Newspapers; Through the Years

Newspapers; Through the Years

September 7, 2016  

    Our class discussed the topic of newspapers today during class and what their rules were/are in history. We started the discussion on the history of the newspaper. We talked about how it was made, how it was distributed, and why it is still around today. 

    Did you know that newspapers have been around for hundreds and hundreds of years? Or that newspapers will be here till the end of time? These are just some of the interesting and complexing moments during our discussion today. 

    What I found compelled to blog about this discussion is how and why the human race has decided to keep reading and using the regular newspaper. This 'Old Tech', as we put it in class today, really shows how deep tradition can become. That after hundreds and hundreds of years, we are still reading practically the same newspapers that were once made. Not only is the newspaper a tradition to some but it's a way of life. Newspapers have also survived the dawn of time because it's affordable, portable, and a physical piece of media. Newspapers have always cost little to read and to print. In one point in history, you could ship one pound of newspapers for one penny. The newspaper, unlike a television, is portable, so you can take it with you throughout your day. We began talking about the origin of the newspaper and how it progressed throughout history. The ability to retrace the history of printed newspapers is truly inspiring. 

    During our discussion in class today, Mr. Miller said something that stuck with me. He said that newspapers were here hundreds of years ago and will be here hundreds of years after we have died. This really put my view of newspapers in perspective because news now, in this moment, will be news hundreds of years from now, and our children, children's children, and their children can read the news we put in newspapers. 

    Magazines, another source of print journalism, also shaped our history and world today. Magazines were able to give America, as a nation, an identity and culture. When America was first colonized by the British, we didn't have a distinct culture or identity, we were not our own. Magazines helped America become it's own nation and have it's own culture. 

    Overall, newspapers have been through booming times and tough times but no matter what, they'll be here. What we write in them will be on this Earth forever.