Executive Reading: Infamous Scribblers
From June 2006
Community Comments
Spark a community dialogue. Be the first to contribute by adding your comments.
By Eric Burns
PublicAffairs Press ISBN 158648334X
Reviewed by Margaret Teichert and Oleg Kaganovich
There are many adjectives to describe early American newspapers, but “fair and balanced” are not among them. Intentionally so, according to Eric Burns, host of Fox News’ “Media Watch” and author of “Infamous Scribblers: The Founding Fathers and the Rowdy Beginnings of American Journalism.” This shocking and highly entertaining history of the news trade during America’s formative years describes with juicy detail the ways in which the journalism of the era was deeply flawed by any modern understanding of the word.
To begin with, there were no standards of media integrity, responsibility, objectivity or accuracy. Papers were openly partisan, manipulative and incendiary; but just as often, they were inspiring (Ben Franklin at 16 is an astonishing writer by any measure) and vital. For all their imperfections, the papers created a forum for debating publicly the issues that were ultimately articulated in the Declaration of Independence and helped create the model, however idealized, for the kind of nation the American colonies wanted to become.
The book spans the century between the first paper in America (1690) through the Jefferson Presidency; a fascinating era under any lens, but especially so here. The various newspapers, as quoted extensively by Burns, read like a history book liberally sprinkled with rumors, opinions, political invective and scandals of the raunchiest sort. It’s also a surprising new view of the founding fathers, their political detractors (of whom history teaches us little) and their startling interactions with the press.
Among the early publishers Burns chronicles is James Franklin, who founded the Boston Courant in 1721. Using his paper to criticize the British-appointed colonial authorities eventually landed him in prison and provided an opportunity for his younger brother, Benjamin, to learn the trade. A natural writer and wit, Benjamin became a popular columnist who managed to write truths about the government couched in enough allegory to avoid jail time.
Then there was Samuel Adams, a beer brewer (yes, that Sam Adams) and cousin of future president John Adams, who published outright lies about the British troops stationed in Boston in order to turn popular sentiment against the Crown and toward revolution. He accused them of “beating children, forcing their attention on young ladies, stealing merchandise from shopkeepers and violating the Sabbath by getting drunk and racing horses through the streets of Boston, endangering all who crossed their paths.” Not exactly a noble moment in journalism or in history, but not a unique tactic to Mr. Adams, either.
Continued...
PublicAffairs Press ISBN 158648334X
Reviewed by Margaret Teichert and Oleg Kaganovich
There are many adjectives to describe early American newspapers, but “fair and balanced” are not among them. Intentionally so, according to Eric Burns, host of Fox News’ “Media Watch” and author of “Infamous Scribblers: The Founding Fathers and the Rowdy Beginnings of American Journalism.” This shocking and highly entertaining history of the news trade during America’s formative years describes with juicy detail the ways in which the journalism of the era was deeply flawed by any modern understanding of the word.
To begin with, there were no standards of media integrity, responsibility, objectivity or accuracy. Papers were openly partisan, manipulative and incendiary; but just as often, they were inspiring (Ben Franklin at 16 is an astonishing writer by any measure) and vital. For all their imperfections, the papers created a forum for debating publicly the issues that were ultimately articulated in the Declaration of Independence and helped create the model, however idealized, for the kind of nation the American colonies wanted to become.
The book spans the century between the first paper in America (1690) through the Jefferson Presidency; a fascinating era under any lens, but especially so here. The various newspapers, as quoted extensively by Burns, read like a history book liberally sprinkled with rumors, opinions, political invective and scandals of the raunchiest sort. It’s also a surprising new view of the founding fathers, their political detractors (of whom history teaches us little) and their startling interactions with the press.
Among the early publishers Burns chronicles is James Franklin, who founded the Boston Courant in 1721. Using his paper to criticize the British-appointed colonial authorities eventually landed him in prison and provided an opportunity for his younger brother, Benjamin, to learn the trade. A natural writer and wit, Benjamin became a popular columnist who managed to write truths about the government couched in enough allegory to avoid jail time.
Then there was Samuel Adams, a beer brewer (yes, that Sam Adams) and cousin of future president John Adams, who published outright lies about the British troops stationed in Boston in order to turn popular sentiment against the Crown and toward revolution. He accused them of “beating children, forcing their attention on young ladies, stealing merchandise from shopkeepers and violating the Sabbath by getting drunk and racing horses through the streets of Boston, endangering all who crossed their paths.” Not exactly a noble moment in journalism or in history, but not a unique tactic to Mr. Adams, either.
Continued...
The Magazine
Site Links
Prosper Plus +
- Get Prosper Plus to receive e-mail alerts, special event invites, and content that interests you.
Community
- Join the Community and start participating. It's fast. It's easy. It's free.
Advertise on this site! Show your support for the Prosper Network and reach influential thought leaders and web users like yourself. Contact us to find out how.
© 2004-2007 Prosper Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
The materials on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Prosper Media, LLC.
Community Comments