Journalism+History

An understanding of the history of journalism is important to understanding journalism today.


 * Eight Characteristics of Pioneer Newspapers**


 * 1) Government Patronage was necessary.
 * 2) Foreign news was months old.
 * 3) Local News was unimportant. (Word of mouth was faster.)
 * 4) Ads were there but very primitive
 * 5) Long dull columns.
 * 6) News was chronological.
 * 7) Small circulation.
 * 8) No freedom of the press.


 * The first papers were one sheet long and contained letters, essays and poems, but little news.
 * The first American Newspaper was the "Publick Occurrences Both Foreigh and Domestic" published in Boston in 1690 by Benjamin Harris.
 * He only produced one issue and was shut down by the British Authorities.
 * In 1704, the "Boston Newsletter" was published "//by authority"// meaning it had government approval.