Newspapers as we know them date back to the seventeenth century. Even before the Revolutionary War, American newspapers maintained independence from government control. The first mass circulation newspaper was the New York Sun, emerging in 1833 and selling for one cent a copy. Groups such as Native Americans and African Americans also used the medium at this time to express views outside the mainstream.

Competition in the 1880s led to the rise of yellow journalism. Newspaper chains began forming in the 1920s, and have grown more numerous over time. Effects of World War II and the advent of television brought further changes to the medium.

Today, urban dailies are losing readership as suburban and small town papers grow in popularity. Nevertheless, chains control 80% of all circulation. Civic journalism and changing technology are two important issues for all newspapers. Editors are also facing the dilemma of giving younger readers the soft news they want or losing them as customers.

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