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Here Ye, Heare Ye Colony Reports
The first English reporter in the colonies was Captain John Smith. He was important to journalism because he was the only newspaper in the colonies at the time. This was the beginning of journalism in writing in the New World.
Writesite Staff. "Tracing the Story of Journalism." Tracing the Story of Journalism. ThinkTVNetwork, Dayton, Ohio. An OET/SchoolNet Project, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
The New-England Courant, Boston
This newspaper is important because it was the third regular newspaper in Boston. It was established by James Franklin, and showcased writing by Benjamin Franklin, a founding father.
Library of Congress. Information Circular 9. Washington DC: Library of Congress, 1955. Www.loc.gov. Library of Congress, Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room, 1955. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
Boston Tea Party and Looking Back
The Boston Tea Party is now known as one of the biggest events of the United States, but at the time it shows journalism as an ongoing battle between truth and rumor.
Andrlik, Todd, and J .L. Bell. "Breaking News of the Revolutionary War - The Boston Globe." BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe, 16 Dec. 2012. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
Now known as the "shot heard round the world," this historic battle was first reported on by Margaret Draper of Boston News-Letter on April 20. The significance to journalism is that the first report was reported in a paper that was for the crown, even though the battle was about rebellion.
Andrlik, Todd, and J .L. Bell. "Breaking News of the Revolutionary War - The Boston Globe." BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe, 16 Dec. 2012. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
The Massachusetts Spy
The Massachusetts Spy has a note that it was the first thing printed in Worcester. This paper is important to journalism because it shows where journalism comes from in the United States. Even then news was important.
"The Massachusetts Spy Or, American Oracle of Liberty." The Massachusetts Spy Or, American Oracle of Liberty. Ed. Isaiah Thompson. Library of Congress, Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room, 3 May 1775. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
Biddle/Allen Publication
This was the published journals of Captain Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They are important to journalism because they show the writing, editing, and publishing process and how that affects our history. Out of 2,000 journals only around 1,500 went to print.
"The Volcanoes of Lewis and Clark." Volcanoes.usgs.gov. Ed. Lyn Topinka. United States Geological Survey, June-July 2004. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
New York Sun
The New York Sun was the first newspaper to sell for one penny on the street in 1833. That was important to journalism because most people could buy a paper and not just those with more money. It made the news easier to transfer, and quicker, too.
Writesite Staff. "Tracing the Story of Journalism." Tracing the Story of Journalism. ThinkTVNetwork, Dayton, Ohio. An OET/SchoolNet Project, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
Ida Tarbell's Expose
Ida Tarbell created a series of articles about Standard Oil Company and its owner John D. Rockefeller. She showed his unethical business tactics and how he destroyed other businesses. This is important to journalism because it shows that no one is above having their unethical practices uncovered.
PBS Staff. "Biography Ida Tarbell." Www.pbs.org. Public Broadcasting System, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
Upton Sinclair and Meat Packing
Upton Sinclair wrote a book about the conditions in meat packing plants in the United States. The book, called "The Jungle" became a huge deal with the government motivated to create the Pure Food and Drugs Act. The significance to journalism is that the current event was turned into a movement to make a law because it was covered and discussed in journalism.
"Meatpacking in the US: Still a Jungle Out There?" Www.pbs.org. PBS, Jumpstart Productions, 15 Dec. 2006. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
This event was covered with great sensationalism through a process that would come to be called Yellow Journalism. Although the idea of sensational news was not new, it was very influential in the United States choosing to go to war.
PBS Staff. "Yellow Journalism." Www.pbs.org. PBS/Great Projects Film Company Inc, 1999. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
Zimmerman Telegraph
The news about the Zimmerman telegram was published in the American press. The fact that Germany was trying to persuade Mexico to go to war with the United States, with a bribe of getting land, helped decide the United States to declare war on Germany on April 6, 1917. Journalism becomes more important in times of war. Alexander, Mary and Marilyn Childress. "The Zimmerman Telegram." Social Education 45, 4 (April 1981): 266. https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/zimmermann. -
David Halberstam Wins Pulitzer
David Halberstam reported from the battlefront in Vietnam. He won a Pulitzer prize for reporting the truth about the war against North Vietnam. It was not as positive as the government claimed.
Dews, Fred, and Thomas Young. "Ten Noteworthy Moments In U.S. Investigative Journalism." Brookings. Brookings, 03 Oct. 2016. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
Seymour Hersh Exposes My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was a massacre of South Vietnamese by American troops. It was covered up by the government. Only one man was convicted for it. Hersch showed the power of journalism by interviewing the convicted man and telling the public the story.
History.com Staff. "Seymour Hersh Breaks My Lai Story." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
Pentagon Leak
The Pentagon Papers were 7,000 page history of US/Vietnam relations. It was leaked by a man named Daniel Ellsberg. This showed the importance of journalism in directly reporting the truth.
History.com Staff. "Pentagon Papers." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2011. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
Watergate
Investigative reporters told people what happened when a burglary took place and then President Nixon tried to cover it up after. This is important to journalism because it cemented journalism in people's minds for noticing corruption in government, and it inspired people to be investigative journalists.
Downie, Leonard, Jr. "Forty Years After Watergate, Investigative Journalism Is at Risk." Www.washingtonpost.com. Washington Post, 7 June 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2017. -
Mars Rovers: Spirit and Opportunity
The rover expeditions were covered in great length in journalism, both print and digital journalism from NASA's website. These events were important to show that journalism is still relevant and current. It was the coverage that kept people interested in the rover missions for over eight years now.
NASA Staff. "Spirit and Opportunity Highlights." Mars.nasa.gov. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2002. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. http://mars.nasa.gov/mer10/#tabs-2. -
Deep Throat Revealed
Bob Woodward, reporter, revealed the secret source of information for Watergate. This is important to journalism because it shows the level of commitment the journalists had to protect their sources.
Washington Post Staff. "The Watergate Sotry: Part 4 Deep Throat Revealed." Www.washingtonpost.com. Washington Post, 31 May 2005. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
Secret Government Organizations
Washington Post reporters Dana Priest and William Arkin published a series of articles about the US government's secret organizations and how they have grown. This shows that journalism is still relevant, and can produce information that most citizens did not know existed.
Dews, Fred, and Thomas Young. "Ten Noteworthy Moments In U.S. Investigative Journalism." Brookings. Brookings, 03 Oct. 2016. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
NSA Surveillance
Both the "Guardian" and the "Post" reported that the National Security Agency (NSA) was spying on both citizens and foreign officials. This goes US concepts of freedom from government control. It bypassed the process of getting a warrant. This is important to journalism because they have power to bring important issues of safety to the people.
Dews, Fred, and Thomas Young. "Ten Noteworthy Moments In U.S. Investigative Journalism." Brookings. Brookings, 03 Oct. 2016. Web. 12 Feb. 2017. -
Death of Murrey Marder
Murrey Marder was a journalist who took on Senator McCarthy's witch hunt of Soviets during the "Red Scare." His life was important to journalism because he demonstrated that not everyone that McCarthy pointed out was a Soviet. McCarthy was lying about at least some of his "facts." This shows that journalism can take on a current issue head on.
Weber, Bruce. "Murrey Marder, Early McCarthy Skeptic, Dies at 93." The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 12 Feb. 2017.
