History of the Times
Compare and contrast several issues of the Times from the 1850s and the turn o f the century. How do you explain the changes and continuities in the Times between these years?
The role of newspapers in society to comment on and help shape cultural change has been evident since the first newspapers came into publication. The ability of the papers to adapt these changes quickly and effectively goes hand in hand with the longevity of the publication. This discussion will compare and contrast two issues of the Times newspaper with the first one from the 1st of
January 1855 and the second from the 3rd of July 1899. The changes and continuities in the Times between these years will be highlighted and explained.
A brief history on the development and implementation of the newspaper will be discussed, along with the analysis to establish the need for some of the changes made within the publication and the reasons for some of the continuities.
Established in 1785, the Times was founded by publisher John Walter in
1785 under the original name of The Daily Universal Register and converted to the name of Times in 1788. Walter acted as owner and editor of the paper for the next 17 years. Through Walker and the succession of the ownership and editorship to his son, also named John Walker, the newspaper established and enjoyed a reputation early on as an important and influential political and cultural commentator. A criticized disadvantage of the family owned nature of the Times saw the paper restricted to changes in the cultural make up of the society of the times. As the Times did not “remain outside the family pattern being more of a speculative phenomenon, and more subject to changes in the market." (Lee,
1976 p 50) The paper was adamant in establishing themselves as commentators of politics and not heavily aligned with a particular movement. The role of editor in 1809 was taken up John Stoddert, who after 18 years was
The role of newspapers in society to comment on and help shape cultural change has been evident since the first newspapers came into publication. The ability of the papers to adapt these changes quickly and effectively goes hand in hand with the longevity of the publication. This discussion will compare and contrast two issues of the Times newspaper with the first one from the 1st of
January 1855 and the second from the 3rd of July 1899. The changes and continuities in the Times between these years will be highlighted and explained.
A brief history on the development and implementation of the newspaper will be discussed, along with the analysis to establish the need for some of the changes made within the publication and the reasons for some of the continuities.
Established in 1785, the Times was founded by publisher John Walter in
1785 under the original name of The Daily Universal Register and converted to the name of Times in 1788. Walter acted as owner and editor of the paper for the next 17 years. Through Walker and the succession of the ownership and editorship to his son, also named John Walker, the newspaper established and enjoyed a reputation early on as an important and influential political and cultural commentator. A criticized disadvantage of the family owned nature of the Times saw the paper restricted to changes in the cultural make up of the society of the times. As the Times did not “remain outside the family pattern being more of a speculative phenomenon, and more subject to changes in the market." (Lee,
1976 p 50) The paper was adamant in establishing themselves as commentators of politics and not heavily aligned with a particular movement. The role of editor in 1809 was taken up John Stoddert, who after 18 years was