The spread of information through news publications has been one of the most popular ways of informing the masses for centuries. The crave for new information is a key piece of humanity and because of this, technological advancements tend to include faster and cheaper ways to satiate this desire.
In their humble beginnings, newspapers were simple, handwritten documents. These started being distributed in Venice, Italy, in the early 1500s. Then, they went by the name “avvisi” and mostly included news on international commerce and politics. It wasn’t until the widespread use of Johannes Gutenburg’s printing press that newspapers became popularized.
Gutenberg’s printing press struggled to gain popularity after its invention in 1440 because of the aristocratic hobby of manuscript and book collecting. Upper class European individuals disliked the mass production of literature because it decreased the value of their handwritten, embellished books. This delayed distribution of the printing press resulted in a delayed distribution of printed newspapers. In the 19th century, new developments in transportation, literacy rates, and quicker presses allowed journalists to easily write, print, and distribute their newspapers.
In modern times, journalism has evolved far beyond Gutenberg’s printing press. With the introduction of online publications, an event will have an article written and published about it within hours of its occurrence. The sheer accessibility of journalism is what allows for the existence of the current 18,000 newspapers operating worldwide.
Anyone with access to the internet is able to publish their experiences and opinions at any time. In comparison to the earlier years of journalism, people nowadays are much more informed about both local and global events. However, this influx of available information causes people to be more susceptible to false or twisted information as well. This simply means that the press needs to be perceived with caution to avoid misinformation.
Journalism has been a constantly evolving form of media for as long as it has existed, and it is unlikely to reach its full potential anywhere in the near future. From handwritten, localized avvisi, to online, global publications, journalism has come a long way.
