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History Part 1
COM 13500Introduction to
Journalism
Today’s Concepts
• Gutenberg’s Impact
• Early Newspapers
• What Makes a Newspaper
• Ben Franklin – Father of American
Journalism
• John Peter Zenger and Seditious
Libel Laws = Seeds of Press Freedom
in Colonial America
“Journalism history is the story of man’s long struggle to communicate freely with his fellow men—to dig out and interpret news, and to offer intelligent opinion in the marketplace of ideas.”
-Edwin Emery, The Press and America
• 1453: Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press– Prints the Bible, which became known as “The
Gutenberg Bible”• Great influence on Western culture – seen as
“dangerous” by authorities• In 1671 Sir William Berkley wrote home to his
government:– "I thank God we have not free schools nor
printing, and hope we shall not have for another hundred years. For learning has brought disobedience and heresy and sects into the world and printing has divulged them and libels against the Government. God keep us from both!"
Gutenberg
Just for Fun…The Gutenberg Lego Printing Press!
Found On:
Printeresting.org
Early Newspapers
•First English language
newspaper early 1700’s
•Printed in London;
•Samuel Buckley – insisted
the paper include “news”,
not just rumors –
unprecedented at the time.
•1690, Colonial America•By Benjamin Harris•Banned after one issue•Emphasized “conflict”and “fear” – a contrastto other printed materialsof the day.•Wasn’t “licensed” by authorities
Early Newspapers
• Boston News-Letter• 1704• By John Campbell, a postmaster• First genuine American newspaper• All copy cleared through Governor,
and because it was “libel-proof” – it wasn’t very interesting and had few subscribers (300 max)
• Though “unimpressive” – became the basis for the Fourth Estate.
1. Published once a week2. Produced by mechanical means3. Must be available to anyone willing to pay the price,
regardless of class or special interests4. Must print anything of interest to the general public, as
contrasted with some of the religious and business publications
5. Must have an appeal to a public of ordinary literary skill6. Must be timely, or at least relatively so, in the light of
technical development 7. Must have stability, as contrasted to the fly-by-night
publications of more primitive timesEdwin Emery p. 3 The Press and America
Newspaper Qualifications
“They that can give up
essential liberty to
obtain a little
temporary safety
deserve neither liberty
nor safety.”-Benjamin
Franklin
Often called the “Father of American Journalism”
Began rise to fame as printer-
journalist in 1720’s
Publisher of Pennsylvania Gazette
Made it profitable by
incorporating advertising
He made journalism respectable
by being interesting, truthful,
and business-savvy.
Attracted young, intelligent
people to the industry
Often called the “Father of American Journalism”
“If all printers were
determined not to print
anything till they were
sure it would offend
nobody, there would be
very little printed.”
May 9, 1754 – Pennsylvania GazetteEarliest Known Political Cartoon
Ben Franklin
• John Peter Zenger Case– 1734-35– Thrown in jail for “seditious
libel laws” for writing disparaging remarks about New York Gov. William Cosby in the New York Weekly Journal
– Jailed for nine months
• John Peter Zenger Case– Thrilling trial, packed
courtroom – showed public interest in political events of the day.
– Famous lawyer, Andrew Hamilton delivers address to jury – it returns a “not guilty” verdict
– Trial paved the way for liberty in America
– In 1770s, the rebels looked back at this trial as a battle cry for liberty and freedom
• Many of the founding fathers were enthusiastic about a free press. Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1787 that "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."
• Samuel Adams said in 1768 that "there is nothing so fretting and vexatious, nothing so justly terrible to tyrants . . . as a free press." History.org