Existing comment:
1690
Renaissance Man:
Don Carlos de Siguenza y Gongora produced America's first regularly published news periodical in Mexico, a series of newsbooks titled Mercurio Volante (Flying Mercury). One of his best, in 1693, detailed the Spanish reconquest of the territory that later became New Mexico.
1700
Taxing the News:
In 1712, Britain's Parliament passed a law requiring a penny tax on each full printed newspaper page. At the time the press was relatively free, and publications that criticized and poked fun at the government were growing. The tax was viewed by many as an attempt to restrict the activities of those publications without resorting to actual censorship.
A Critical Voice Silenced:
The New-England Courant was started in Boston in 1721. Editor and publisher James Franklin (Benjamin Franklin's older brother) used his newspaper to criticize authorities for an apparent lack of interest in combating piracy off the New England coast. His criticism landed him in prison, and later he was forbidden to publish newspapers again.
This copperplate engraving shows a Flemish print shop in the 16th century. Compositors and proofreaders are at work while the pressman piles his trade. |