2007historyofprint

The rise of print, newspapers and popular journalism: 

The rise of print, newspapers and popular journalism Doreen Weisenhaus Assistant Professor University of Hong Kong September 2007

What is a “newspaper”?: 

What is a “newspaper”? Must be available to significant portion of public Published regularly and frequently (at least weekly, contrast “news book”) Carries news about a wide variety of current events (usually news of general interest to a specific geographic area) (1st issue from Strasburg 1609 had news from Cologne, Antwerp, Rome, Venice, Vienna, Prague) Consistent and recognizable title or format

What else?: 

What else? Reporters gather and write news Photographers shoot pictures; graphic artists provide charts, diagrams, etc Editors assign, edit, write headlines, do layouts Top editor supervises news staff Publisher controls business and operations

Newspaper’s roles: 

Newspaper’s roles Commerce: advertising Practical information: TV and movie listings, weather reports, stock prices Entertainment: comics, crosswords, celebrity news, gossip Role in democracy: provide citizens with information, guidance on government and politics so they can govern themselves Thomas Jefferson (1787): “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

Precursors to newspapers: 

Precursors to newspapers News reports of Roman empire (“acta diurna”), Chinese dynasties (“tipao”) 15th c: printing press used to disseminate news --letter written by Columbus on his discoveries set in type and circulating in Barcelona in 1493 16th c, 17th c: “News books” (royal weddings, victorious battles), pamphlets, news ballads (accounts of news events written in verse, printed on 1 side of sheet of paper and circulated). Distributed by government. One-off.

Most direct ancestor: 

Most direct ancestor Most direct ancestor: 16th c “avisi” or gazettes, handwritten news sheets circulated widely in Venice Why Venice? Center of trade and power. (Think Amsterdam 17th c, England 18th/19th c, US 20th) Reported news brought to Venice by traders (accounts of wars and politics in other parts of Italy and Europe) Pioneered style of journalism: short set of news items and datelines (name of city where news originated and date) But what circulation? First printed news sheets: “Trewe Encountre” English-language 1513. First regularly printed newspapers (weekly): Strasburg (1609), Amsterdam (1618), England (1621), France (1631), Italy (1639), Spain (1641)

Amsterdam’s contribution: 

Amsterdam’s contribution New power/trade center in Europe, political/religious tolerance Provided newspapers in other languages, English, French Dutch style: dense with facts, timeliness “Corantos” (news currents)

England enters the picture…: 

England enters the picture… First newspaper (1621) (why so long? Royal perogative, restrictive licensing, Star Chamber, religious strife) First editor, Thomas Gainsford (?) (coherent narratives, standardized formats) (1622) First correction! (1626) Only foreign news at first. No domestic news though until 1640s (why?)

…introduces concept of press freedom…: 

…introduces concept of press freedom… John Milton publishes “Areopagitica” in 1644, arguing for an unlicensed press: Truth is strong and will prevail Seeking to know truth to improve one’s understanding has a particular priority Exposure to falsity is valuable for appreciation of truth (“Let truth and falsehood grapple”)

…introduces more popular topics, features…: 

…introduces more popular topics, features… National civil war between King and Parliament (1642-1648) creates great interest in national news (1649: “This day the King was beheaded…”) But what else to cover?? Some stories: Freaks, horrors, crime, tidbits More news to attract merchants, traders, financiers (lists of ships, ports, cargo) First to use headlines First to use woodcuts to illustrate stories First to use printed ads as source of revenue

…introduces the daily newspaper…: 

…introduces the daily newspaper… First daily newspaper in London, The Daily Courant (1702) Weakening of King’s authority, expiration of licensing act, 1695 Changed nature of what is “news” Catered to financial and wealthy elite.

…and gives birth to modern newspapers : 

…and gives birth to modern newspapers 18th c market developments: rising literary, formation of nation/states, developing postal system, more urban centers, rising literary/philosophical tradition emphasizing democratic involvement in government Modern newspapers (advertising, mix of political/economic/social news and commentary) emerged in Britain in the mid-18th century. As first country to undergo Industrial Revolution, Britain uniquely able to provide complex system of distribution networks, large urban markets, and advertisers necessary to make newspapers profitable New business standards: hired women as reporters, paid newsboys/newsgirls to sell papers in the streets

American colonial newspapers: 

American colonial newspapers First: Publick Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestick, (1690) Boston. Colonial gov’t shut it down after one issue. 14 years before another newspaper published in the colonies (publisher had fled to America) Boston News-Letter (1704), first regularly published colonial newspaper. Contained financial/foreign news from English newspapers, recorded local births, deaths, social events. Rarely challenged colonial authority because the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony retained the right to censor any of its contents. New England Courant (1721) tried to cover political debate. Publisher ended up in jail. New York Gazette (1725), NYC’s first paper

Key colonial developments: 

Key colonial developments New York Weekly Journal (1733), John Peter Zenger, started newspaper to express views against British colonial governor. Zenger on trial in 1735 for seditious libel (words likely to disturb peace and government, usually criticism). His lawyer argued for defense of “cause of liberty…the liberty both of exposing and opposing arbitrary power by speaking and writing the truth.” Jury acquitted! Established major press freedom principle Crusading newspapers (including criticism of 1765 British stamp act) contributed to Revolutionary War. Major influence on public opinion New: Press committed to challenging or even overthrowing government!

Post-war, partisan press…: 

Post-war, partisan press… By the war’s end, more than 40 newspapers played vital role in affairs of the new nation After war, flourishing of newspapers with each party having own papers. More started, representing all shades of political opinion. 1783: America’s first daily newspaper, Pennsylvania Evening Post Bill of Rights (1791) guaranteed freedom of the press 1814: 346 newspapers in circulation. .

Penny press and technology advances: 

Penny press and technology advances Until 1830s newspapers focused on business and political news Advances in printing, papermaking technology led to explosion of newspaper growth, including emergence of “Penny Press.” Previously newspapers were for wealthy, literate minority Costly (6 cents!), low circulation (highest: 4,500) 1833: The Sun (“It Shines for all”) for 1 cent 1825 invention of cylinder press 1850s wide use of steam engine-powered presses. Before: 125 copies an hour/ Now: 18,000! 1837: invention of telegraph allows rapid transmittal of news 1848: Associated Press founded. Why? High cost of telegraph transmissions led to formation of telegraph wire services to distribute stories to many different papers. Founded as a cooperative venture by NY papers. 1866: completion of transatlantic cable Sudden availability of cheap, interesting reading material significantly stimulated high rate of literacy.

The rise of the popular press….: 

The rise of the popular press…. Growth of penny press in US, England, France Political implications? Horace Greeley, NY Tribune (1841), most active politically. Problems in England with stamp tax, illegal newspapers, publishers jailed. Tax finally abolished in 1855 James Gordon Bennet, Herald (NY 1835) Big profits in advertising (not sales) New York World (1833) Joseph Pulitzer’s famous formula: sensationalism (“Conetti’s Last Night” and “Little Lotta’s Lovers”), crusading, attention-getting campaigns (Nellie Bly around the world in 80 days), aggressive news coverage

Yellow journalism: 

Yellow journalism Rise of wire services tended to reduce emphasis on personal opinion in news stories. Also, ideals of science and realism embraced in late 19th century and facts treated w/new respect. (Adolph Ochs, New York Times 1896). New emphasis on thoroughness of its reporting, than on editorials or positions on issues. But as papers competed to increase circulation, publishers sought new methods to attract readers. Publishers Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst began using drawings/comic strips, sensational coverage. Tactics very successful; other papers copied Yellow journalism: papers that used comics, sensational coverage, after popular Hearst comic strip The Yellow Kid.

Yellow journalism’s war: 

Yellow journalism’s war Feud between Pulitzer and Hearst Hearst, Pulitzer crusaded for war with Spain over Cuba Misleading headlines Circulation rose: 1 million a day!

20th century trends: 

20th century trends 1900: 2,300 newspapers in US More attempts to reach masses Use of photography (1897) Tabloids: Started in England (name: easy to digest medicine), gained in popularity, easy to read. New York Daily News

Next time: 

Next time Origins of journalism in the East Hong Kong’s special role in the origins of modern Chinese journalism Origins of Hong Kong’s press Think about how the early development of the Chinese press was different from the development of Western press. How were they similar? What influences were significant?