Comm455/History of Journalism

Johann Gutenberg‘s name — and the year 1450 — will forever be linked to the printing press, but there is more credit to go around. Chinese civilizations introduced movable type in 950, according to the chronological timeline in Mitchell Stephens‘ “A History of News.” As it follows, early Chinese news publication systems were some of […]

While walking down the streets of Medieval London or 17th Century Paris or even of 18th century Bermuda one may wonder what disease the crazy man on the corner has who keeps screaming out with various instruments such as bells, drums and gongs. One may be surprised to find out though that this man is not crazy at all, but is instead one […]

                      The American Civil War was a watershed event in the history of American journalism. Mitchell Stephen’s book “A History of News” says that the “Civil war does more for the development of American Journalism than any other event.” In a war that is regarded as […]

Radio has long been our friend. One of the most immediate forms of mass communication, the radio has been a staple in American society for almost a century. We use it to listen to sporting events, to listen to music, to listen to talk shows and it helps to get us through our daily endeavors […]

As everyone is aware of, Television has change everything an ordinary American has done over the past half century. It is a revolutionary technology in the 20th century that has change the way we received news, and how the news is transformed to millions of viewers.  Television sets begin with black and white sets,color in […]

The “Acta” was the official text of ancient Rome. It was first written in 131 B.C. and it was carved into stone or metal. For the most part, the “Acta” was a public document. However, it was sometimes restricted by the government.  In 59 B.C., Julius Caesar ordered the posting of the “Acta” in public […]

The Greeks contributed many things to journalism including the addition of vowels to the alphabet and the first known Western history in 443 B.C. “The final step in the development of writing was the adoption of an alphabet,” according to our textbook on page 47. The Greek addition of vowels came by about 750 B.C. The […]

In 1735 France provided unlikely centers of information exchange.  Salons were places to discuss news and information, especially in the salon of Madame Doublet.  The news that passed through this particular salon was used to write Louis Petit de Bachaumont’s Mémoires secret. This publication brought literary life of the eighteenth century to light.  It discussed topics such […]

                                              Johannes Gutenberg                                            Printing Press Johannes Gutenberg gets the majority of the credit for inventing the printing press. The German goldsmith built the first printing press in 1440 . It should also be noted, however, that the Chinese played a vital role in the development of this ground-breaking machine. Almost 300 years before Gutenberg […]

Germany, Printing Press, Gutenberg

Few historical figures have impacted the world like Adolf Hitler did. In 1983, Gerd Heidemann, German journalist announced that he discovered the lost diaries of Adolf Hitler. He sold the publication rights to West German magazine Stern for 10 million German marks (estimated $6 million USD). Prior to publication, Heidemann claimed to have received the diaries from a “Dr. […]

Before the era of the Internet, Radio, and Television;  Newspapers were the only way to receive news, regardless on how late it was reported. During the pre-20th century era, newspapers were becoming of age. Newspapers like the New York Times, Freedom Journal, and the Pennsylvania Evening Post were formed  between 1783 through 1827.  Even some […]