The Penny Paper Revolution
By J.p. Lawrence (Next / Previous/ Menu)
One of the more astonishing tidbits about the Gutenbergpress was how long it was in use. The wooden, hand-powered press served, essentiallywithout change, for almost 400 years.
This changed with the introduction of the steam-drivencylinder press in the early 19th century. The new presses, along with otheradvances in production, provided a revolution of new media technology. In atheme pervasive throughout this project, tech advances made producing media cheaperand more accessible to the masses.
This revolution, like others in media, pitted the elite againstthe middle class in the struggle for ownership of knowledge. In Americanjournalism, this war began with the introduction of the penny papers.