Journalism: From Past to Present

Journalism: From Past to Present

America’s First Newspapers What are some characteristics of this newspaper? Would you want to read this?

Would you want to read this?

The First Papers • Often 1 sheet long and contained letters and essays. What do newspapers today contain? • No pictures, just text • First paper published was Publick Occurences by Benjamin Harris in 1690

Freedom of the Press • Newspapers often criticized the government freely and openly. Can they do this today? • What kind of stories are found in newspapers? Do you ever feel like they are biased toward certain topics?

The John Peter Zenger Trial • 1735 • In his newspaper, the New York Weekly Journal, he printed articles criticizing Governor William Cosby. • Wrote few of the articles himself • Arrested on a charge of seditious libel and jailed New York Governor William Cosby John Peter Zenger

What happened next? “I hope it is not our bare printing or publishing a paper that will make it a libel. For the words themselves must be libelous, that is false, or else we are not guilty.” -Hamilton • Best attorney of that period • Defended Zenger • In his 80’s • Andrew Hamilton

So what was the verdict? • Not Guilty! Why? • Hamilton convinced the jury that what Zenger said was the TRUTH and that was more important than anything. The truth needed to be spoken.

What is this? Telegraph • Reporters at Civil War battle sites began to use this to transmit their stories around 1861. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOICsjn1JjU

Inverted Pyramid • Developed as a result of the telegraph • To ensure that the outcome of the battle got into the story in case the telegraph broke down during transmission • Give the most important information first

Muckracking • American newspapers developed a social consciousness. • Many papers crusaded for child-labor laws, promoted hospitals, collected money for the needy, and exposed public graft. Critics called these journalists muckrackers, coined by Theodore Roosevelt.

Magazines Magazines began to join the fight for social justice that the newspapers had begun. The Pure Food and Drugs Act of 1906 was developed, as well as many other reforms during this time. (Federal inspection of all meats)

The Chicago Defender • Founded by Abbott in 1905 • Abbott’s parents were slaves. • Took lead in encouraging Southern blacks to move to the North in search for better jobs in that region’s industries. Robert S. Abbott The first to give African Americans a public forum for addressing civil rights and other issues

Radio • Federal Communications Commission: has jurisdiction, though not censorship power, over both radio and TV In 1916, Dr. Lee De Forest made the first newscast.

Shock Jocks • Began to dominate the air waves in the 1990’s • Make careers out of being insulting and outrageous, saying whatever comes to mind • Is this legitimate journalism? • Journalism is objective and untainted. Howard Stern

The Impact of Television • First TV newscast took place in the 1940’s. • By the mid-1960’s, more than 60 million TV sets were in use. • 30 years later, the number exceeded 90 million. • Claimed the “breaking news” role over newspapers and radio.

Sensationalism • Daytime talk shows featuring dysfunctional guests with unconventional relationships and lifestyles • Serious news became hard to find in the 1990’s. • Even traditional papers began running more “trash” news at the expense of serious news.

The Effect of Technology • The Internet was the great media advance of the 20th century. • Getting the news is quick and efficient.

Journalism: From Past to Present