering (yet true) things about the British Crown.
Until 1735… when a jury found one such writer “not guilty” of sedition.

6. The First Amendment
Guarantees that Congress shall make no law limiting the freedom of speech or the press.

7. The Penny Press Until 1833 newspapers still carried very little news
The New York Sun wrote about police activity, tragedies, etc.
Cost: one penny.

8. The New York Times Founded in 1851
Considered by many to be the best-written newspaper in the country.

9. The Telegraph
First used in journalism to transmit battle results during Civil War
Forced reporter to be brief and concise
Most important information first.

10. Yellow Journalism Late 1800s Unethical, irresponsible
Hoaxes, altered photos, screaming headlines, “scoops”
Attracted huge audiences.
“Yellow journalism” contributed to the start of the Spanish-American War

11. Muckraking
As yellow journalism ended, many journalists used their medium to push for social change – child-labor laws, improved health care, etc.
Critics of this called them muckrakers.

12. Minority Media
The Chicago Defender, founded in 1905, is the largest newspaper written by and for African-Americans.
Partly responsible for the Great Migration.

13. Minority Media
Los Angeles’s La Opinión is the largest Hispanic newspaper in the country
The Chicago Tribune owns Hoy this city’s largest Spanish-language newspaper.

14. Radio First news station in 1920 – Detroit’s WWJ-AM
NBC founded in 1926
The 80s and 90s sees advent of “shock jocks” that blur the line between news and opinion.
Rush Limbaugh

15. Television
Forced newspaper to deemphasize breaking news and focus more on analysis
Cable news gives us 24-hour access, but also can be opinionated.

16. Internet Allows nearly anyone to distribute the news
Makes it harder to verify legitimate news
Instant news.
During a 2009 uprising in Iran, Twitter was the main source of news.

17. Key Terms Muckraking Partisan press Penny press Shock jock
Wire service
Yellow journalism

18. Influential Journalists
Your assignment