Newspapers in the United States: Difference between revisions

{{further| Early American publishers and printers}}The history of American newspapers dates back to the early 18th century, when the first [[Thirteen Colonies|colonial]] newspapers were published. In the beginning, newspapers were a sideline for printers, but they eventually became a political force and played a role in the campaign for [[American independence]]. The [[First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution]] guaranteed freedom of the press, and the [[Postal Service Act]] of 1792 provided subsidies for the delivery of newspapers. During the [[First Party System]] (1790s-1810s), both parties sponsored papers to reach their loyal supporters. In the 1830s, the [[Penny press]] began to play a major role in American journalism, and technological advancements such as the [[telegraph]] and faster printing presses helped to expand the press of the nation. In the 1840s through 1880s, the ongoing development of [[news agency|news agencies]] (to which individual papers subscribed for content) further helped expand the press, as a way to split the costs of distant reporting rather than duplicating them. In the early 20th century, newspapers were profitable and influential, but with the rise of [[television]] in the 1920s, the role of newspapers began to shift. In the late 20th century, many American journalism outlets became part of big media chains, and the rise of [[digital journalism]] in the 21st century has caused a business crisis for newspapers, as readers and advertisers shift to the [[Internet]].