View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
March 10, 2005updated 22 Nov 2022 2:38pm

400 years of newspapers

By Press Gazette

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the first known newspaper, according to the World Association of Newspapers.

It
has accepted documentary evidence from the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz,
Germany, that the paper was produced in Strasbourg (now in France)n and
called Relation.

Martin Welke, founder of the German Newspaper
Museum, said it was published by Johann Carolus, who earned his living
producing handwritten newsletters for rich subscribers.

Welke
said: “In 1604, he bought a complete printing shop from the widow of a
famous printer. In the summer of 1605 he switched to printing his
newspapers because it took him ‘too much time copying by hand’.”

WAN director Tim Balding said that a billion people now read a daily paper.

“A figure that has risen nearly five per cent in the last five years.

“So,
we’re not only 400 years old – or rather young – but we are globally
enjoying great health and can presumably look forward to the next
century or so, at least, with optimism”.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network