02 Introduction to the History of Journalism – pre 1690

Summary

This video explores the origins of journalism, tracing its roots to the Roman Empire's Acta Diurna and China's Dibao. It highlights the transformative impact of Johannes Gutenberg's printing press in 1454, which democratized news dissemination. Despite advancements, governments continued to censor and control the press, as seen with corantos in the 1620s and the Oxford Gazette in 1665. The video also touches on John Milton's advocacy for press freedom and the first newspaper in the Americas, Public Occurrences, which faced immediate censorship. The narrative sets the stage for the evolution of journalism from government control towards freedom of the press.

Takeaways

• 📜 The first instance of public news dissemination dates back to the Roman Empire around 130 BCE with the 'Acta Diurna', carved in stone and displayed in public places.
• 📰 In China, a similar practice of disseminating government news called 'Dibao' was used to inform local governors and the public about important events.
• 🔠 Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in 1454 revolutionized the way news was distributed by making text reproduction quicker and more accessible.
• 📖 The first book printed using the printing press was a Bible in 1455, marking a significant milestone in the history of printed media.
• 📜 Despite the technological advancements, governments continued to control and censor the content of newspapers to propagate their own narratives.
• 📰 The 'Corantos' of the 1620s in Europe were single-page newsletters that were censored by governments to prevent the spread of information they deemed unfavorable.
• 🗣️ John Milton's 'Areopagitica' in 1644 advocated for press freedom, emphasizing the importance of allowing people to report news without government interference.
• 📰 The 'Oxford Gazette', established in 1665, is recognized as the oldest newspaper printed in English and played a role in informing the public about significant events like the Great Fire of London.
• 🌴 'Public Occurrences', published in Boston in 1690, was the first newspaper in the Americas but was censored and only had one edition published.
• 🚫 Early journalism was characterized by government control and censorship of newspapers, limiting the information available to the public.
• 🔍 The script promises to explore the subsequent history of journalism and the steps towards a free press, independent of government control, in the next video.

Q & A

What was the first time people received news in a public format?

The first time people received news in a public format was during the Roman Empire around 130 BCE with the 'Acta Diurna,' which were daily events carved into stone and displayed in public places.

What was the Chinese equivalent to the Roman 'Acta Diurna'?

The Chinese equivalent to the Roman 'Acta Diurna' were 'dibao,' which were government reports sent to local governors who then shared some information with the local people.

Who was the inventor of the printing press, and in what year did he start using it?

Johannes Gutenberg was the inventor of the printing press, and he started using it in 1454.

What significant book did Gutenberg print a year after he started using the printing press?

Gutenberg printed a copy of the Bible a year after he started using the printing press, which was the first book printed in this manner.

How did the invention of the printing press change the way people received news?

The invention of the printing press made it much quicker and cheaper to print texts, allowing almost anybody to do it, although governments still controlled what was written.

What were 'corantos' and how were they related to the early journalism in Europe?

'Corantos' were single-page newsletters written in the 1620s in Europe, covering wars and other news, but they were censored by governments who wanted them to print only propaganda.

Who was John Milton, and what did he advocate for in his speech 'Areopagitica'?

John Milton was a famous poet who, in his speech 'Areopagitica' published in 1644, called for the freedom of the press, advocating that people should be able to report the news without government interference.

What is the significance of the 'Oxford Gazette' in the history of English newspapers?

The 'Oxford Gazette,' which began in 1665, is significant as it is the oldest newspaper printed in English, and many people learned about the Great Fire of London from it.

When was the first newspaper in the Americas published, and where was it published?

The first newspaper in the Americas, 'Public Occurrences,' was published in Boston in 1690.

Why was the publication of 'Public Occurrences' in the Americas censored and resulted in only one edition?

The publication of 'Public Occurrences' was censored immediately because the authorities did not like what was being printed, resulting in only one edition ever being published.

What was the general attitude of governments towards newspapers in the early history of journalism?

In the early history of journalism, governments wanted to control the information that people received and censored newspapers when they did not like the content being printed.