menu szukaj
Weekly Online Magazine
ISSN 2544-5839

new articles each monday
zamknij
advertisementbanner Amazon

2.06.2005 History of the media

The Fourth Estate in America: Pioneers of Free Speech - the Press

Urszula Sienkiewicz, article provided by SAGA Foundation

In 1990, the press in the United States celebrated its 300th anniversary. Despite an unsuccessful attempt to influence colonial authorities in 1690 and the immediate shutdown of the journal "The Publick Occurrences: Both Foreign and Domestick," American advocates for free speech continued to seek ways to criticize British rule.

In 1734, John Peter Zenger, publisher of "The New York Weekly Journal," was charged by the governor of New York with libel and subversive activities. Zenger’s lawyer, Alexander Hamilton, argued that "facts speak for themselves," and their truthfulness justified publication. This case marked the first significant victory for press freedom in the U.S. The court acquitted Zenger, sparking a crusade for independent and free media, culminating in the first official act regulating press freedom in 1774 (Bill of Rights). The crowning achievement of American publishers’ efforts was the First Amendment to the Constitution (1791).

The early 19th century brought technological advances. With steamboats, railroads, and telegraph, communication escaped the "age of wind and horses." The invention of the steam cylinder press lowered printing costs, and wider education meant more people could and wanted to read. Publishers realized the future of the press lay in accessibility—low cost and approachable content. Many were staunch reformers, openly supporting common people and opposing slavery.

By combining national pride, idealism, and open-mindedness, these newspapers soon became a popular medium for instilling American ways of life and thought into waves of immigrants from around the world. By 1820, the U.S. had around 25 daily newspapers and over 400 weeklies. In 1841, the most influential newspaper of the time was established by Horace Greeley—"The New York Tribune."

Other significant newspapers, such as "The New York Times," "Baltimore Sun," and "Chicago Tribune," emerged around 1850. However, true media magnates built their empires in the most turbulent times—right after the Civil War. There were two fierce rivals who waged relentless battles: Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. To attract readers, they resorted to "yellow journalism," now known as tabloid journalism, filled with sensation and scandal. Their "blood on the front page" approach drew readers with a taste of tragedy and death.

From this era comes Pulitzer’s famous saying, "Never print anything your maid can`t understand," reflecting the level of newspapers of that time. Murders, scandals, disasters, and accidents captivated 19th-century America. The essence of "blood on the front page" journalism was embodied by "The New York Daily News," published in tabloid form on yellow paper. Like other tabloids, it focused on sensationalism and entertainment, with short texts, shocking photos, comics, and advertisements that eventually took up half of the paper. As tabloids were sold at very low prices, much lower than production costs, they relied almost entirely on advertising revenue.

In the early 20th century, newspaper publishers realized that the best way to retain readers was to provide a complete, unbiased picture of events. These standards of objective journalism remain among the finest traditions of American reporting. Another characteristic of the media industry from that time is the creation of large media corporations. The Hearst empire, which controlled about 75% of all newspapers, exemplifies this.

advertisement

Today, American media is still dominated by large and influential corporations. In 1990, there were 135 in the U.S., managing a total of 1,228 newspapers. As in Europe, the power of the press diminished drastically with the advent of radio and even further with television. Most "afternoon editions" were suspended as readers preferred TV news or radio updates. In 1971, afternoon papers numbered around two per day in 66 cities, but by 1995, they had dwindled to 36.

Over the past 50 years, the number of newspapers has decreased from 1,772 in 1950 to 1,480 in 2000. However, weekend editions have gained popularity, increasing from 549 in 1950 to 917 in 2000. Despite declining readership, the United States still has the highest number of newspapers in the world, with a total circulation of 115 million copies!

Investigative journalism and the "watchdog" role, granted to the media by the Constitution and other regulatory acts, developed in the 1960s. The Vietnam War era was the greatest test for the American press. Publishers had to choose whether to follow national policy guidelines or present the unfiltered public opinion. This period marked the rise of journalistic ethics.

Most American media followed the path of conscience, contributing to the U.S. withdrawal from the Vietnam conflict. During the Watergate investigation, journalists (this time from "The Washington Post"), Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, once again proved that the press could influence politics rather than simply being its "tame pet." Unfortunately, media freedom was not always upheld. Numerous examples and court decisions indicate that over the past decades, the balance between the public`s right to information and public figures` right to privacy remains unresolved. I will discuss these controversial cases in a future segment of "The Fourth Estate in America."

In the first episode of our series, I covered the "big five" of American press:

  • "Wall Street Journal",
  • "USA Today",
  • "New York Times",
  • "Los Angeles Times"
  • and "Washington Post".

The youngest in this group, "USA Today," was founded by the Gannett group in 1982. Its success stemmed from extensive market research prior to its launch. This led the publisher to emphasize what the average American wanted—bold graphics, large color photos, short articles with catchy intros, catering to busy city dwellers looking for quick news rather than lengthy, in-depth stories.

Today, newspapers must compete not only with television but with a wide array of specialized media. Personalized online services, local cable stations, interactive television, specialized publications, catalogs, and other direct mail initiatives all vie for readers` attention. To meet reader demands and stay competitive, newspapers must embrace new technologies. Through the Internet, digital versions reach personal computers, new printing methods allow wider reach, faster and in higher quality. Market research experts are employed to determine what sells best and how to present it. In media, as in any business, money is paramount. Journalists, however, still have a mission to fulfill. Do they manage to reconcile modern-day demands with journalistic ethics? Learn about this and niche, opinion-shaping magazines in the next installment.

Read all articles in the series The Fourth Estate in America.

Share the article:

dodaj na Facebook prześlij przez Messenger dodaj na Twitter dodaj na LinkedIn

COMMERCIAL BREAK

See articles on a similar topic:

Control is Better

Ignacio Ramonet
The noblest duty of media professionals is to expose cases of law violations. For fulfilling this duty, they have often had to pay a high price. However, for a long time, citizens - at least in democratic societies—could rely on the press and other media in their fight against abuses of power.

Haveeru Daily ހަވީރު. History of the Longest-Running Newspaper in Maldives

Małgorzata Dwornik
Since its inception, the newspaper has faced unexpected challenges. From having to print on manual presses, to legal battles over title rights, to occupation strikes at the publishing house, arrests of journalists, and even arson at its headquarters. In 2024, the editorial team (once again) won the right to publish the paper in court. Readers hope that this time, it’s here to stay.

Słowo Polskie. A Polish Daily with Over a Century of Tradition

Cezary Kaszewski
"Słowo Polskie" began its life in Lwów, with the first issue published on Christmas Eve, 1895. The newspaper quickly gained readership. By 1902, its circulation exceeded 10,000, and three years later, it reached 20,000, making it the first high-circulation daily in Galicia.

History of Public Relations. From Ancient Times to a Field of Study

Małgorzata Dwornik
Public Relations - two words we come across several times daily. We hear them on TV and radio, and read them in newspapers. PR - two letters that can sometimes cause quite a stir.

The Fourth Estate in America

Urszula Sienkiewicz
Success, prestige, power, but above all, big money - these are the first words associated with the world of media in the United States. Do American media truly wield such influence over business and politics in the USA that they can be called the "fourth estate" without hesitation?

The Fourth Estate in America: The Elder Sister of Television

Urszula Sienkiewicz
The early 1920s brought Americans a new, inspiring source of information—radio. Almost every household, in both big cities and suburbs, welcomed the magical wooden box that provided entertainment like never before.

The Fourth Estate in America: I Write, Therefore I Am...

Urszula Sienkiewicz
The press in the United States, extensively discussed before, has another intriguing niche that cannot be overlooked when talking about American media. Magazines: weekly and monthly publications for enthusiasts.

More in the section: History of the media

community

Facebook LinkedIn X Twitter Google RSS

Work in media

United States
New York • Washington DC • Los Angeles • Chicago • Houston • Phoenix • Philadelphia United Kingdom
London • Birmingham • Manchester • Liverpool • Glasgow • Edinburgh Canada
Toronto • Ottawa • Monstreal • Calgary Australia
Sydney • Melbourne • Brisbane • canberra Ireland, New Zealand, India

advertisement





Reporter shopping

Reporter shopping

Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
for writing
Digital SLR and compact cameras
Digital SLR and compact cameras
for photographers
Books and e-books about media
Books and e-books about media
for reading
Video drones and flying cameras
Video drones and flying cameras
for pilots
Gimbals for stabilizing video
Gimbals for stabilizing video
for those on the move
Software and apps for creative work
Software and apps for creative work
for digital creators
More occasions

advertisement
Read books and e-books

Read books and e-books

Okładka Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man
Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man
Okładka Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Okładka The 40-Day Social Media Fast
The 40-Day Social Media Fast
Okładka Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Okładka Mass Communication: Living in a Media World
Mass Communication: Living in a Media World
Okładka Beyond The Feed: A Social Media Success Formula
Beyond The Feed: A Social Media Success Formula
more books and e-books

Reporterzy.info

More about us

Our tools and services

Contact


© Dwornik.pl Bartłomiej Dwornik 2oo1-2o24