The history of the Newspaper

As it is not compulsory to blog about our media module i have not attempted to post anything related to this subject. However our most recent lecture seemed significantly more relevant to my degree so as an exception I thought it deserved to be blogged.

We focused on newspaper histories and the way they have progressed through the years, including the way certain things have affected how we consume the media. We must consider the perspective of these four concepts;

1. Technological Determinism - the way technology is driving things.
2. Whig/Liberal Accounts - a greater sense of freedom.
3. Market Models - how things change as the market drives it.
4. Social Conflict - the clashes between different social groups.

The 15th Century - 19th Century (1836);

State controls;

Large amount of social control - Henry VII edict: "to curb lewd and naughty matters" in the 15th century.

The State controlled printers by;

Laws - issues such as Libel and sedation.
Fiscal restriction taxes on retail prices - Advertising tax
Bribes - The prime minister Walpole spent £50,000 on bribing journalists in the 18th century. The government also paid £600 to the Morning Herald.
Licenses to print were also issued.


Newspapers emerged as technological infrastructure developments. This led to developments in roads, transport links between towns and the weekly post between the main towns in 1637.
New ideas then came to the fore;

- Religious and political ideas were communicated in print as there was a desire for this.
- Emergence of the country as an 'idea' that people share.
- Gradual decline in old systems of power.
- Matched and facilitated by a steady increase in literacy in 1700. Approximately 60% male literacy and 40% female literacy.


New Markets - 1836

- Stamped papers catered for newly emerging professional and middle class readers.
- The duty paid on these gradually increased from 1/4 D in 1712 to 3 1/4 D by 1977.
- The Observer, The Times and The Daily Telegraph (plus others) were consequently restricted from ability due to such issues such as the PeterLoo Massacre.
- A number of radical unstamped papers catered for industrial working class - 'The cap of liberty' and 'The Black Dwarf'. They claim to be periodicals and therefore were excused from tax.

The Radical Press up to 1836

- Law production costs - avoid stamp duty.
- Law distribution costs - networks of illegal street sellers; 800 arrests between 1830 and 1836.
- There was a close connection between newspapers and particular communities.
- In 1850 the stamp duty was abolished.
- During this time the training for Journalists was increased and it was seen as a real profession rather than something people did on the side.
- Commercial and industrial growth begins to generate huge mass markets.

It can be said there were many consequences for these changes;

1. Mainstream papers attract advertising revenues.
2. To challenge this the radical papers have to dilute politics to attract advertising revenues to go further up the market.

Lessons of this;

- The decline of radical papers can be understood in different ways depending on the perspective we adopt.
-The Market Theory - deregulation leads to more efficient papers.
-Whig/Liberal view - the press escape from the State and therefore can be seen as "free".
- Technological determinism - there is an improved production.
- Social Conflict -advertising is a new patron and editorial power shifts towards being capital.

Proprietorial Power;

- First age of Press Barons.
- Structures of control allocated power to proprietors; Murdoch's values in The Sun.
- 1945 onwards, newspaper circulation declines due to broadcasting.
- In 1987, Wrapping comes into place - this relates to the structure of the newspaper industry changing.
- Open conflict.