MCM101 Lesson 16

LESSON 16: TYPES OF PRINT MEDIA

1. What are the three general categories of the publishing industry?
   The three categories are Newspapers, Magazines, and Books.
2. According to the World Association of Newspapers, what was the first newspaper and when was it published?
   The first newspaper was “Relation”, published in France in 1605.
3. What was the first English daily newspaper and who founded it?
   The first English daily newspaper was the Daily Courant, founded by Samuel Buckley on March 11, 1702.
4. What did Alfred Harmsworth develop in 1903?
   Alfred Harmsworth developed the first tabloid newspaper, the Daily Mirror, in London.
5. List three types of content found in general-interest newspapers.
   Three types are Political events, Crime, and Business. (Others include Culture, Sports, Opinions, Weather, Advice columns, etc.).
6. What are the two main types of magazines mentioned in the lesson?
   The two main types are Consumer magazines and Business magazines.
7. What is a ‘book’ as defined in the lesson?
   A book is a collection of paper, parchment or other material with text written on them, bound together along one edge, usually within covers. It is also a literary work or a main division of such a work.
8. What invention is credited with making book ownership affordable for many people in the 20th century?
   The advent of paperback books in the 20th century made owning books affordable for many people.
9. Explain the significance of the Daily Mirror introducing the concept of the “exclusive” interview.
   This marked a shift in journalism towards seeking unique, firsthand accounts from notable figures, a practice that became a staple of news and celebrity reporting.
10. Explain the difference between consumer magazines and business magazines.
    Consumer magazines are aimed at the general public and available through retail outlets, while business magazines are often available only by subscription, sometimes through controlled circulation to a targeted readership.
11. How did the steam-powered press revolutionize newspaper publishing in the 19th century?
    The steam-powered press, invented by Friedrich Koenig, could print 1,100 sheets per hour, dramatically increasing production speed and making newspapers available to a mass audience.
12. Explain the concept of ‘controlled circulation’ for business magazines.
    Controlled circulation provides free subscriptions to readers who meet specific criteria set by the publisher, guaranteeing advertisers that the readership is relevant to their needs.
13. How did the transition from hand-copied manuscripts to printed books affect their availability and cost?
    Printed books could be sold for a fraction of the cost of illuminated manuscripts, and many more copies were available, making knowledge more accessible to the people.
14. Describe the evolution of bookmarks as mentioned in the lesson.
    The earliest references were to fringed silk bookmarks in 1584. In the 18th/19th centuries, narrow silk ribbons bound into the spine were common. Detachable bookmarks made from silk, leather, or embroidered fabrics appeared in the 1850s, with paper becoming common in the 1880s.
15. Explain the role of advertising in financing magazines.
    Magazines are generally financed by advertising and/or purchased by readers. Advertising revenue is a primary source of income, especially for consumer magazines.
16. How did public libraries begin to develop?
    In the Middle Ages, monasteries and universities had libraries, but access was restricted. The beginning of modern public libraries began around the 15th century, making collections more accessible to the general public.
17. A publisher is deciding whether to launch a new general-interest newspaper or a specialized business magazine. Based on the lesson, what is one key difference in their revenue models?
    The general-interest newspaper would rely heavily on mass circulation to attract a wide range of advertisers, while the business magazine might use controlled circulation to target a specific, valuable demographic for advertisers, potentially with higher ad rates per reader.
18. Analyze the following scenario: A historian is studying literacy rates in 19th century Europe. Based on the lesson, what development in print media might they link to increased literacy?
    They might link the spread of inexpensive books and the expansion of public libraries, which the lesson notes began in earnest around the 15th century and grew with printing, making books more accessible and encouraging reading.
19. A modern website is described as an “online magazine.” Based on the lesson, what characteristics of a traditional magazine might it share?
    It might share characteristics like periodical publication (e.g., weekly, monthly), a variety of articles, financing through advertising, and content tailored to a specific audience or interest group.
20. Based on the lesson, why might a company choose to advertise in a magazine with a smaller circulation than a major newspaper?
    The magazine might offer a more targeted demographic that aligns perfectly with the company’s product, making the advertising more effective and efficient, even with a smaller overall audience.
21. Apply your knowledge: How did the Linotype machine, mentioned in Lesson 3, contribute to the growth of newspapers and magazines in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
    The Linotype machine automated typesetting, drastically speeding up the process of creating newspapers and magazines. This allowed for more frequent publications, larger editions, and lower costs, fueling the growth and reach of print media.
22. A library has a collection of 15th-century “incunabula.” Based on the lesson, what are these?
    Incunabula are books produced in the earliest stages of printing, between Gutenberg’s first work and the year 1500. They are collectively referred to by this term.
23. Why was the first page of Saint Jerome’s translation of the gospels in the Book of Durrow significant?
    It represents an early example of a manuscript book, showing the continuity between decoration and text in religious works, where the beauty of the page was meant to convey the beauty of God’s message.
24. If you were to explain the main purpose of a ‘news magazine’ like Time to someone, what would you say based on the lesson’s description of magazine content?
    A news magazine provides a variety of articles on current events, offering more depth and analysis than a daily newspaper, and is typically financed by advertising and reader purchases, published on a weekly or monthly basis.
25. Based on the lesson, what was one key social impact of the “penny press” in the 1830s?
    The penny press introduced the era of mass communication by making newspapers affordable to the working class, greatly expanding readership and democratizing access to information and public discourse.