The Penny Press - Essay Example

The Penny Press The Penny Press was a new kind of newspaper when first introduced. This new newspaper offered something different to its audience. This something new was different then other newspapers that were under current circulation. The Penny Press newspapers allowed the public to purchase a paper for one penny. For one penny, the public was able to get a current and daily outlook on events. This daily update was partially responsible for the huge and rapid success of The Penny Press. Current events and the curiosity of the public helped create a cause and a need for a penny press type paper.

The penny press had much more to offer readers then traditional newspapers. The penny press, which became almost popular overnight, allowed writers to give the public a small breakdown of current events. This was important since readers no longer had to wait for other papers to circulate. Readers wanting to be updated on the latest and greatest events could purchase a subscription or pick up a paper from a local news stand. When consumers purchased the paper, they knew that the paper would contain information that was current and of interest.

Not everyone took a liking to The Penny Press. “Many were not interested in the topics presented and thought that they appealed to a lower class of individuals.” (Friedman 2005) These people preferred the traditional style newspaper since it contained political info as well as the week’s most important headlines. The late 1800’s was a time that housed many new events. These new events were so popular and interesting to readers that they fueled the success of The Penny Press. The public quickly became use to the fact that they could read new and updated topics everyday for only one penny.

The effect of the popularity of The Penny Press, left penny press writers with the need to constantly seek out new stories. These new stories were not always easy to find and The Penny Press opened up the doors and gave a new definition to the meaning journalism. Journalism quickly began to grow as the need for new stories became such a high demand. Consequences that arose from the increase in journalism as a result of The Penny Press are seen even in today’s society. These consequences include a decrease in the public’s privacy, an increase in paparazzi, and an increased want by the public to have information.

The pressure this created on journalist made journalist hungry for information and willing to do what was necessary to get the most popular and sought after story. It is obvious that the cause and want of The Penny Press created by the public had its consequences. These consequences were largely responsible for the start of many modern day tabloid magazines, an increased need for journalism and a public that constantly wants new information. The Penny Press and the popularity of journalism is a great example of cause and effect.

Works CitedBarbara Friedman. "The Penny Press: The Origins of the Modern News Media, 1833-1861. " Rev. of: title_of_work_reviewed_in_italics, clarifying_information. Journalism History 31.1 (2005): 56-56. Research Library Core, ProQuest.