The early newspapers that emerged in the American colonies were significant. The first regularly published newspaper approved by the government appeared in 1704 titled The Boston Newsletter. Early newspapers were heavily censored, and the content was regulated by authorities. Because of the censored content, it was challenging for colonists to be informed about accurate information on events happening around them and in other countries. As more newspapers emerged, different publishers provided new content, allowing readers to be informed from a different perspective. As the years went on and newspapers became more popular, by 1775 there were thirty-seven newspapers in business. 

• https://collections.americanantiquarian.org/earlyamericannewsmedia/exhibits/show/news-in-colonial-america/colonial-print-culture

• https://edsitement.neh.gov/closer-readings/media-and-communication-technology-making-america

The production of affordable newspapers began in the 1830s by Benjamin Day. In 1833 Day founded the New York Sun and instead of selling newspapers at the usual six cents per copy, it was sold for a penny per copy. The biggest challenge for Day was competing against the already well-established newspaper industry. However, because Day’s newspapers were much more accessible and affordable for the literate working class, he was able to compete effectively. The penny press papers were also sold individually rather than with subscriptions allowing for the paper to be promoted on corners and in local shops. This new era of newspapers established a new targeted audience and marketing strategies.   

• https://www.thoughtco.com/penny-press-definition-1773293  

A newspaper that focuses on making articles exciting rather than promoting stories based on accuracy. While this writing style was extremely engaging for the reader, it often overdramatized real-life events causing misconceptions. Although this caused trust issues between publishers and the public it allowed the public to become aware of misinformation. During the Spanish-American War, yellow journalism played a crucial role in publishing exaggerated stories. These stories painted the Spanish as a brutal threat, causing nationwide fear and outrage among American citizens. Consequently, Yellow journalism caused the public to lose trust in the media. The efforts of rebuilding the public trust over the centuries included creating diverse media that covered stories with different perspectives and fact-checking to verify truthfulness. 

• https://www.britannica.com/topic/yellow-journalism 

• https://www.history.com/news/spanish-american-war-yellow-journalism-hearst-pulitzer

In the modern digital era, the way the public is informed has shifted from physical paper to online websites, social media, and television. Because the Internet is accessible to everyone, anyone can publish their content on the news content, causing much intentional misinformation. To avoid falling victim to false information, certain websites and channels present more accurate data with multiple perspectives. The switch from paper news to digital created extreme competition for newspaper companies because of the faster and more reliable content. Many popular businesses, for example, the New York Times, became digital to continue their media platform. With the rise of the digital era, the use of paper newspapers has declined significantly. 

• https://www.mastersincommunications.org/modern-journalism/ 

• https://online.maryville.edu/blog/digital-journalism/