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