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Hey Twitter and Facebook, once upon a time newspapers were 'social media' Hey Twitter and Facebook, once upon a time newspapers were 'social media'
(about 1 hour later)
Centuries before Twitter, Facebook and the enthusiasm for hyperlocal journalism, social media was enjoying popularity in a British colony across the Atlantic.Centuries before Twitter, Facebook and the enthusiasm for hyperlocal journalism, social media was enjoying popularity in a British colony across the Atlantic.
And the bearers of this media revolution were, of course, newspapers.And the bearers of this media revolution were, of course, newspapers.
Tom Standage, digital editor of The Economist, points out in a Medium post that one of the United States' founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, played a part in social media's history.Tom Standage, digital editor of The Economist, points out in a Medium post that one of the United States' founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, played a part in social media's history.
He tells of Franklin's media beginnings, aged 16, in a series of letters - written under the pseudonym of a widow named Silence Dogood - and published in a Boston paper edited by his brother, the New England Courant. Standage comments: He tells of Franklin's media beginnings, aged 16, in a series of letters - written under the pseudonym of a widow named Silence Dogood - and published in a Boston paper edited by his brother, the New England Courant. But the brother didn't know the identity of the letters' author. Standage comments:
"This tale does not simply illustrate Benjamin's ingenuity and writing prowess; it also shows how newspapers at the time were open to submissions from anyone, provided they expressed an interesting opinion."This tale does not simply illustrate Benjamin's ingenuity and writing prowess; it also shows how newspapers at the time were open to submissions from anyone, provided they expressed an interesting opinion.
Small and local, with circulations of a few hundred copies at best, such newspapers consisted in large part of letters from readers, and reprinted speeches, pamphlets and items from other papers.Small and local, with circulations of a few hundred copies at best, such newspapers consisted in large part of letters from readers, and reprinted speeches, pamphlets and items from other papers.
They provided an open platform through which people could share and discuss their views with others. They were, in short, social media."They provided an open platform through which people could share and discuss their views with others. They were, in short, social media."
In 1729, Franklin launched his own paper in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Gazette, and later became Philadelphia's postmaster. Twenty-four years on, he was made deputy postmaster general for the American colonies.In 1729, Franklin launched his own paper in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Gazette, and later became Philadelphia's postmaster. Twenty-four years on, he was made deputy postmaster general for the American colonies.
In this role, writes Standage, Franklin allowed free exchange by post of newspapers both within and between colonies, contributing "to the dynamism, vitality and unity of the American colonies' emerging information ecosystem.In this role, writes Standage, Franklin allowed free exchange by post of newspapers both within and between colonies, contributing "to the dynamism, vitality and unity of the American colonies' emerging information ecosystem.
"It allowed noteworthy letters and pamphlets to reach a wide audience as they were printed in one newspaper and then copied and reprinted by others."It allowed noteworthy letters and pamphlets to reach a wide audience as they were printed in one newspaper and then copied and reprinted by others.
"By the 1760s the colonial newspaper network had developed into a powerful, open and social platform for rehearsing arguments, propagating ideas and exchanging opinions.""By the 1760s the colonial newspaper network had developed into a powerful, open and social platform for rehearsing arguments, propagating ideas and exchanging opinions."
Standage concludes: "Sorry, Facebook and Twitter — but Benjamin Franklin got there first."Standage concludes: "Sorry, Facebook and Twitter — but Benjamin Franklin got there first."
Standage goes much further back in time here on his blog and in his book, Writing on the wall: social media — the first 2,000 Years (reviewed here by The Guardian's David Shariatmadari).Standage goes much further back in time here on his blog and in his book, Writing on the wall: social media — the first 2,000 Years (reviewed here by The Guardian's David Shariatmadari).
Source: MediumSource: Medium
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