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America's First Newspaper
America's first newspaper, Publick Occurrences, Both Foreign and Domestick, is published in Boston. The paper, able to fill only three of its four pages with text, suspends publication after one issue after drawing criticism from the colonial government.
Image Source:http://raglinen.com/2010/01/30/benjamin-harris-and-his-publick-occurrences/
Library of Congress:http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038269 http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/amerbegin/power/text5/PublickOccurrences.pdf -
December 15, 1791 The First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government interference. See U.S. Const. amend. I. Freedom of expression consists of the rights to freedom of speech, press, assembly and to petition the government for a redress of grievances, and the implied rights of association and belief.
Source Link:https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/first_amendment -
New York Sun
Benjamin Day issues the first edition of the New York Sun, America's first "penny press" newspaper. The cheap paper, sold for a fraction of the cost of all earlier newspapers, soon attracts a much wider audience by catering to the interests of New York City's ordinary citizens.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/ -
First Edition of New York Tribune
Horace Greeley issues the first edition of the New York Tribune. -
Amaerica's First Telebraph Line
America's first telegraph line, stretching from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore, officially opens for business. The instant long-distance communication offered for the first time by the telegraph will make it possible for local newspapers to offer timely coverage of far-off events. -
Associated Press (AP) is Established
The forerunner of the Associated Press (AP) is organized by a group of American publishers in order to acquire news information from Europe. -
USS Marine Sinks
The USS Maine sinks in Havana Harbor, Cuba. The New York Journal immediately blames Spain for the mysterious explosion, helping push the United States into war with Spain. (Most modern historians now believe the explosion to have been caused by a fire in the ship's coal bunkers spreading to the ammunition magazine.) Other journalists will condemn the Journal for its reckless and sensational distortion of the news as an example of "yellow journalism. -
William Randolph Hearst launches the Boston American and Los Angeles Examiner
William Randolph Hearst launches the Boston American and the Los Angeles Examiner. He will eventually acquire or establish papers in almost every major American city. By 1930, he will own a media empire encompassing 28 newspapers across the country. -
Joseph Pulitzer Dies
Joseph Pulitzer dies. In his will, he leaves Columbia University $2 million to establish a graduate school of journalism, one of the first in the country. He also bequeaths the funds for the establishment of the Pulitzer Prize. First awarded in 1917, Pulitzer Prizes are awarded annually, currently in 21 categories, to recognize achievements in journalism, literature, and music. -
Eighteen Televison Stations approved by Federal Commuication Commission
The Federal Communication Commission grants eighteen television stations approval to begin commercial broadcasting. CBS and NBC begin broadcasting almost immediately, although few citizens own television sets to watch the broadcasts. Five months later, WCBW will demonstrate the news potential of television by broadcasting bulletins regarding the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. -
New York Times Publish First Installment of the Pentagon Papers
The New York Times publishes the first installment of the "Pentagon Papers," a series of classified government documents relating to the Vietnam War released to the Times by Daniel Ellsberg. President Richard Nixon will secure an injunction ordering the Times to cease publication of the document. On 30 June 1971, the United States Supreme Court will declare the injunction an unconstitutional prior restraint. -
Rupert Murdoch
Australian media baron Rupert Murdoch acquires the San Antonio Express-News, the first American piece of his global media empire. -
The Internet Open to Commercial Users
The internet, originally built as a project of the United States military, is opened to commercial users. -
Craigslist
Craigslist, the free online classified ad site, expands to its first new city outside its original home base of San Francisco. By 2008, Craigslist will serve more than 500 cities, hosting some 30 million postings every month. Meanwhile, newspaper classified ad sales—traditionally the most important source newspaper revenues—will plummet from $19 billion to $14 billion over that same span of time. -
Digg.com
Digg.comDigg.com, an innovative internet news aggregator that allows its users to determine which news stories are most important, is unveiled online.
