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Despite the antagonism of the press, Washington and several other founders felt that freedom of the press was important for creating an informed electorate. Papers began printing party propaganda and messages, even publicly attacking political leaders like George Washington. Subscriptions and advertisements did not fully cover printing costs, and political parties stepped in to support presses that aided the parties and their policies. The publication of the Federalist Papers, as well as the Anti-Federalist Papers, in the 1780s, moved the nation into the party press era, in which partisanship and political party loyalty dominated the choice of editorial content. Īlthough newspapers united for a common cause during the Revolutionary War, the divisions that occurred during the Constitutional Convention and the United States’ early history created a change. Readership across the colonies increased to nearly forty thousand homes (among a total population of two million), and daily papers sprang up in large cities. Newspapers took part in the effort to inform citizens of British misdeeds and incite attempts to revolt. The repeal of the Stamp Tax in 1766 quieted concerns for a short while, but editors and writers soon began questioning the right of the British to rule over the colonies. The Stamp Tax of 1765 raised costs for publishers, however, leading several newspapers to fold under the increased cost of paper. Newspapers spread information about local events and activities. While several colonies had printers and occasional newspapers, high literacy rates combined with the desire for self-government made Boston a perfect location for the creation of a newspaper, and the first continuous press was started there in 1704. The choices are tremendous.Įarly news was presented to local populations through the print press. They can be broad or limited in their focus. They can be local, national, or international. Mass media can be print, radio, television, or Internet news. Yet the growth of communications technology allows people today to find more information more easily than any previous generation. Accusations of mind control, bias, and poor quality have been thrown at the media on a regular basis. The evolution of the media has been fraught with concerns and problems. Explain how citizens learn political information from the media.
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Compare important changes in media types over time.Discuss the history of major media formats.By the end of this section, you will be able to:
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