Looking Back: History of American Media

Looking Back: History of American Media

Learn these things Understand how printed press developed How the concept of freedom of press came into being Look at impact of radio, TV, and internet Recognize issues facing journalism today

1. Printed whaaaat? Understand how printed press developed

timeline 1450-ish America's first newspaper, Publick Occurrences, is published in Boston. The paper, able to fill only three of its four pages with text, suspends publication after one issue after drawing criticism from the colonial government. 1704 Johann Gutenberg invents the printing press, printing his famous Bible. It was the first major book printed using mass-produced movable type. 1690 The first successful American newspaper, The Boston News-Letter is published.

1729 timeline Freedom on the press is strengthened in the colonies when John Peter Zenger, jailed for libel by a New York governor after printing harsh criticism, is acquitted. LIBEL: a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation. 1765 Ben Franklin takes over The Pennsylvania Gazette, making it the boldest and best paper in the colonies. 1735 The Stamp Act forces all papers to display an official British government seal and pay a tax that raises prices 50 percent. After violent protest, the act is repealed.

timeline 1776 The Pennsylvania Evening Post, a thrice-weekly, increases its frequency to become America s first daily newspaper. 1791 The Declaration of Independence first appears publicly in The Pennsylvania Evening Post and is reprinted in 20 other colonial newspapers. 1783 The Bill of Rights provides that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the speech or of the press.

timeline 1844 First practical typewriter patented. 1876 The telegraph is used for the first time to transmit news, making long-distance reporting possible. 1867 Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone; within 7 years telephone lines will connect New York and Chicago.

timeline YELLOW JOURNALISM: a sensational brand of journalism given to hoaxes, altered photographs, screaming headlines, frauds, and endless promotions of the newspapers themselves 1880 Yellow journalism reaches its heights as Hearst and Pulitzer trump up war with Spain 1900 First photograph is printed in a newspaper in the New York Daily Graphic. 1898 Satirical political cartoons become a popular way for newspapers to comment on current events.

timeline 1920 Only 20,000 people owned televisions in 1945. By now, 90% of American homes have a TV. 1963 KDKA-Pittsburg begins broadcasting the first regular radio schedule. 1960 TV news comes of age covering the Kennedy assassination; 96% of homes with televisions watch an average of 32 hours of coverage.

timeline 1974 The Internet wires the planet. Laptop computers, digital cameras and modems allow reporters to file stories and photos from anywhere in the world. 2007 President Nixon resigns following dogged investigation of the Watergate scandal by The Washington Post s Woodward and Bernstein. 1990s The iphone is the first smartphone model designed and marketed by Apple. This marks the beginning of the public being able to receive news instantly at their fingertips.

2. Amendments are important. I heard about them in history class. How the concept of freedom of press came into being

First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Freedom of speech includes the right: Not to speak (specifically, the right not to salute the flag). West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943). Of students to wear black armbands to school to protest a war ( Students do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate. ). Tinker v. Des Moines, 393 U.S. 503 (1969). To use certain offensive words and phrases to convey political messages. Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15 (1971). To contribute money (under certain circumstances) to political campaigns. Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1 (1976). To advertise commercial products and professional services (with some restrictions). (1977). Virginia Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Consumer Council, 425 U.S. 748 (1976); Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, 433 U.S. 350 To engage in symbolic speech, (e.g., burning the flag in protest). Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989); United States v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990).

Freedom of speech does not include the right: To incite actions that would harm others (e.g., [S]hout[ing] fire in a crowded theater. ). Schenck v. United States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919). To make or distribute obscene materials. Roth v. United States, 354 U.S. 476 (1957). To burn draft cards as an anti-war protest. United States v. O Brien, 391 U.S. 367 (1968). To permit students to print articles in a school newspaper over the objections of the school administration. Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988). Of students to make an obscene speech at a school-sponsored event. Bethel School District #43 v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675 (1986). Of students to advocate illegal drug use at a school-sponsored event. Morse v. Frederick, U.S. (2007).

3. Court Cases Look at impact of radio, TV, and internet

Court Cases Mini-Poster Title of court case Date of court case Names of people involved Story behind the case Important quotes from the court Picture of people or the issues involved Symbols of the case (pictures or drawings) Works cited - NO WIKIPEDIA! (aka trash) Group member names 1. West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette 2. Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser 3. Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier 4. Zucker v. Panitz 5. Yeo v Town of Lexington Example: Tinker v. Des Moines