Journalism History Timeline

The earliest known journalistic product was a news sheet circulated in ancient Rome: the Acta
Diurna, said to date from before 59 BCE. It recorded important daily events such as public
speeches. It was published daily and hung in prominent places. In China during the Tang
Dynasty, a court circular called a bao, or “report” was issued to government officials.

The first regularly published newspapers appeared in German cities and in Antwerp about 1609.
The first English newspaper, the Weekly Newes, was published in 1622. One of the first daily
newspapers, The Daily Courant, appeared in 1709.

The ancient and early medieval times, bulletins, news pamphlets and other propaganda material,
used to be pasted on the walls. Sometimes, royal proclamations or edicts were also pasted on the
walls inscribed on stones. The kings in ancient times used to get written reports from their
departments and their spies or agents. Writers of newsletter also sent to the persons who were
residing far away from the capital of a country. The Newsletter thus is quite an early institution.

The history of journalism is closely linked to the developments of the printing press. The credit
for the invention of the art goes to the Chinese. It is said that Chinese were the first to use
moveable types for printing press. Even paper was first of all manufactured in China. The first
book was also printed by a Chinese in 868 A.D. The Chinese gazette is said to be the oldest
newspaper published at Peiping.

1. 1665 The Oxford Gazette

By 1665, the English printers started their own new sheets. In 1621, a single news sheet
called Coranto was published in England. In 1665, The Oxford Gazette made its first
appearance.
2. India Gazette
In 1550, the Jesuits brought the first printing press to India. In the beginning only
religious books were published in Portuguese, Tamil and Malayalam. The first attempt to
start a newspaper in Calcutta was made by one William Bolts. But in reality James
Augustus Hickey started the first newspaper, the Bengal Gazette. East India started the
next newspaper, named as the India Gazette.
3. The New York Herald
4. New York was the Center of News
5. Yellow Journalism
- Was a style of newspaper reporting that emphasized sensationalism over facts. During
its heyday in the late 19th century it was one of many factors that helped push the
United States and Spain into war in Cuba and the Philippines, leading to the
acquisition of overseas territory by the United States.
- Example of Yellow Journalism in the cover of the Pulitzer’s World
6. 20th Century is Investigative Journalism
7. Radio and Print Media
8. Fox News and Rupert Murdoch
9. 1980’s Oprah Winfrey Show
10. Mobile Journalism
- Is another revolution in journalism. Here numerous skills are required for success.
It is a new media of storytelling where mobile journalists use electronic devices
like mobile, laptops, digital cameras, tablets and broadband internet connective to
gather and distribute news. These mobile reporters are known as mojos or
freelance journalists.
Journalism already occurred as long as humans have been communicating and sharing stories.
But there is a problem in journalism before, it’s not very accurate. So letters and ballads came
into the surface. People realized it was a good idea to write down stories to ensure their legacy
and accuracy.

 The Acta Diurna (Daily Events) was the first news type of publication. The daily gazette
dated from 59 BC and was attributed in origin to Julius Caesar. Handwritten copies were
posted in prominent places in Rome and in the provinces with the clear intention of
feeding the populace official information. It contained news of gladiatorial contests,
astrological omens, notable marriages, births and deaths, public appointments, and trials
and executions.
 MASS MEDIA – the opportunity for wider dissemination of news came with the
invention of printing by Gutenberg in the 1450s.
 The first newspapers (in the sense of a recurring publication) did not appear in Europe
until the 17th century.
- The Oxford Gazette (1665) was the first regularly published newspaper, begun
while the English court was at Oxford to avoid the plague in London.
 First American newspapers, Publick Occurrences, Both Foreign and Domestick is
published in Boston.
- Shut down after just one issue – no license.
 The Colonial Media grows
- 1704: Boston News-Letter, subsidized by British government and not very good
or timely. First continuously published newspaper.
- 1719: Papers appear outside of New England
- 1721: New England Courant seen as first real newspaper because it’s first
independent American paper and has quality writing.
 Newspapers booming by eve of the American Revolution – most of the larger
communities were saved by at least one newspaper; a total of 89 papers in 35 different
communities were published during the 1770s.
 James Gordon Bennett’s New York Herald in 1835 used “news enterprise.” He sent
reporters by pony express, boat or train to go out and find news and scoop the
competition.
- Price was merely a penny rather than the usual 6 cents
- Circulation reached to 40,000 within 15 months of opening
- First paper with a city staff covering regular beats
- There were other newspapers like New York Tribune 1841 and New York Times
1851 to provide coverage to Europe wire service was initiated in 1848.