Journalism and the American Renaissance Essay - 1721 Words

Journalism and the American Renaissance The period in American Literature known as the American Renaissance was a time of great change in our country. It was an age of westward expansion and social conflict. Americans were divided on such volatile issues as slavery, reform and sectionalism that ultimately led to the Civil War. Emerging from this cauldron of change came the voice of a new nation - a nation with views and ideals all its own. The social, economic, technological and demographic revolution that was taking place at this time set the stage for a new era of writers. The voice of the nation found a home, first, on the pages of the newspaper. It was there that the hopes, fears and political views of Americans were†¦show more content†¦The early newspapers were very limited in their scope. A typical newspaper was four pages long, sold only by subscription, and aimed at a small, almost exclusively male audience, mainly interested in business and politics. The chief purpose of the newspaper, at this time in hi story, was to supply financial and mercantile information to businessmen and to promote the viewpoint of a political party. The news pages were filled with articles dealing with national, state and local governments along with editorials and news reprinted from other newspapers. Journalism had very little in common with the popular literature of this era à ¶ poetry, romances and fiction à ¶ in both form and subject matter (Robertson 2, 3). However, the emergence of the penny press in the 1830à ¢s redefined the role of the news and established a strong connection between journalism and popular literature. The penny papers were no longer sold to a select group of subscribers, they were sold in the street for one cent - to the working class American - both men and women. The press broadened its attention beyond business and politics by including human-interest stories that depicted everyday life in America (Robertson 4). The popularity and influence of this uniquely American style of newspaper was unparalleled. The right to freedom of the press made it possible for journalists to print stories that would have been censored in a more repressive time (Reynolds 169).Show MoreRelatedNewspaper And Other Traditional Sources Of Journalism1379 Words   |  6 Pagessources of journalism are becoming less and less able to financially sustain themselves. Given that a free press is widely considered essential to democracy, many groups are deeply concerned about this trend.† Traditional Journalism against New Modern Journalism Journalism is one of the most important part of mass communication around the world in this modern era. The era in which people connected with internet and technology is playing vital role in every human being. According to American Press InstituteRead MoreProgressivism, The And, And The Stock Market Crash1428 Words   |  6 Pagesabout when people began to see poverty become more popular throughout the country, and many blamed the government. Americans believed the solution was to have the government fixed before it could fix other problems. Muckrakers were the first people to articulate progressive ideas by uncovering corruption, targeting government and social problems, and raising awareness through journalism and literature. Herbert Spencer was one man who tested the idea of natural selection through his book, On the OriginRead MoreWhy Jackie Robinson Was The First Pro Ball Player844 Words   |  4 Pagesdeemed acceptable for them to be allowed to play. Working class women sta rted to compete professionally in rowing competitions; they played crocket and played lawn tennis. The American pastime of baseball was well on its way and all though baseball had a huge racial division as to who could play mainly African Americans not being accepted, but they developed their own league and contrary to the belief that Jackie Robinson was the first pro ball player there was another before him by the name ofRead MoreRise Of The Gaming Industry2188 Words   |  9 PagesDylan Miller Eng 101 50630 June 7,2015 Rise of the Gaming Industry Video game consoles are found in the family room of every American household and yet nobody has given a thought about what the gaming industry has gone through to get to where it is today. The game industry has a history going back for over fifty years. America had a major video game crash during the year 1983 leading to Japan becoming the biggest force in the industry with the Nintendo Entertainment System. Sony and MicrosoftRead More The History of Public Relations Essay1063 Words   |  5 Pagesthe invention of writing, public relations was formed. Leaders of ancient civilizations used writings to promote their superiority in war and politics. Public interest became a huge priority for everyone. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Renaissance and Reformation founded the modern world and the first stages of public relations that is attributed to public and private organizations today and several articles of history. The Magna Carta, which influenced the U.S. Constitution, for exampleRead More10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America Research Paper2482 Words   |  10 PagesThe ten dates that were selected by the History Channel while consulting a group of distinguished historians each triggered a series of events that shaped and molded America. Though they all have an enormous impact on American history, culture, and legacy many other dates not mentioned also produced extreme changes throughout America’s history. January 24, 1848: Gold Rush: Eliminated The California gold rush drastically changed America in numerous ways. It facilitated economic growth and prosperityRead MoreSummary Of The Iconoclast s Black No More 1718 Words   |  7 Pagesworking hard for whatever he wanted to achieve (Rac(e)ing to the Right, xv). In conjunction with what Schuyler learned from his grandmother, who was self-confident and determined to stand up for herself, Schuyler looked down his nose at African Americans who struggled under the load of racism, Oscar Renal Williams wrote in Portrait of a Black Conservative (3). In Racing to the Right, Schuyler is quoted as saying that he knew he was a Negro, but it was not an impediment to him (xvi). In Schuyler’sRead More Langston Hughes - A Literary Genius Essay2076 Words   |  9 Pagesfigures in the world of Harlem, has come to be an African American poet as well as a legend of a variety of fields such as music, childrens literature and journalism. Through his poetry, plays, short stories, novels, autobiographies, childrens books, newspaper columns, Negro histories, edited anthologies, and other works, Hughes is considered a voice of the African-American people and a prime example of the magnificence of the Harlem Renaissance who promoted equality, condemned racism and injusticeRead MoreCapital Of The Abbasid Caliphate Essay1951 Words   |  8 Pagesnot accept the Sunni control of the city. While talking about maps and art created at this time, Patricia Yaeger of the Modern Language Association writes, â€Å"Nasuh sketched these city plans while on the move and created his colorful miniatures in Renaissance Istanbul- a city flourishing in the midst of empire and high art. In contrast, Ottoman Baghdad remained on the outskirts of Siileyman s territories, a city almost without domiciles in Nasuh’s imagination.† (11). This quote paints the picture ofRead MoreBrief Survey of American Literature3339 Words   |  14 PagesBrief Survey of American Literature 1. Beginnings to 1700 Great mixing of peoples from the whole Atlantic basin Bloody conflicts between Native Americans (or American Indians) and European explorers and settlers who had both religious and territorial aspirations - Native American oral literature / oral tradition - European explorers’ letters, diaries, reports, etc., such as Christopher Columbus’s letters about his voyage to the â€Å"New world†. - Anglo (New England) settlers’ books, sermons