{"id":10117,"date":"2023-12-03T12:10:14","date_gmt":"2023-12-03T11:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=10117"},"modified":"2023-12-03T12:10:14","modified_gmt":"2023-12-03T11:10:14","slug":"who-invented-the-newspaper-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/who-invented-the-newspaper-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Invented The Newspaper In Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Before The Print Newspaper<\/h2>\n

The invention of the newspaper is a complex process that spans back thousands of years. The very first forms of “newspapers” were exclusive to ancient Rome and could be dated back to 59 BC. These were essentially public announcements for citizens, written down on flimsy pieces of papyrus. As technology developed, the ability to print multiple copies of documents grew more accessible and the first ‘printed’ newspapers appeared as pamphlets.
\nThe forerunner to the modern-day newspaper was called the Acta Diurna and was launched by Julius Caesar in 55 BC. This periodical was not exactly a newspaper by modern standards since it was a collection of official announcements and messages issued by magistrates and contained minor details about criminal cases and other judiciary proceedings.
\nThe Acta Diurna was written by professional scribes who copied down details from the official court documents and only contained factual and verified information. It would then be posted around Rome on bridges and public places.<\/p>\n

The Technology Behind the Newspaper<\/h2>\n

In addition to the technology of papyrus, paper was popularized in Rome by a man named Cai Lun in 105 AD. This allowed newspapers to become easily available and easy to read due to the lightweight paper and its comparatively low cost.
\nThe technology quickly spread to the rest of Europe and the printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1455. This allowed the mass production of books, newspapers and pamphlets, helping to spread news more quickly and bringing more information to the people of Rome.<\/p>\n

The Newspapers of Ancient Rome<\/h2>\n

The first printed newspaper in Rome, and the entire world, was the Notizie Scritte, edited by Agostino Giustiniani. This periodical focused primarily on the publishing of news concerning current events, and was in circulation from 1703 to 1796.
\nThe newspaper was published once per month and covered stories such as the 1798 invasion of Egypt by the French Army. It was an instant success and spread quickly across Europe, serving to inform and inspire.
\nThe Notizie Scritte was followed by the Giornale di Roma in 1808, which was published twice a week. This was a heavily censored publication covering topics such as politics, science, and culture and continued in print until 1895.<\/p>\n

Legacy of the Newspaper<\/h2>\n

Though it has been over two thousand years since the first newspaper was written, its legacy lives on. The Internet has drastically changed the way we communicate and obtain news, however, newspapers and their ability to provide accurate and timely information are still essential in today’s world.
\nThe influence of the newspaper is evident in the fact that even in the digital age, newspapers still exist and are thriving. This is in part due to their commitment to honest, accurate reporting. The fact that so many choose to still rely on newspapers for their news is testament to the power of the original newspaper from ancient Rome.<\/p>\n

Patterns of Journalism<\/h2>\n