Significant dates in the history of the British Press

By IAmSimonHarris
  • 1549

    First known newsletter

    The first known English newsletter Requests of the Devonshyre and Cornyshe Rebels published. Many printed publications were political pamphlets.

  • First titled newspaper and Fleet Street

    Corante published in London. Fleet Street became an area of the city associated with publishing newspapers. This lasted until the 1980s.

  • Oldest surviving newspaper launched

    Worcester Postman – which became Berrow's Worcester Journal in 1709 – begins regular publication

  • First daily newspaper

    Launch of the first regular daily newspaper, the Daily Courante

  • First Stamp Act

    Stamp Act passed by Parliament, taxing newspapers and increasing prices. Stamford Mercury launched,

  • Oldest surviving daily newspaper

    Belfast News Letter founded – the oldest surviving daily newspaper.

  • The Times

    The Daily Universal Register (launched 1785) changes its name to The Times

  • Stamp Duty abolished

    Parliament abolishes Stamp Duty, making newspapers cheaper. The Manchester Guardian, The Scotsman and Liverpool Post become daily. 17 other regional newspapers founded.

  • Press Association

    The Press Association is set up as a national news agency. It's still used by many newspapers today.

  • Owners vs workers

    Newspaper Proprietors Association formed, while the National Union of Journalists was founded a year later.

  • Counting sales

    Audit Bureau of Circulations formed to independently record newspaper sales numbers.

  • Colour appears

    Britain's first colour advertisement appears in Scotland's Daily Record newspaper.

  • The Guardian

    The Manchester Guardian becomes The Guardian, making it truly a national newspaper. Photography becomes more widespread during the 1960s.

  • Rupert Murdoch

    Rupert Murdoch's News International company buys The Sun and the News of the World. The company goes on to buy The Times and The Sunday Times in 1981.

  • Colour launches

    News International moves away from Fleet Street. The first colour newspaper, Today, is launched, as well as The Independent.

  • Self-regulation

    The Press Complaints replaced the Press Council. But the organisation was mostly made up of newspaper bosses, and governments failed to impose strict controls on the press.

  • Consolidation among regionals

    Regional newspapers increasingly become part of large publishing groups throughout the next two decades. The economic downturn in 2008 hurts income from advertising across printed media.

  • Online paywalls

    The first paywalls are introduced for consuming news at The Times and Sunday Times. These are adopted by some other newspapers later.

  • Hacking scandal emerges

    The News of the World is closed after 168 years because of its involvement in 'phone hacking' to produce gossip stories. The Prime Minister announced an inquiry, chaired by a senior judge to investigate the role of the press and the police in the scandal.