Journalism and the news industry in the U.S. certainly has had its ups and downs. Use this timeline to review some of the most important moments in the history of journalism. Click each span of years and read a summary of important historical events related to journalism for that time period. Then, in your journal, list all the events that you remember for each century.
1470 to 1605
Earliest Forms of Journalism
Journalism didn't begin in the U.S. but rather in Europe as early as the 1470s. The first newspaper, the Relation, was first published in France in 1605.
1600 to late 1700s
Colonial Newspapers
The first newspaper in the New World appeared in the late 1600s. These early newspapers were very small, only covered outdated international news, and were subsidized by wealthy people or governments. In the 1730s, truth became a successful defense against charges of libel and defamation. Around the mid-1700s, newspapers began to increase in importance: They became instrumental in helping consolidate public opinion and bring about independence from England.
1776-1800
News in the New Nation
The Founding Fathers protected the press in the First Amendment, but the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798 curtailed this freedom for a short time. In spite of lingering government restrictions on the press, both Congress and courtrooms opened their doors to journalists.
Early 1800s
Mass Circulation
Higher literacy rates, lower costs, and more efficient printing brought about the mass circulation of newspapers in the early 1800s. In 1830, the invention of the telegraph allowed for much quicker transmission of news to and from far-away places. But because of the unreliability of telegraphs, correspondents were forced to transmit only the most important details. This led to the inverted pyramid style of writing still used today.
Mid- to late-1800s
Commercialized and Yellow
In the last half of the 1800s, individuals began buying up successful newspapers and using them to sway public opinion. Powerful newspaper magnates, such as William Randolph Hearst, published highly sensationalized “yellow journalism,” which sought to draw larger audiences by using misleading, eye-catching headlines. Between 1880 and 1900, the number of English-language daily newspapers more than doubled, and weekly newspapers tripled.
Early 1900s
Purposeful and Professional
A new type of reporting called “muckraker journalism” arose, which sought to expose social ills and corruption. Efforts were also underway during this time to make journalism a profession, with the first journalism schools opening in 1908. This trend brought about best practices in journalism, professional codes of ethics, and in the 1920s, objectivity and neutrality. During this time, businesses, as well as the U.S. government, began using public relations departments to influence journalists to represent them in more favorable ways.
1930s to 1960s
Radio and Television
Radio journalism began in the 1930s and soon became a major source of news for Americans during World War II. It was also one of the first technologies that allowed newsmakers and elected officials to bypass journalists when speaking to audiences. The first regular televised newscast in the U.S. began in 1941, but the first major TV newscast began eight years later 1949. In the 1950s and 1960s, television journalism exploded in popularity due to the increased number of people owning television. By the early 1960s, television was the primary source of news for Americans.
1980s to 1990s
Cable and Satellite
Twenty-four hour cable news networks were established in the 1980s, but quickly entrenched themselves as major news sources by the 1990s. CNN’s live coverage of the Gulf War in 1991, as well as their use of satellite technology to reach audiences around the globe, allowed them to become powerful enough to influence the political and economic climate. After CNN’s success, other 24-hour news networks, such as FOX and MSNBC, were established.
1990s to Present
Internet News
Created in the 1960s, the internet was not widely used until the 1990s. Since then, the number of internet users has increased dramatically, but journalistic outlets —particularly, newspapers—have responded very slowly to its popularity. With its ease of use and universal access, the Internet has allowed anyone anywhere to report the news, making journalism interactive and even more instantaneous—and, in the process, altering audience’s expectations of when and how often the news is published.
