Newspapers and the News: Reflections of a Democratic Society Chapter 6
Alternative Facts
Censorship in early newspapers 1721: New England Courant Published by James Franklin, Ben s older brother. First paper published without By Authority notice; James sent to prison for doing so, Ben takes over publishing paper.
Early American Newspapers 1690-early 1700s For elites Published by political parties Focused on opinion, not news Expensive, had small circulation
Freedom of the press 1735 Zenger case Truth as a defense against libel charge 1791 First Amendment Congress shall pass no law abridging the freedom of the speech, or of the press
Late 1800s Rapidly growing number of papers Growing number of people working for wages, literate U.S. transforming from rural to urban society Newspapers promoting democratic market society (see Gans basic journalism values) People acquire the news habit
Penny Press It shines for all Sold on the street for 1 or 2 cents Supported primarily by advertising First papers to focus on news Journalistic objectivity developed as a way to appeal to larger audiences
Newspaper Wars: Pulitzer vs. Hearst Joseph Pulitzer s New York World Creation of the front page Created headlines with news Targeting immigrants and women Nellie Bly and stunt journalism
Newspaper Wars: Pulitzer vs. Hearst William Randolph Hearst s New York Journal Rise of yellow journalism Popularized comics, including the Yellow Kid Sensationalistic stories by both papers promoting Spanish-American War in Cuba
Newspapers Today: National USA Today started 1982 Brought color and design to the forefront Originally News McNuggets Now about 4.1 million daily circulation Wall Street Journal 2.2 million e-content not free New York Times 2.1 million Washington Post 450,000 owned by Jeff Bezos
Newspapers Today: Major Metropolitan Few cities have competing daily newspapers Most owned by large chains Revenues falling, problem worse at major metropolitan San Jose Mercury News San Francisco Chronicle Los Angeles Times Chicago Tribune
Tabloids Smaller format newspapers written in a lively, often sensationalistic, style Tabloid, jazz journalism era New York Daily News & New York Post, Chicago Sun-Times Racy London tabloids
TABLOIDS VS. NEW YORK TIMES
http://nypost.com/cover/covers-for-january22-2017/
Broadcast News - Radio
Newspapers Respond to Radio, TV Competition too appealing Radio had sound and music Movie newsreels added faces to voices By 1950, television Now, Internet Newspapers respond Tighter writing Better formatting Improved design Corporate consolidation
Broadcast News TV
Community and Suburban Papers Daily and weekly papers serving individual communities and suburbs Publish news people can t get anywhere else A local paper won t get scooped by CNN Most jobs, fewest applicants
Alternative Weeklies Started in 1960s & 70s as underground papers Now mostly chain-owned Targeted at young, urban readership that big media are having a hard time reaching
Underground newspapers Silicon Valley De-Bug Newspaper/commun ity organization Advocacy Website
The Ethnic Press 1827 first African-American newspaper Chicago Defender still publishing Spanish-language papers have growing advertising revenue
The Gay Press Gay papers started in late 1960s, copied on office equipment, distributed in gay bars Grew into profitable, professional papers. Hit hard by 2009 recession. Losing revenue as gay advertising moves into big media
Journalists as heroes Brought down Nixon presidency Watergate scandal Cover wars in Vietnam, Middle East Expose corruption, abuse of power 1,228 journalists worldwide killed on the job since 1992 74 killed in 2016
What is News? VALUES Timeliness Proximity Conflict Prominence Consequence Rarity Human Interest
st Newspapers in the 21 Century Futre is mobile and social Trying to get paid for online content Newspapers paying more attention to hyperlocal news. More revenue sources
But back to the basics... responding to an emergency in Japan