[driveway]

So, here's a Graduate Thesis a woman named Wonda Mock wrote back in the 90s about the history of the American Press and American Politics.

Some quotes from the first chapter:

The partisan press and American journalism began during the second half of the 17th century with individuals who, for personal and/or religious reasons, established newspapers to inform the public, promote free expression and advance their own views. The first three newspapers were established at the colonies’ largest town, Boston, in the Puritan commonwealth of Massachusetts. The 1689 broadside, The Present State o f the New-English Affairs, published by Samuel Green, Jr. "to prevent false reports" heralded the first American newspaper attempt. Other news bulletins appeared later in that year until the government suppressed them as "tending to the disturbance of the peace." But the destiny of the press and its most important functions of collecting and disseminating information had begun.

In 1721 James Franklin, older brother of Ben, published a lively Boston paper called the New England Couraru (messenger), developing the editorial and the editorial crusade. Franklin’s editorials served as a means of discussion while his editorial crusades involved planned campaigns as a means to produce results. In contempt of both temporal and spiritual authority, editorials centered on current issues and the weaknesses and characteristics of people.

William Bradford founded the New York Gazette in 1725. As New York’s official Tory printer, Bradford never challenged the jurisdiction, rights, actions or decisions of the government. In supporting the administration, he neglected reporting on or slanted his reporting against the merchants and commercial businessmen of the Whig class. Financed by protesting Whig colonists the New York Weekly Journal, printed by John Peter Zenger in 1733, became the second newspaper in the New York Colony and the first political party dominated newspaper established in America.

Both the National Gazette and the Gazette o f the United States had wide circulations. (Alexander) Hamilton’s paper was subsidized by a lucrative printing award and wealthy patrons while the National Gazette died of financial malnutrition after Jefferson’s retirement from the cabinet. However, another Philadelphia paper, the Aurora, filled the vacuum as a prominent Republican party vehicle. Aurora editor Benjamin Franklin Bache, a grandson of Benjamin Franklin, abused Washington more than Freneau. After Washington’s Farewell Address the Aurora said:

If ever a nation was debauched by a man, the American
nation has been debauched by Washington. If ever a nation
has suffered from the improper influence of a man, the
American nation has suffered from the influence of
Washington. If ever a nation was deceived by a man, the
American nation has been deceived by Washington. Let his
conduct then be an example to future ages. Let it serve to be
a warning that no man may be an idol.