1. Newspapers: Where Journalism Begins
Chapter Outline
History
Industry
Controversies

2. Today’s Newspaper Industry
The First Newspapers
Earliest known written news account/news sheet
Acta Diurna “daily events” – ROME 59 BCE
Carved on stone or metal
Newspapers today
Document daily life/big events

3. Today’s Newspaper Industry
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.

4. Today’s Newspaper Industry
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

5. Colonial newspapers were
Political (partisan)
Pushed political party agendas
Does this happen today?
Commercial
Served business leaders
Economic issues

6. Editorial Piece The Editorial page
Place for properly labeled opinion pieces
Originated from the partisan press

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

8. Soft News Feature news, also known as soft news,
Directed more toward human interest and curiosity.

9. 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

10. Penny press Era: Papers Become Mass Media
The penny press
Created by the New York Sun
Published by Benjamin Day
Sold for one penny, in 1833.
Newsprint
Inexpensive paper & steam press helped to rapidly produce copies.
Higher literacy helped them sell
Information was more accessible
Huge circulation
Lot’s of advertising revenue
Sensationalism

11. A Brief History of Newspapers
Associated Press in 1848 led to a more objective news.
(How?)
Yellow journalism,
Increased competition led to unprecedented sensationalism
(What is that?)

12. Yellow Journalism Yellow journalism Sensationalism
Overly dramatic stories
Investigative journalism
In depth “detective” stories
Reached height in the Hearst-Pulitzer wars of the 1890s

13. A Brief History of Newspapers
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 current examples of Yellow Journalism
What characteristics define a tabloid?

14. Today’s Newspaper Publishing Industry
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

15. Consensus vs. Conflict Consensus oriented journalism
Small local papers
Local issues/govt., social events
Conflict oriented journalism
Large/National papers
Focus on hard news
Deviation from social norms

16. Today’s Newspaper Industry
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.

17. Today’s Newspaper Industry
Alternative papers
Provide radical or out of the mainstream viewpoints
The Chicano press, which targets Mexican-Americans,
Makes up the majority of Hispanic papers.

18. Ethnic Newspapers

19. Alternative press Underground press
Radical views of politics, questioned the mainstream

20. Today’s Newspaper Industry
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?

21. A Brief History of Newspapers
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?

22. Controversies Lack of Diversity in the Newsroom
Does Lack of diversity in Newsroom impact diversity of news presented?
Why/Why not?
What effect does little or no media representation have on groups not covered?

23. Minorities in the Media
There are many organizations that help promote fairness
NABJ
NAHJ
AAJA
NLGJA

24. Newspaper Operations Advertising The production department
Sales reps & layout staff
The production department
Runs the press
The circulation department
Arranges delivery to
newsstands, homes, stores, and vending machines.

25. Newspaper ownership Chains losing grip
Chains dominated ownership
Circulation drop created sell offs
Private and independent ownership
Tend to focus on profit
May lead to changes in content
Impact press freedoms & journalistic integrity

26. Challenges Declining readership Local/Community papers Blogs
Access to online information
Local/Community papers
Focus on local information
Retain loyal readership
Blogs
Allowed amateurs to present news stories
Competed with journalism outlets

27. Convergence Newspaper move to digital Benefits of digital
Slow move due to local monopoly
Competition from 24/7 cable news
Benefits of digital
No space limits
More content
Breaking news updates
Continuous updates/stories
Pay walls hurt traffic
Online Ads are lagging