The newspaper has many forerunners. You could argue that the earliest recorded 'newspaper' appeared back in 59 B.C as the Roman Acta Diurna, which consisted of white boards displayed in popular places to keep citizens informed of current events. 8th century China featured handwritten newssheets. The invention of the printing press by Johann Gutenberg in 1447 facilitated printed newsletters and information pamphlets, which - along with handwritten versions - circulated in 1400s Europe.
However they cannot be considered newspapers as we recognise them today: some were just circulated privately among groups like merchants, others - like the Corantos - were only produced to cover specific noteworthy events.
In the English-speaking world, the first successively published title was The Weekly Newes in 1622. However, based on its format and officially sanctioned status England's London Gazette, which appeared in 1665, is reckoned to be the first true, 'modern' English-language newspaper. Earlier in the same century, France, Germany and Belgium had also started publishing regular, modern newspapers.
America's first newspaper was Boston's Publick Occurrences in 1690, though it was immediately suppressed by the authorities. In 1704 the Boston News-Letter appeared as America's first government-sanctioned newspaper.
However they cannot be considered newspapers as we recognise them today: some were just circulated privately among groups like merchants, others - like the Corantos - were only produced to cover specific noteworthy events.
In the English-speaking world, the first successively published title was The Weekly Newes in 1622. However, based on its format and officially sanctioned status England's London Gazette, which appeared in 1665, is reckoned to be the first true, 'modern' English-language newspaper. Earlier in the same century, France, Germany and Belgium had also started publishing regular, modern newspapers.
America's first newspaper was Boston's Publick Occurrences in 1690, though it was immediately suppressed by the authorities. In 1704 the Boston News-Letter appeared as America's first government-sanctioned newspaper.
