Rudyard Kipling’s poem “The Press” exemplifies very clearly the dominant role of the press in the late 19th century. From this, we can conclude that not only the role of the press is a much discussed and disputed topic today but that it was also in the past. It gives us also a hint that “lessons” of media history are essential in order to get an understanding of its structures, content, and influence. Present-day media arrangements are not natural and unavoidable. A study of media history makes us also aware of alternatives, i.e., how media could have been or can be arranged. In this essay, I will portray the history of the newspaper development from the 17th century until the 21st century. My aim is to point up how the structures, methods of news gathering and diffusion via the mass medium newspaper have evolved by giving a brief overview over the important stages in the development process. Since this medium boasts such a vivid history, and, as mentioned before, media history is an important chapter to learn about, I want to focus upon the earlier periods of newspaper publishing. Constraints of space do not allow to elaborate on the current debates about media issues. The essay is addressed to students of media studies and should be regarded as a basis reading before exploring further fields of media studies.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. The early newspaper development (17th – 19th century)
II.1. The radical press and the Stamp Act
II.2. Changes in the Economic Organization of the Press: Commercialisation, industrialisation, and press ownership
II.2.1. The rise of advertising
II.2.2. Industrialisation
II.2.3. Press barons
III. The 20th century
III.1. The Popular Press and War
IV. The 21st century
IV.1. Competition and globalisation
V. Conclusion
VI. “The Press” by Rudyard Kipling
Objectives and Topics
This essay examines the historical evolution of British newspaper development from the 17th century to the modern era, focusing on the structures, methods of news dissemination, and the shifting influence of media power. It explores the tension between state control and press freedom, the impact of economic changes on ownership, and the role of the media in shaping public opinion during critical historical periods.
- Evolution of the British newspaper as a mass medium
- The impact of radical press, taxation, and state legislation
- Economic shifts: Commercialisation, industrialisation, and media moguls
- Media influence on public opinion and wartime propaganda
- The role of global media corporations and market concentration
Excerpt from the Book
II.2.3. Press barons
Between 1820 and 1920 a number of takeovers and amalgamations, which meant even the closure of many newspapers, caused a concentration of ownership. A considerable proportion of the British press fell into the hands of three brothers – the Harmsworths. Alfred Harmsworth, Lord Northcliffe, controlled The Times, The Daily Mail, The Weekly Dispatch, and The London Evening News while his brother Vere, Lord Rothermere, owned The Daily Mirror, The Sunday Pictorial as well as The Daily Record, Sunday Mail, and The Glasgow Evening News. Together they owned the Amalgamated Press, Britain’s largest magazine group. Lester Harmsworth controlled a chain of local newspapers in the south-west of England.
Apart from these press empires, Lord Beaverbrook, owner of the Express Group with titles such as The Daily Express, Sunday Express, and Evening Standard, and the Berry brothers, namely Lords Camrose and Kemsley, dominated the newspaper business. A small number of press barons had acquired a considerable amount of power, which was a direct threat to the development of democracy.
Newspaper ownership became a means by which to impress their views on politicians and political parties, as well as shape the pressing issues of the day. Their aim was to achieve political power. The press barons claimed the right to speak for British public opinion as they were convinced to be “representative” of their readers in the same way as politicians represented their voters.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: This chapter outlines the scope of the essay and introduces Rudyard Kipling’s poem "The Press" to highlight the historical importance and the debated role of the media.
II. The early newspaper development (17th – 19th century): This section covers the emergence of the press, focusing on the influence of the radical press, the struggle against the Stamp Act, and the economic transformation through industrialisation.
III. The 20th century: This chapter analyzes how newspapers functioned during wartime, specifically examining the balance between propaganda, censorship, and public opinion management.
IV. The 21st century: This part investigates the modern media landscape, specifically addressing the oligopolistic market structure, intense competition, and the global reach of major media conglomerates.
V. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the main findings, emphasizing that while technological and social environments have changed, the fundamental themes of press freedom and ownership concentration persist.
VI. “The Press” by Rudyard Kipling: This section presents the original poem as a thematic anchor for the essay’s discussion on media power.
Keywords
Newspaper history, British press, Press barons, Radical press, Media ownership, Globalization, Propaganda, Stamp Act, Journalism, Mass media, Democracy, Industrialization, Market concentration, Censorship, Media moguls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work provides a historical analysis of how the British newspaper industry evolved from the 17th century through the age of globalization, highlighting key developmental milestones.
Which historical periods are covered?
The essay spans from the 17th-century emergence of early news sheets to the contemporary age of globalized media corporations in the 21st century.
What is the central research theme?
The central theme is the evolution of newspaper structures and the ongoing struggle between press freedom, state control, and the influence of powerful media owners.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a historical-analytical approach, summarizing major phases of media development and reviewing historical contexts to illustrate trends in media power and economic structure.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
Key topics include the radical press movement, the economic transition towards commercialization and industrialization, the rise of "press barons," wartime media propaganda, and modern market oligopolies.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include British press history, media ownership, press freedom, globalization, radical press, and market concentration.
How did "taxes on knowledge" affect the press?
These taxes, such as the Stamp Act of 1712, were used by the government to curb the radical press and limit the reach of newspapers to the lower classes by making them prohibitively expensive.
What was the role of the "press barons" in British politics?
Press barons used their consolidated power to influence political opinion, support specific candidates, and shape the national discourse to align with their personal crusades and commercial interests.
- Quote paper
- Kerstin Mickenbecker (Author), 2004, British Newspaper Development - From the 17th century to the age of globalization, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/58333
