subject: The history of newspapers and their importance [print this page] The history of newspapers and their importance
In recent times, some things have become mandatory for the human beings, for example, television, electricity, newspaper etc. The most important is the newspaper which has been made available to the common man and can be carried anywhere. There are various types of newspapers ranging from daily, weekly, monthly, bimonthly and quarterly. Today's newspapers carry information about the incidences that happens in every nook and corner of the world. It has become an integral part of society and contains information essential to all age groups.
Julius Caesar was the first one to use this method, (we can roughly call the newspaper method) to convey the information to citizens. During 59 B.C, large white boards or stone in public places kept the public informed about political and social happenings known by the name Acta Diurna.' China, during the reign of Han, Ming and Tang dynasty published news handwritten in silk and used to transfer information to government officials. In the middle of the 14th century, Johannes Gutenburg devised the idea of printing which led to the era of modern newspaper. Before this discovery, all the news were handwritten which made strenuous work and limited number of copies. He was a goldsmith by profession, but he invented the hand mould which made the revolutionary breakthrough in the perfect and rapid creation of many copies.
Charles Fenerty, a Canadian inventor first found out the process of paper making from wood pulp. Since this was cheap, the paper was used for the production of newspapers. It was after this discovery the number of newspapers increased. The information by newspapers as well as the media carry considerable clout among the public which can be found in the statement, "The pen is mightier than the sword."
The World Association of Publishers (WAN) is made up of several national newspaper associations and newspaper editors and executives in many countries. Similarly, the International Press Institute (IPI) established in 1950, is the organization founded to safeguard the rights, freedom of opinion and expression. The IPI has established Nationalist committees in several countries to provide support in their work and improvement of conditions in journalism practices.
