The idea of news is as old as language itself. (Campbell, Martin, and Fabos, 221) News in its earliest form was passes from person to person by word of mouth. The first written document that was considered news was the news sheet, which was developed by Julius Caesar. These daily events were posted in public spaces and on building in Rome in 59 B.C.E. News through journalism in its earliest form is not the same new we know today. News started out purely informational. It was a way to keep neighboring tribes and towns current with the state of relations. By the fifteenth century the printing press was introduced and allowed society to send and receive information. In September of 1690 the first newspaper Publick Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestic was published in North America. This newspaper was banned after only one issue because of the negative tone regarding British rule. In 1704 the regularly published newspaper appeared in the American Colonies called the Boston News Letter. At this time news was transported by ship, it took weeks to arrive in the states. The news was not current and people found it to be boring.
In the 1820’s the cost of a newspaper was about six cents per paper, and required a subscription. In 1830 the Penny Press was introduced to the world. This newspaper was the paper for the common man. Up to this point newspapers were not for the common man. They were expensive and boring. The Penny Press was a steam powered mechanical machine that was able to produce more newspapers for less money. Unlike the traditional newspaper the Penny Press did not require a subscription. The Penny Press introduced Human Interest stories which highlighted daily triumph of the people. This type of paper was the first to report on crime, scandal, fashion, finance, balloon races, and sports stories things that are interesting to the common man. Competition was fierce with the Penny Press there were many different Penny Presses to choose from.
In 1848 six New York newspapers got together and formed the Associated Press. This was the first major news wire service. Wire service relayed news through the telegraph lines and later through radio waves and digital transmission. The wire service allowed news to travel quickly from coast to coast.
The next significant period in Journalism was Yellow journalism. Yellow journalism featured exciting human interest stories, crime news, large headlines and comic strips. This type of journalism was introduced into the states in a time of turmoil. The country was at war and the people were confused. Yellow journalism had nothing to do with reporting, but instead derived from a popular cartoon strip about life in New York's slums called Hogan's Alley, drawn by Richard F. Outcault. Published in color by Pulitzer's New York World, the comic's most well-known character came to be known as the Yellow Kid, and his popularity accounted in no small part for a tremendous increase in sales of the World.
In the late 1800’s newspapers wanted larger circulation, and reporting changed. Two distinct types of journalism emerged; the story driven model which dramatizes important events and the Just the facts model which stated the facts.
This is when democracy begins to surface in journalism. The ideal of impartiality verses purely informational in the delivery method.
Of all mass media, newspapers have played the longest and strongest role in sustaining democracy. (Campbell, Martin, and Fabos, 250) Print Journalism is the way of today. This form has posed a major threat to the printed press. Newspapers have battled for years the question of tolerance for differing viewpoints. News reporting is essential for democratic self-government.