Institutions & Publications of the Press... What's Important?

 

From standard newspapers to cartoons, the press has been at the forefront of news and media throughout history. In the early years of the media, most publications were in the form of newspapers and most commonly consisted of politics or war-related information. Many of the newspapers and institutions in history still publish today. 

The Chicago Tribune was one of the leading newspapers in the U.S. begining in 1847, only a few years before the Civil War. At the start of the Chicago Tribune, most issues were politically focused and showed clear support of president Lincoln during the war. The paper became one of the first to use color printing presses, publish a color photograph in the paper, and the first to maintain reporting staff on Capitol Hill.

Much later in U.S. media history, the use of cartoons began to convey political messages. The American Association of Editorial Cartoonist began in 1957 around the time of the Vietnam war. The association used art or cartoons to express public opinion and convey messages. The cartoons used much exaggeration and irony to draw the attention of the community and share political ideas. 

Numerous insititutions arose throughout U.S. history that made a tremendous impact on the country. The Liberator focused on equality and abolishment of slavery, the National Press Club became a small community of media professionals to share ideas and make announcements, and the New-York Tribune issued political news, crime, and poetry. While each institution focused on different ideas, all focused on ideas central to the lives of the community including politics, entertainment and cultural movements.