History of American Journalism

The press has a privileged position. It disposes of protection offered to property and protection
offered by the First Amendment: Congress shall not stop the right of people to assemble. The
special treatment of the press is derived from the right of speech and privacy and the unique
contribution of the press to the development of the state. Freedom of speech and press were
considered a natural right, given by God and so it was not subject to control interference or
abrogation of other men. Since freedom of speech was not given by society it couldnt be
removed by a society. Individuals are entitled to these rights. It was each mans personal right
derived from his personal relationship to God and used by each individual. Early in the U.S.s
history, this right was extended to corporations. Thus, the right of freedom of expression, as well
as other rights, was given to organizations. So, the notion of national rights became tied to
corporate rights.
Historically speaking, the state was the presss enemy. The press was considered an instrument in
the struggle for freedom and a protector of individual rights. It was Jefferson who added another
role to the press: to control the government and make it bend to the peoples will. This is called
the watch dog role of the media.
The development of American journalism was the response to personal and social needs, like
everywhere in the world. Ever since 1607 the population grew steadily and reached 250,000 at
the end of the century. In Boston, NY and PhiladelphiYet the growth of newspapers was greately
retarded by the strong control exerted by governors and the church authorities- the first presses in
the Colonies were closely controlled and turned into religious tracts and official printing. Efforts
to establsih commercial or other kind of papares were thwarted by government boards which
licensed the press and examined all material before publication.
Benjamin Harris- 1690- Public Occurrences which was banned after the first issue
John Campbell- 1704 Boston News Letter managed to survive because the publisher
promised not to offend the government

In the first quarter of the 18th century five newspapers were set up in the Colonies: 3 in Boston,
1 in Philadelphia and 1 in NY. Most of the publishers were postmasters= closely connected with
the authorities and never offended them. By 1750 the newspaper had become part of the
American scene: more than a dozen papers were being published in six American colonies. In the
Tory-Patriot conflict the number of newspapers grew rapidly and consistently to 48. - expanding
circulation meant more advertising
1783-1800- a tremendous growth and editorial conflict :

Federalists (strong central

government) vs. Antifederalists (a mere league of or less independent states)

1800-1833: during The Dark Age of Partisan Journalism many newspapers sank to the lows of
virulenvce, invectives and bias. In addition to the political press another type of press developed:
the mercantile or commercial paper.
Newspapers not only helped to crystallize public opinion

in support of the democratic

revolution, but also began to focus of a new type of citizen- the urban laborer. Technologylarger number of publications and circulations (in 1832- 4,000 copies/hour-

double-cylinder

press. Advent of the penny press: local, domestic life, crime, sex, human interestcopyopposed to the six-cent political and factional controversy-related dailies
NY became the center of the penny paper= popular paper- aim: to attract the masses
Gordon Bennett- The New York Herald- transformed AM journalism- declared his newspaper
free of any political factionalism and clique. North-South War divided the press -the Partisan
journalism revived and resulted into a high developement of Military correspondence. The
partisan press still survived after the war until 1870s- but the general trend continued toward an
independent press. Henry Raymond- The NY Times- the aim was to serve the good of the
community. Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolf Hearst- industrialists= news not only as
information, but as a commodity to be manufactured, packaged and marketed like other goods.
Once the radio appeared, the reporters began to adapt. Every news organisation uses different
tools to influence the people. Each form of media knows exactly what to offer them. The watch
dog role of the media ment monitoring on a permanent basis everything that is going on,
keeping people accountable for their deeds.