a (ridiculously) short
history of newspapers
The history of the
news media in the
UK is a fascinating
story of struggles
for power, freedom
of communication,
and the rights of
ordinary people to
gain knowledge
News is power
worked in secret. society was in turmoil, independent – and a
about the world.
• 2,500 years ago, the
• In 1476, William weekly news-pamphlets challenge to the status
Caxton began printing began to circulate, each quo.
This brief summary
rulers of the Roman
Empire circulated
texts in English using published on a different • In 1712 the
provides a snapshot ‘newsletters’. Julius
technology that would day, and with different Government imposed
remain unchanged for pro- or anti-Royalist Stamp Duty, a tax
of some of the major
Caesar is believed to
have launched the first
almost four centuries: views. paid by newspaper
issues, events and
real newspaper, Acta
embossed letters, • King Charles I was publishers on each
forming words and overthrown; to restrict copy produced, and
developments in
Diurna, in 60BC by
sending messengers
sentences, were ‘inked’ the possibilities of each advertisement
technology which
counter-rebellion, printed. This ensured
trekking across Europe
and then pressed onto
have shaped the
strict censorship was that only the wealthy,
with the ‘news’ from
sheets of paper. Paper-
making technology introduced by Oliver and therefore those
British news and the
Rome, to ensure all his
limited the size of Cromwell and his anti- least likely to threaten
generals and governors
rise (and fall?) of the
documents, the biggest Royalists. After 1644, the Establishment,
knew what to think and
being the ‘broadsheet’. all printing presses had could afford to publish
newspaper industry.
do, wherever they were.
(‘Tabloid’ is half that to be licensed in order newspapers.
• Movable type was
size.) to control what could • In 1731 the first reports
first used in China and
be published. These from Parliament were
Japan in the 8th century,
News is
restrictions were not published. This was
but printed news was
dangerous lifted for fifty years. illegal, and technically
slow to develop in the
• In the 15th century, • In response, the poet remained so until 1971
Western world. Control
printing presses were John Milton published – and it was what
of the written word
only allowed in Oxford, Aeropagitica, the first Parliament feared most.
remained in the hands
Cambridge and London, major defence of the Even though newspaper
of priests and monks,
and publishing ‘news’ freedom of the press, circulation was still
scribes in the royal
was forbidden. The and the start of the extremely limited, word
courts and the ruling
ruling classes were debates about the soon got about; the
classes – literacy was
particularly worried that ownership and control public wanted to know
only for the powerful.
their servants and the of news we are still still more about what
• Until the 18th century,
peasantry might learn to discussing today. went on in Parliament.
most news in Europe
read, and thus acquire • On 6th June, 1762,
reached ordinary
dangerous knowledge.
Taxing news
the radical politician
people mainly by word
• In the 16th century,
– another form of John Wilkes published
of mouth, through
Archbishop William control a declaration in his
messengers and town
Tyndale translated the • On 11th March, 1702 newspaper The North
criers, often through
Bible into English so that the Daily Courant Briton:
the songs and plays of
ordinary people could became Britain’s first The liberty of the
wandering minstrels
read it instead of relying daily paper. It was press is the birthright
and strolling players.
upon priests to translate quickly followed by of a Briton, and is
• In the 15th century,
and interpret it. He was Daniel Defoe’s weekly justly esteemed the
the idea of mass
exiled, persecuted and Review (1704), and firmest bulwark of
print production
condemned as a heretic, two weekly magazines the liberties of this
was considered so
and murdered in 1536. that survive to this day country.
dangerous that when – the society magazine • When the King was
the German Johannes Political news is The Tatler (1709), and criticised in The
Gutenberg devised forbidden a political journal, The North Briton, printers
a printing press with • During the English Spectator (1711). These and news vendors
movable type he Civil War, when British publications were were arrested in an
english and media centre | February 2008 | MediaMagazine 31
MM23S&G13.02.08.indd 31 14/2/08 12:31:59
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