1) Newspaper Beginnings: The Start of Modern Mass Media

 Newspaper Beginnings

The Start of Modern Media & Journalism

Modern media comes in many forms in today's world, with many around the world following the news daily, waiting for new information, whether from their home country or hometown, or tuning into one of the many international news networks abroad. However, modern media and journalism owe it to the newspaper. 

Beginning of Newspapers

(Cover of Hickey's Bengal Gazette from March 10th, 1871)

The first newspapers were published in the Holy Roman Empire (now modern Germany) in 1605 when printed pieces of paper shared mostly political and foreign news made to inform the publics of cities and towns. The modern newspaper started to gain widespread popularity in the 1700's when newspapers began to be printed and read by many not just in Europe or America but worldwide as far as India where newspapers such as Hickey's Bengal Gazette (A British Indian newspaper posted in Kolkata, also the first printed newspaper published in Asia) became popular as the widespread printing of newspapers made them more common and more affordable amongst the public. 

In the 18 and 1900's newspapers were the main source of news and public information worldwide with newspapers such as 'The New York Times' in the United States and 'The Guardian' in the United Kingdom, becoming world renowned for their writing and coverage on not only local but international news, especially during war times and during times of political unrest and instability. 

Decline in the 21'st Century

In modern times newspapers have faced a decline in popularity from the late 1900's as news and information became digitalized in the forms of television and social media with some news agencies opting to televise their news on morning and evening television news stations and apps like Facebook and Instagram instead of on newspapers or radio stations as television sets became widely available not only in wealthy urban areas but also in poorer rural areas allowing televised news and entertainment to be shown to a wider audience than ever before sending the amount of newspapers being sold and published to dwindle over time leaving multiple newspaper agencies to shut down.

Rebirth of Newspapers

Whilst newspapers faced a decline in modern times, newspaper agencies which have remained standing have learned to adapt to the times. Most news agencies whilst still producing physical newspapers have also started switching their operations online and posting news and information on their own websites as well as outlets like Instagram, Facebook and even TikTok to reach younger audiences who mostly prefer to use online sources. This has helped prevent the loss of newspapers in modern media as physical newspapers are mainly read by middle aged and elderly populations, giving younger generations a way to still use newspapers and continue the legacy.