03 History of Journalism – 1690 – present day

Summary

This video explores the evolution of journalism from its origins in 1690 to the present day. It highlights the journey from government censorship to independence, with the pivotal role of the First Amendment in securing press freedom. The script discusses the emergence of the 'fourth estate' concept, the rise of unbiased reporting with the New York Herald in 1835, and the shift from local to national newspapers in the 1850s. It also covers the advent of investigative journalism exemplified by Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle' and the impact of new media like radio, television, and the internet on news consumption, concluding with the current trend of obtaining news from social platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

Takeaways

• 📰 The history of journalism spans from 1690 to the present, with early forms being heavily censored by governments.
• 🗞️ In 1722, Benjamin Franklin became the editor of 'The New England Courant,' facing accusations of publishing untruths by the government.
• 🗝️ The 18th century saw the rise of the belief in a free press, with Edmund Burke referring to journalists as the 'fourth estate', signifying their importance in governance.
• 🇺🇸 The U.S. Bill of Rights, enacted in 1791, included the First Amendment, which guaranteed freedom of the press and protected journalists from government control over information and opinions.
• 📈 Early 19th-century newspapers were often biased, presenting only one side of the story or viewpoint, aligning with the readers' opinions.
• 🔍 The New York Herald, established in 1835, aimed to provide unbiased and politically independent news for a broader audience.
• 📘 Technological advancements in the 1850s allowed newspapers to expand from local to national distribution, reaching hundreds of thousands of readers simultaneously.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Investigative journalism emerged in the early 20th century, exemplified by Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle' which exposed unhealthy practices in meatpacking industries.
• 📻 The 1920s saw competition for newspapers with the rise of radio news, offering families the opportunity to listen to news live and together.
• 📺 In the 1950s, television became a popular medium for news consumption, with nearly every U.S. household owning one, allowing for visual and auditory news experiences.
• 🌐 The 1990s marked the rise of the internet, leading to online newspapers that began to replace print copies, and the shift towards digital news consumption.
• 📲 Today, over half of U.S. adults get their news from social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook, reflecting the continued evolution of news delivery.

Q & A

What is the historical starting point discussed in the script for the history of journalism?

The script starts the history of journalism from 1690.

How was journalism initially controlled by governments in the 18th century?

In the 18th century, governments controlled what people wrote, and there were instances where journalists faced accusations of writing untruths, as experienced by Benjamin Franklin.

Who is credited with coining the term 'fourth estate' for journalists, and what was the significance?

Edmund Burke, an Irish politician, coined the term 'fourth estate' to signify the importance of journalists in a democratic society, alongside the three parts of government.

When were the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, including the freedom of the press, enacted?

The first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were enacted in 1791.

What does the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protect in relation to journalism?

The First Amendment protects journalists' rights by ensuring that the government cannot control the information or opinions that journalists publish.

How did newspapers in the early 19th century typically present news?

Most newspapers in the early 19th century were biased, presenting only one side of the story or one point of view.

What was the goal of the New York Herald when it was started in 1835?

The New York Herald aimed to provide unbiased news that everyone could enjoy and also tried to be politically independent.

How did technological advancements in the 1850s affect the reach of newspapers?

Technological improvements made it easier to print and distribute newspapers, allowing hundreds of thousands of people to read the same newspaper on the same day across different parts of the country.

What is investigative journalism, and how did it emerge in the early 20th century?

Investigative journalism involves journalists looking into and writing about powerful people and industries. It emerged in the early 20th century with works like Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle,' which exposed unhealthy practices in meatpacking factories.

How did the introduction of radio and television impact the consumption of news in the 20th century?

The introduction of radio in the 1920s and television in the 1950s allowed families to listen to or watch the news simultaneously, and also enabled them to experience live events as they happened.

What is the current trend in news consumption in the USA according to the script?

Over half of the adults in the USA currently get their news from social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook.

Outlines

00:00

📰 The Evolution of Journalism: From Censorship to Independence

This paragraph outlines the history of journalism from its origins in 1690 to the present day. It discusses the initial control exerted by governments over the press, exemplified by Benjamin Franklin's experience with the New England Courant in 1722. The paragraph highlights the emergence of the concept of a free press in the 18th century, with Edmund Burke's recognition of journalists as the 'fourth estate,' signifying their crucial role in governance. The adoption of the First Amendment in 1791, which guarantees freedom of the press, is a pivotal moment detailed here. The summary also touches on the biased nature of early 19th-century newspapers and the introduction of unbiased news by the New York Herald in 1835. Technological advancements in the 1850s allowed newspapers to reach national audiences, and the rise of investigative journalism in the early 20th century, as demonstrated by Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle,' is also summarized. The paragraph concludes with the impact of radio and television on news dissemination and the advent of online newspapers in the 1990s.

05:02

🌐 Journalism in the Digital Age: The Shift to Social Media

The second paragraph focuses on the contemporary landscape of news consumption, noting that over half of American adults now obtain their news from social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. It reflects on the historical struggle of the press to achieve freedom and independence from government control. The paragraph emphasizes the significant role that technological advancements have played in diversifying news sources. It concludes by prompting viewers to use their notes to assess their understanding of the historical development of journalism, suggesting an interactive element to reinforce learning.

Keywords

💡Journalism

Journalism refers to the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information. In the video, journalism is the central theme, tracing its history from 1690 to the present. It discusses how journalism evolved from being censored by governments to becoming an independent and free profession.

💡Censorship

Censorship is the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security. The script mentions how journalism was initially censored by governments, which limited the freedom of the press.

💡Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath who took over as editor of 'The New England Courant' in 1722. His story in the script illustrates an early example of a journalist facing government accusations and challenges, highlighting the struggles for press freedom.

💡Free Press

A free press is a term that encapsulates the concept of newspapers and media outlets being able to report news without censorship or restraint. The script discusses the shift in the 18th century towards valuing a free press, which is integral to the development of journalism as depicted in the video.

💡Fourth Estate

The Fourth Estate is a societal component that includes the press, which is considered an essential part of a democratic system, alongside the three traditional branches of government. In the script, Edmund Burke is credited with coining the term, emphasizing the role of journalism in governance.

💡Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights refers to the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which came into law in 1791. The script highlights the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of the press, a pivotal moment for the independence of journalism from government control.

💡Biased News

Biased news refers to reporting that favors a particular point of view or ideology, often omitting or downplaying opposing views. The script points out that most newspapers in the early 19th century were biased, reflecting the evolution of journalistic standards towards more balanced reporting.

💡New York Herald

The New York Herald was a newspaper founded in 1835 with the goal of providing unbiased news. The script uses this as an example of the shift towards more objective journalism, aiming to serve a broader audience by avoiding political favoritism.

💡Investigative Journalism

Investigative journalism involves in-depth research and reporting, often on matters of public interest, including the actions of powerful individuals or industries. The script cites Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle' as an example of this type of journalism, which exposed unhealthy practices in the meatpacking industry.

💡Media Convergence

Media convergence refers to the trend where different forms of media such as newspapers, radio, and television come to deliver news and information. The script outlines the progression from newspapers to radio, then to television, and finally to the internet, illustrating how technology has transformed the way news is consumed.

💡Social Media

Social media are web-based applications that allow people to create and share content or participate in social networking. The script notes that over half of U.S. adults now get their news from platforms like Twitter or Facebook, indicating a significant shift in news consumption habits.

Highlights

The history of journalism from 1690 to the present day is explored, focusing on its evolution from censorship to independence.

In the 18th century, governments heavily controlled the content of newspapers, exemplified by Benjamin Franklin's experience in 1722.

Edmund Burke's speech introduced the concept of the 'fourth estate,' elevating journalism's role in governance.

The Bill of Rights in 1791, specifically the First Amendment, legally protected freedom of the press from government control.

Newspapers in the early 19th century were often biased, reflecting a single point of view or political stance.

The New York Herald, founded in 1835, aimed to provide unbiased news accessible to all, striving for political independence.

Technological advancements in the 1850s allowed newspapers to transition from local to national distribution, reaching broader audiences.

The emergence of investigative journalism in the early 20th century, exemplified by Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle,' exposed societal issues.

News dissemination evolved with the introduction of radio in the 1920s, allowing families to consume news together in real-time.

The 1950s saw the rise of television as a news medium, offering visual elements alongside audio reporting.

The internet's rise in the 1990s led to the digital transformation of newspapers, impacting print media significantly.

In the modern era, over half of U.S. adults consume news primarily through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

The press has historically faced government control but has progressively become freer and more independent.

Technological innovations have enabled news to be accessed from a variety of sources, diversifying information consumption.

The importance of taking notes on dates and names for understanding the history of journalism is emphasized.

A game following the videos is mentioned as a way to reinforce learning about the history of journalism.

Transcripts

welcome to unit 1

the history of journalism from 1690

to present day

in the last video we looked at the

origins of journalism

and talked about the ways journalism was

censored by governments

in this video we're going to look at the

steps that allow journalism to become

more independent

and free

from government control

we will also talk about the different

ways that people get their

news to take notes on the dates and

names you hear

because this will help you play the game

that follows these videos

for most of the 18th century governments

still controlled what people wrote

for example in the usa in

1722 a young benjamin franklin took over

as editor of a newspaper called the new

england coront

because his older brother was in jail

the government accused him of writing

things that were not true

later in the 18th century people began

to believe in a free press

edmund burke an irish politician was

making a speech about the three parts of

government called the three estates

then he pointed to the journalists and

called them the fourth estate

meaning that writing the truth was an

important part of governing a country

we still call journalism

the fourth estate

a few years later in 1791

10 amendments to the u.s constitution

called the bill of rights became law

the first amendment talked about freedom

of religion

freedom of speech and also freedom of

the press

this amendment protects journalists

rights by making sure the government

cannot control the information or

opinions that journalists publish

even though journalism was no longer

controlled by the government

most newspapers in the early 19th

century were biased

meaning they only told one side of the

story

or one point of view

and were read by people who agreed with

their opinion

in 1835 however a newspaper called the

new york herald was started with the

goal of providing unbiased news that

everyone could enjoy

this newspaper also tried to be

politically independent

not preferring one political party over

another

in the 1850s newspapers moved from being

just local to national

the technology improved so it became

easier to print and distribute many more

newspapers

hundreds of thousands of people could

now read the same newspaper on the same

day

in different parts of the country

the early years of the 20th century saw

a new type of journalism

investigative journalism

this involved a journalist looking into

and writing about powerful people and

industries

an example of this investigative

journalism was when upton sinclair wrote

the jungle in 1906

learned about the unhealthy practices in

meat packing factories and the bad

conditions for the workers

although newspapers continued to be

popular throughout the 20th century

by the 1920s they also had to compete

with news on the radio

listening to news on the radio allowed

the whole family to sit down and hear

the news at the same time

and they could also listen to things

live

as they were happening instead of

waiting until the next day to read about

them

in the

1950s television became popular

and nearly every family in the usa had

one

people could now see pictures

as well as hear people talk about the

news

the internet became popular in the 1990s

and online newspapers began to replace

print copies

today

over half the adults in the usa

get their news from twitter or facebook

as we have seen over hundreds of years

the government have tried to control the

news

the press has worked to become freer

and more independent

because of new technology people can get

their news from many different places

next use your notes to check your

understanding of the history of

journalism

you