Hi-Lights IHi-Lights I

Journalism Today!

Chapter One ReviewChapter One Review

America’s First NewspapersAmerica’s First Newspapers

• Composed of letters, essays, borrowed materials

• Little, if any “news”• Publick Occurrences

1690, Benjamin Harris• One issue – British

colonial authorities didn’t dig what he published

America’s First NewspapersAmerica’s First Newspapers

• 1704 – Boston News-Letter – first published continuously

• John Campbell published it “by authority”

Freedom of the PressFreedom of the Press

• If attempted to criticize government – guilty of SEDITION

• SeditionSedition = stirring of rebellion, criticizing government

• “The greater the truth, the greater the libel.” In early 1700s, truth was not a defense against libel.

• LibelLibel – written defamation of character – person, institution, belief

Freedom of the PressFreedom of the Press

• N.Y. Weekly Journal – John Peter Zenger (publisher)– article criticized Gov. William Cosby (1735)

• In jail for seditious libel charge

Freedom of the PressFreedom of the Press

• Case was hopeless – if he printed attacks on government, he was guilty of libel, even if his statements were true . . .

• Andrew Hamilton, attorney• Basically stated that through our country’s

freedom, we have secured ourselves the right to truth – the liberty of both expressing and opposing power

Freedom of the PressFreedom of the Press

• “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate to prefer the latter.”- Thomas Jefferson

Partisan PressPartisan Press• Zenger’s trial began

freedom rallies in the colonies

• Newspapers began to align with political parties – continued for 100 years or so

• Whig/Tory paper• Freedom of press

established in First Amendment rather than Constitution

The Penny PressThe Penny Press• 1833 Benjamin Day – New York Sun• Full of glorious, real “news”! (police

beat, tragedies, natural disasters, minimized the opinions)

• Sold for a penny on street sales, not subscriptions

• Became very popular• Advertising became prominent• Others – New York Morning Herald

(James Gordon Bennet), New York Tribune (Horace Greely)

Women in early American Women in early American JournalismJournalism

• Cornelia Walter – editor of the Boston Transcript in 1840s

• Jane Grey Swisshelm – first woman to cover Congress (1850 . . . for the Tribune)

The Penny PressThe Penny Press• New York Times (1851-present)• Best – pro journalists• Set standard for fairness and accuracy • Standard has been widely imitated but

rarely equaled

TelegraphTelegraph• 1844• Impact on journalism felt during civil

war (1860s)• Reporters at sites transmitted stories

by telegraph• Telegraph sped up reporting of news• News gathering services (AP, UPI)

sprang up – still called wire services

Yellow JournalismYellow Journalism

Late 19th century – low point in journalismUnethical, irresponsible journalismHoaxes, altered photos, screaming headlines, promotion of newspapers themselvesMuch like today’s National Enquirer, Sun, World Weekly News, Globe magazine, The Onion, etc.William Randolph Hearst (New York Journal), Joseph Pulitzer (New York World)

Yellow JournalismYellow Journalism

Newspapers attracted huge audiences These two papers competed fiercelyNellie Bly (Elizabeth Cockrane) – made the news herself; pretended to be mentally ill – committed to Blackwell Island Asylum

MuckrakingMuckrakingMuckrakingMuckraking

Opposite of yellow journalism – journalists on crusadePapers crusaded for child labor laws, promoted hospitals, collected money for needyBattled corruption in all its formsPure Food and Drug act of 1906 – result of public scrutiny of meat packing industry

Radio and TVRadio and TVRadio and TVRadio and TV

Radio newscasts brought live news to listenersTV brought live, moving pictures to viewersNewspapers took less of a breaking news roleTV had big impact on viewers during Vietnam – led to increased instances of protestFCC – jurisdiction over airwaves – NO Censorship power

Journalism TodayJournalism TodayJournalism TodayJournalism Today

General decline in readership24% of young people surveyed said they don’t read newspapersGood journalists need to keep up with current news!To stay competitive, newspapers have increased their online presence as their print presence has decreased

Final ThoughtsFinal ThoughtsFinal ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

First Amendment right – the press is the only constitutionally protected industry in the country.This implies responsibility, even for high school journalists!Because of this right, journalists have an obligation to perform for the benefit of society – accurate, responsible reporting!!!