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Journalism
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2700 BC |
The Chinese developed India ink, mixing soot from pine smoke and lamp oil with gelatin of donkey skin and musk. Links: China, Journalism, HistoryBC 
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1620 Dec 2 |
An English newspaper headline read: “The new tidings out of Italie are not yet come.” In 2006 this was reported to be the world’s oldest headline. Links: Britain, Journalism
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1645 |
In Sweden the Post Och Inrikes Tidningar began daily publication for bankruptcies, corporate and government announcements. On Jan 1, 2007, the world’s oldest newspaper stopped publishing on paper and moved to the Internet. Links: Sweden, Internet, Journalism
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1662 |
The British Parliament approved the Licensing of the Press Act, which censored “seditious, treasonable and unlicensed Bookes and Pamphlets.” It failed renewal in 1695 and was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1863. Links: Britain, Books, Journalism
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1690 Sep 25 |
One of the earliest American newspapers, “Publick Occurrences,” published its first and last edition in Boston. The colonial governor and council disallowed the pamphlet due to its contents. Links: USA, Massachusetts, Journalism
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1695 |
The British Parliament voted not to renew the 1662 Licensing of the Press Act, which had censored “seditious, treasonable and unlicensed Bookes and Pamphlets.” It was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1863. Links: Britain, Books, Journalism
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1762 Jun 5 |
English parliamentarian John Wilkes began publishing his North Briton journal. Links: Britain, Journalism
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1763 Apr 23 |
John Wilkes published issue No. 45 of his North Briton newspaper. His attacks on the government upset King George III and led to Wilkes’ prosecution for seditious libel. Links: Britain, Journalism
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1790 1799 |
In 2009 Marcus Daniel authored “Scandal & Civility: Journalism and the Birth of American Democracy,” a study of the American press during this period. Links: USA, Journalism
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1802 Jan |
In London, England, William Cobbett (1763-1835) set up the Weekly Political Register. It spread dissent during the post-war recession. Links: Britain, Journalism
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1802 |
James Callender, an English-born journalist, published a report in the Richmond, Va., Recorder about Thomas Jefferson and his relationship with the slave Sally Hemmings [Hemings]. In 1997 Annette Gordon-Reed published: "Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings, an American Controversy." DNA tests of descendants in 1998 indicated that Jefferson fathered at least one child with Hemmings, her youngest son Eston Hemmings in 1808. Dr. Eugene Foster, author of the DNA report, later said the DNA tests showed that any one of 8 Jefferson males could have fathered Eston. In 2008 Annette Gordon-Reed authored “The Hemmingses of Monticello: An American Family.” Links: USA, Virginia, Journalism, Slavery, Biography, JeffersonT
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1816 Jul 21 |
Paul Julius Baron von Reuter (d.1899), founder of the British news agency bearing his name, was born in Hesse, Germany, as Israel Beer Josaphat. Links: Germany, Journalism
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1816 |
In London, England, William Cobbett brought out twopenny version of his Weekly Political Register on a single sheet of paper to avoid the stamp duty. Links: Britain, Journalism
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1819 Aug 16 |
English police charged unemployed demonstrators at St. Peter's Field in the Manchester Massacre. 11 people were killed in the Peterloo massacre. The press responded with a volley of attacks that included “The Political House that Jack Built” by William Hone and illustrator George Cruikshank. Links: Britain, Journalism
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1833 Sep 3 |
The first successful penny newspaper was published. Benjamin H. Day issued the first copy of "The New York Sun". By 1826, circulation was the largest in the country at 30,000. New York’s population was over 250,000, but its 11 daily newspapers had a combined circulation of only 26,500. Links: USA, NYC, Journalism
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1835 |
The New York Sun hired Richard Adams Locke, a Briton, as editor. He soon wrote an anonymous series about a new telescope and observations of the moon that included the mention of vast forests, fields of poppies and lunar animals. Circulation soared to 19,360. In 840 he admitted to writing the moon hoax series. In 2008 Matthew Goodman authored “the Sun and the Moon: The Remarkable True Account of Hoaxers, Showmen, Dueling Journalists, and Lunar Man-Bats in Nineteenth-Century New York.” Links: USA, NYC, Journalism, Moon
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1846 |
New York newspapers collaborated to share costs for reporting on the Mexican war. This collaboration led to the formation of the Associated Press in 1848. Links: USA, NYC, Mexico, Journalism
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1848 May |
The Associated Press was formed in NYC. Links: USA, NYC, Journalism
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1849 May 3 |
Jacob Riis (d.1914), American reporter and reformer (How the Other Half Lives), was born in Denmark. Links: Denmark, Journalism
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1851 Sep 18 |
The first edition of The New York Times was published. The New-York Times was founded by Henry J. Raymond, Republican Speaker of the NY State Assembly, and banker George Jones as a conservative counterpoint to Horace Greeley's Tribune. Links: USA, NYC, Journalism
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1854 Jun 18 |
E.W. Scripps (d.1926) was born in Rushville, Ill. He founded the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain and the UP wire service. Links: Illinois, Journalism
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1856 Feb 17 |
Heinrich Heine (b.1797), German journalist and poet, died in Paris. His prose work included a series of travel memoirs that began in 1826 with “The Harz Journey.” Links: France, Germany, Poet, Writer, Journalism
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1856 May 14 |
James P. Casey, editor of the SF Times, shot James King, proprietor of the rival Evening Bulletin. King died 6 days later. A “Vigilance Committee” of 2,600 later marched up Sacramento St. and broke into the jail where Casey was held. On May 22 Casey was lynched with his unfortunate cell mate, gambler Charles Cora. Links: USA, SF, Journalism
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1856 |
Christian Schibsted purchased a hand operated printing press to print a newspaper for somebody else. When the contract moved elsewhere he began his own newspaper and in 2006 the original press could be seen in the Oslo headquarters of the Schibsted newspaper firm. Links: Norway, Journalism
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1861 |
The L’Osservatore Romano newspaper was founded as the mouthpiece for the Vatican. Links: Vatican, Journalism
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1865 Jan 16 |
Charles (19) and Michael de Young (17) started a free theater-program sheet in SF called The Daily Dramatic Chronicle. Early quarters were at Clay and Montgomery. They borrowed a $20 gold piece from Capt. William Hinkley, who owned the building where they lived, to start the paper. Links: USA, SF, Theater, Journalism
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1865 |
The SF Elevator, a weekly black newspaper edited by Philip Bell, was established. Links: USA, Black History, SF, Journalism
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1868 Sep 1 |
In San Francisco the Daily Dramatic Chronicle with widened coverage became the Morning Chronicle. Links: USA, SF, Journalism
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1871 |
In Denmark the Jutland-based Jyllands-Posten newspaper was founded. Links: Denmark, Journalism
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1872 Nov 29 |
Horace Greeley (b.1811), founder of the New York Tribune, died. The daily paper reflected much of the morality of his New England upbringing and he partnered a high standard of news gathering with printed arguments and urges against drinking, gambling, capital punishment and—increasingly in the 1850s—slavery. The slavery issue and his lifelong desire for high political office led him away from his political party, the Whigs, and to the newly emerging Republican Party. He usually sided with the radical wing of the Republicans, advocating early emancipation of slaves. Still unsuccessful in state and national bids, he eventually joined a group of Republican dissenters who formed the Liberal Republican Party to oppose Grant. While he received almost 44% of the popular vote, he received only 18% of the electoral vote, which were cast for other candidates due to his death. In 2006 Robert C. Williams authored “Horace Greeley. Links: USA, NYC, Journalism
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1873 |
James Edmond Scripps (1835-1906), the son of a prominent British book binder, tapped the growing class of working men and women by launching a newspaper, The Evening News (later, The Detroit News). Links: USA, Michigan, Journalism
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1874 |
David Stanley, British journalist, crossed Africa from the east to the west across the Congo River basin on a 999-day journey sponsored by London’s Daily Telegraph. In 2004 Tim Butcher, also a journalist for the Daily Telegraph, followed Stanley’s path on a trip that took 44 days. In 2008 Butcher authored “Blood River: A Journey to Africa’s Broken Heart.” Links: Britain, Africa, CongoDRC, Journalism
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1877 Dec 6 |
The Washington Post published its 1st edition. It was founded by independent-minded Democrat Stilson Hutchins. Links: USA, DC, Journalism
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1877 |
Almost one-fourth of the California labor force was unemployed. Anti-Chinese feelings in SF resulted in several killings. The Sand Lot riots began under the leadership of Denis Kearney, who organized mobs that attacked the Chinese. The Chronicle newspaper called him “a political mad dog.” These riots followed similar mob attacks in the Eastern States. Links: USA, Labor, SF, Journalism
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1878 Jun 12 |
William Cullen Bryant (b.1794), American poet and journalist, died. He wrote the bulk of his poem “Thanatopsis” while still a teenager in Massachusetts. In 2008 Gilbert H. Muller authored “William Cullen Bryant: Author of America.” Links: USA, Poet, Journalism
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1878 Nov 2 |
Edward Scripps (1854-1926) and John Scripps Sweeney founded the Penny Press. Ellen Scripps helped her younger half brother, Edward W. Scripps, begin his Penny Press in Cleveland, Ohio. She gave financial support and contributed articles and columns to the Penny Press while continuing her work for the Detroit Evening News. Links: USA, Ohio, Journalism
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1884 |
Ottmar Mergenthaler (1854-1899) of Germany invented the Linotype machine that produced newspaper type and was used until it was replaced by computers. Links: Germany, Technology, Journalism
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1886 |
The Chicago Tribune began using the Linotype, invented by Ottmar Mergenthaler (1854-1899) of Germany. It produced newspaper type until it was replaced by computers. Links: Chicago, Journalism
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1889 Jul 8 |
Dow Jones & Co. turned its “Customer’s Afternoon Letter” into a full-fledged newspaper and co-founder Charles Bergstresser dubbed it the Wall Street Journal. Links: USA, NYC, Journalism
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1890 Jun 22 |
The SF Chronicle trumpeted its new 10-story building at Kearny and Market, the first steel-framed building in the West. It was designed by Burnham & Root of Chicago. In 1924 the Chronicle moved to its new building at Fifth and Mission. In 1962-1963 Home Mutual Savings and Loan draped the De Young Building at 690 Market in metal. In 2004 planned renovations included conversion to residential and hotel use. Links: USA, SF, Architect, Journalism
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1893 Jul 7 |
In Bardwell, Ky., C.J. Miller, a black man accused of murdering two white girls, was mutilated, torched and left hanging from a telegraph pole. Ida Wells (1862-1931) was commissioned to investigate the story by the Chicago Inter-Ocean newspaper and published her findings under the title “History Is a Weapon.” Links: USA, Black History, Kentucky, Journalism, Lynching
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1895 |
William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) bought the New York Morning Journal for $180,000 and moved from SF to NYC. He soon renamed it the New York Journal. In 2008 Kenneth Whyte authored “The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Randolph Hearst,” an account of Heart’s first three years in NYC. Links: USA, NYC, SF, Journalism
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1897 |
Adolph Ochs (1858-1935), publisher of the New York Times, coined a new motto for the Times banner: “All the news that’s fit to print.” Links: USA, NYC, Journalism
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1904 |
In NYC the New York Times moved into a new building at Longacre Square. Publisher Adolph Ochs persuaded the mayor to rename the intersection Times Square. Links: USA, NYC, Journalism
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1905 |
Ruben Garrett Lucius Goldberg (1883-1970), anthropologist aka Rube Goldberg, was hired by the San Francisco Chronicle as a sports cartoonist. He became renowned as the comic inventor of complex machines to do simple tasks. In 1948 he received a Pulitzer Prize for his political cartooning. Links: USA, SF, Cartoons, Journalism
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1908 |
Robert Schreiber founded Les Echos as a marketing brochure. It grew to become France's premier financial and corporate newspaper. Links: France, Journalism
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1909 |
Norman Angell (1872-1967), English journalist, authored “Europe's Optical Illusion,” in which he argued that war was going out of fashion due to the growing integration of the global economy. In 1910 it was expanded and retitled as “The Great Illusion.” Links: Britain, Writer, Books, Journalism
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1910 Jan 24 |
Louis Paulhan, French aviator, made an aerial display at the Tanforan Race Track in San Bruno, Ca., before a crowd of 75,000. He flew his biplane 1,300 (700) feet high at 70 mph. Earlier he took William Randolph Hearst for a ride. Links: USA, France, Aviation, SF Bay Area, Journalism
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1911 May 15 |
The Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of Standard Oil Company, ruling it was in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The anti-trust suit led to the dissolution of Standard Oil Co. of John D. Rockefeller. From its remains 34 new companies were formed that included Exxon, Mobil, Amoco, Chevron, Arco and Conoco. Rockefeller’s quarter interest in the parent turned into a quarter interest in all the offspring. The action of the supreme court was based n part on findings by Ida Tarbell, who published articles in McClure’s Magazine regarding Rockefeller and Standard Oil. In 2008 Steve Weinberg authored “Taking on the Trust: The Epic Battle of Ida Tarbell and John D. Rockefeller.” Links: Oil, Journalism, Supreme Court
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1911 Oct 29 |
Joseph Pulitzer (1847), Hungary-born American newspaperman, died in Charleston, S.C. In 2002 Denis Brian authored "Pulitzer: A Life." In 2010 James McGrath Morris authored “Pulitzer: A Life in Politics, Print , and Power.” Links: USA, Hungary, South Carolina, Journalism, Biography
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1915 May 12 |
In South Africa Naspers was founded as Die Nasionale Pers (The National Press) with the aim of furthering the cause of the Afrikaner people. Links: South Africa, Journalism
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1917 |
Benito Mussolini, editor of the Il Popolo d'Italia newspaper, was paid 100 pounds a week by Britain, equal to about 6,000 pounds ($9,600) in 2009. The paper campaigned to keep Italy on the allied side in the war. This was made public in 2009 by Cambridge historian Peter Martland, based on papers from Sir Samuel Hoare (1880-1959), in charge of British agents in Rome at this time. Links: Italy, Britain, Journalism, Espionage, WWI
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1922 Jun 25 |
The SF Chronicle’s sports pages became the Sporting Green with the sports section printed in green. Links: USA, SF, Journalism
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1924 Oct |
The SF Chronicle moved to its new building at Fifth and Mission. This replaced the 1890 de Young building at Kearny and Market. The Chronicle building included a clock tower with Simplex clock, that operated without failure until 2010. Links: USA, , SF, Journalism
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1924 |
In Philadelphia, Pa., the 18-story Philadelphia Inquirer building was completed as home for the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper. Links: USA, Pennsylvania, Journalism
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1925 Feb 15 |
Michael de Young (b.1849), co-founder of the SF Chronicle, died. Son-in-law George T. Cameron took over as publisher of the paper. Links: USA, SF, Journalism
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1926 Mar 12 |
E.W. Scripps (b.1854), founder of Scripps-Howard newspaper chain and the UP wire service, died on his yacht off the coast of Liberia. Links: USA, Journalism
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1927 May |
Grace Fryer (1893-1933) and 4 other former dial painters filed suit in the New Jersey Supreme Court against U.S. Radium for medical expenses and pain. They were dubbed the “Radium Girls” and their case was championed by journalist Walter Lippman. The case was settled out of court in 2008. Links: USA, Medical, New Jersey, Lawsuit, Journalism
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1927 |
In India the Musalman Urdu-language newspaper began operating in Chennai. In 2008 the handwritten newspaper was still operating with some 23,000 subscribers. Links: India, Journalism
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1928 |
Norman Angell (1872-1967), English journalist, made one venture into economics, when he invented a card game, described in “the Money Game” (1928). This was an attempt to explain matters such as deflation and inflation in visual terms which the ordinary person could understand. Links: Britain, Economics, Journalism, Games
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