History of News in Timeline
News is the communication of current events, delivered through various mediums such as word of mouth, print, broadcasting, and digital platforms. It encompasses reports from observers and witnesses, and is often referred to as "hard news" to distinguish it from softer news categories.
1900: News Cartel Formation
Around 1900, Wolff, Havas, and Reuters, established news agencies, formed a cartel, dividing the global news market into three segments. Each agency had exclusive distribution rights and collaborations with national agencies within their respective territories.
1902: Circumtelegraphy of the Planet
In 1902, Britain and the United States began the endeavor of completing a global telegraph network, known as the circumtelegraphy of the planet, by laying transpacific cables from Canada to Fiji and New Zealand, and from the US to Hawaii and the occupied Philippines.
1903: Circumtelegraphy of the Planet Completed
In 1903, Britain and the US successfully completed the circumtelegraphy of the planet with the establishment of transpacific cables, connecting continents across the globe.
1904: Expanding the Cartel
In 1904, the three major wire services, Wolff, Havas, and Reuters, expanded their influence by establishing relations with Vestnik, the news agency of Czarist Russia. Despite the collaboration, they maintained their own reporters in Moscow.
1904: James Joyce's Ulysses
James Joyce's novel "Ulysses," published in 1904, used newspapers from June 16th (and thereabouts) as its source material. The novel highlighted the significance of newspapers in national and literary culture, portraying a newspaper office as a central part of life in Dublin.
September 1918: Lenin's Instructions to Soviet Press
On September 19, 1918, Lenin, in a Pravda editorial, urged the Soviet press to adopt a concise and impactful writing style similar to the "telegraph style", emphasizing brevity and clarity in conveying anticapitalist messages to the masses.
1920: Rapid Growth of Radio in the US
The 1920s saw significant growth in radio broadcasting across the United States, with the number of stations increasing from 30 to a thousand. This expansion was largely driven by advertising and public relations funding.
1922: BBC Radio Begins News Transmissions
The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) initiated radio news transmissions from London in 1922, relying solely on British news agencies for content, as mandated by law.
May 1926: BBC's Role in General Strike
During the May 1926 general strike in Britain, the BBC gained prominence as the sole source of news for the public due to the closure of newspapers. The BBC adopted a pro-government stance, reporting on the strike from the perspective of the authorities.
1926: RCA Establishes NBC Radio Network
The Radio Group of America (RCA) established its radio network, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), in 1926. This marked a significant development in the evolution of radio broadcasting in the United States.
1928: Propaganda by Edward Bernays
Edward Bernays published his influential book "Propaganda" in 1928.
1929: Soviet Union Launches International Broadcasting
In 1929, the Soviet Union commenced a major international broadcasting operation, establishing stations broadcasting in German, English, and French. This initiative marked the Soviet Union's foray into global radio broadcasting.
1931: Red China News Agency Founded
In 1931, the Chinese Communist Party established its news agency, the Red China News Agency, focusing on the Red China newspaper and the internal Reference News.
1933: Short-lived Agreement Between Radio Broadcasters and Press
In 1933, American radio broadcasters agreed to use news solely from the Press–Radio Bureau and refrain from advertising. However, this agreement was short-lived, and radio stations soon resumed reporting their own news, incorporating advertising.
1937: BBC Radio as a Diplomatic Tool
In 1937, the British government began using BBC radio as a diplomatic tool, setting up Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese services.
1937: Red China News Agency Renamed
In 1937, the Chinese Communist Party renamed the Red China News Agency to Xinhua, meaning New China.
1939: Radio's Popularity as a News Source
By 1939, radio had become a dominant news source in the United States, with 58% of Americans surveyed by Fortune considering radio news more reliable than newspapers. Additionally, 70% of respondents identified radio as their primary news source.
1942: US Establishes Office of War Information
In 1942, during World War II, the United States established the Office of War Information. This agency played a crucial role in disseminating information and propaganda across various regions, including South America, the Middle East, and East Asia.
1945: New York Newspaper Strike
During the 1945 New York newspaper strike, sociologist Bernard Berelson conducted a study which revealed that New Yorkers exhibited a dependence on news. They described feeling "lost," "nervous," "isolated," and "suffering" without access to their regular news sources.
1949: Xinhua Becomes Official News Agency
Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Xinhua was declared the official news agency of the newly formed nation.
1955: Voice of America Surpasses BBC in Reach
By 1955, the Voice of America (VOA), produced by the United States Information Agency, had overtaken the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as the largest radio network globally.
1964: Inter Press Service and Third World Focus
The year 1964 marked the establishment of the Inter Press Service (IPS), an organization focused on amplifying the voices of the Third World. IPS distinguished itself with an editorial policy prioritizing issues such as inequality, economic development, natural resources, and sustainability, giving less emphasis to crime and violence and contributing to a more balanced global news narrative.
1969: Moon Landing
The 1969 Moon landing is widely considered a significant news event, particularly in the United States.
1975: Satellite Instructional Television Experiment in India
In 1975, India embarked on an innovative experiment in educational broadcasting with the launch of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment. This pioneering initiative, a collaborative effort involving the United States Agency for International Development, NASA, UNESCO, the Indian Space Research Organisation, and All India Radio, explored the potential of satellite technology for educational outreach.
1976: Continuation of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment
The Satellite Instructional Television Experiment in India continued its run in 1976, further exploring and demonstrating the potential of satellite technology to bridge educational gaps and expand access to learning resources in remote areas.
1979: Iran Hostage Crisis
The capture of American hostages in Iran in 1979 became a major news event that dominated western media coverage for months. This event, which was portrayed as a "crisis," illustrated the impact of global news coverage and its potential to influence political events, even presidential elections.
1980: CNN's Launch Marks New Era in News Broadcasting
The launch of Ted Turner's Cable News Network (CNN) in 1980 marked the beginning of a new era in news broadcasting, introducing 24-hour satellite news coverage to the world.
1980: Soviet Union Surpasses US in Broadcasting
By some accounts, the Soviet Union surpassed the United States as the world's top broadcaster around 1980, although the US has since regained its position.
1980: MacBride Report and Global News Diversity
The 1980 MacBride report, titled "Many Voices, One World," championed a more balanced and inclusive global news system. It advocated for greater participation from diverse governments and a departure from the prevailing Euro-American dominance in news dissemination, promoting a more multifaceted and representative flow of information.
1981: Bloomberg's Technological Advancements
Michael Bloomberg founded Bloomberg LP in 1981, a company that quickly revolutionized financial news. By leveraging computer technology, Bloomberg offered real-time stock market updates and combined computer-generated analysis with traditional reporting, establishing a new standard for financial news delivery. In the 1990s, Bloomberg further expanded its reach by partnering with Agence France Presse.
1986: Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion
The Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986 is regarded as a major news event in the United States.
1987: Dominican Republic Riot and Tourism Impact
A 1987 riot in the Dominican Republic, a country that had been largely absent from international headlines, faced significant repercussions after receiving coverage in U.S. media. The incident led to a prolonged decline in tourism, impacting the country's economy and illustrating the tangible influence of international news coverage on a nation's global perception and economic well-being.
1989: Tiananmen Square Protests
In 1989, global communications media, including fax machines, telephones, newspapers, radio, and television, allowed for immediate exposure to and discussion of the Chinese government's actions in Tiananmen Square. Despite the government's attempts to restrict local telecommunications, the news continued to spread.
1990: Iraqi Soldiers and Kuwaiti Hospitals
In 1990, a news story circulated about Iraqi soldiers taking "babies out of incubators" in Kuwaiti hospitals. This story became an example of how public relations can be used to influence public opinion in times of conflict.
1991: BBC World Service Television Launched
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) launched BBC World Service Television in 1991, competing with CNN in the emerging market of global 24-hour news channels.
1992: Gulf War Coverage Highlights 24-Hour News Cycle
The 1991-1992 Gulf War, covered extensively by 24-hour news channels like CNN, showcased the impact and influence of continuous news broadcasting on public perception during significant global events.
1994: Netscape Browser and Online News Accessibility
The release of the Netscape browser in 1994 brought the internet, then known as ARPANET, to the public domain. While initially serving as archives for print media, online platforms like the Electronic Telegraph pioneered digital news delivery. The 1994 California earthquake became a landmark event for real-time online reporting, demonstrating the internet's potential for immediate news dissemination.
April 1995: Oklahoma City Bombing Coverage
The Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995 marked a significant moment in online news reporting. News sites like the Oklahoma City Daily provided updates within hours, while the San Jose Mercury News and Time magazine, among the few sites then capable of hosting images, published photos of the tragedy. This event highlighted the internet's burgeoning role in real-time news dissemination and public discourse.
April 1996: Al Jazeera's Debut
In April 1996, the media landscape shifted with the launch of Al Jazeera, a Qatar-based news organization. It distinguished itself as a powerful alternative to Western media outlets by hiring journalists from the recently closed BBC Arabic Television and leveraging widespread sentiment in the Arab and Muslim world against biased Gulf War coverage.
1997: Death of Princess Diana
The death of Princess Diana in 1997 is considered a significant news event in various countries, including the United States and Jordan.
2000: Supreme Court Intervention in Presidential Election
The intervention of the Supreme Court in the 2000 US presidential election is considered a significant news event in the United States.
2001: September 11 Attacks
The September 11 attacks in 2001 are widely acknowledged as a highly significant news event, particularly in the United States.
2001: World Trade Center Destruction Coverage
The continuous news coverage of the World Trade Center destruction in 2001, particularly the repetitive footage, led to widespread trauma symptoms across the United States. This event highlighted the potential impact of constant exposure to distressing news on mental health.
2002: Xinhua's Expansion
By 2002, Xinhua, bolstered by the burgeoning Chinese media landscape, witnessed a surge in subscribers, reaching 16,969, with a significant 93% comprising Chinese newspapers. This growth underscored Xinhua's expanding influence and role in news dissemination within China.
2003: World Summit on the Information Society
The World Summit on the Information Society, in 2003, was a conference that emphasized the role of civil society and the private sector in information society governance. The summit revisited some issues relating to global information flow in light of the internet.
2005: World Summit on the Information Society
The World Summit on the Information Society, in 2005, was a conference that emphasized the role of civil society and the private sector in information society governance. The summit revisited some issues relating to global information flow in light of the internet.
2009: Fictional Quotation on Wikipedia
In 2009, a number of journalists were embarrassed after reproducing a fictional quotation that originated from Wikipedia. This incident highlighted the problem of circular reporting, where the same error is propagated through increasingly reliable sources, which can be accelerated in the digital age.
2010: Google News Redesign
In 2010, Google News underwent a significant transformation with the redesign of its front page. The revamped platform introduced automatic geotargeting, providing users with locally relevant news based on their location. This update marked a move toward personalized news delivery, catering to individual interests and locations.
2011: Reuters' Dominance
By 2011, Reuters had established itself as a global news powerhouse. With over 55,000 employees across 100 countries, the agency reported an annual revenue of $12.9 billion, underscoring its significant financial success and extensive reach in news dissemination.
2012: Twitter's Impact on News
In 2012, Twitter solidified its place in the news ecosystem by characterizing itself as a curated news feed delivering real-time updates on topics of interest. This highlighted the platform's role as a key source of breaking news and a conduit for directing audiences to news websites.
February 2018: Facebook's Influence on News
In February 2018, TechCrunch journalist Josh Continue accused Facebook of "stealing the news business" by using sponsorship to turn many news publishers into their "ghostwriters." This accusation highlighted concerns about the influence of corporate sponsorship on news content.
January 2019: Mark Zuckerberg's Investment in Local News
In January 2019, Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, announced a $300 million investment in local news buys over three years. This move came amidst growing scrutiny of Facebook's role in the news ecosystem and its impact on local journalism.