The New Journalism

American Journalism

Journalism began in America with  the 'Penny Papers'. The papers were targeted at the working class, and funded by political parties. In the 19th Century, objectivity became a factor in journalism to due to the wire services. Objectivity became hugely profitable.  H. A. Myrick defines objectivity "As the expressing, or dealing with facts or conditions as perceived without distortion by personal feelings, prejudices, or interpretations” The first new Journalism-'The Yellow Press' (late 19th century). It covered sensationalised stories and was considered “journalism without a soul”

Papers began to use emotive headlines, dramatic stories that focused on sin and sex. This was the starting point of tabloids. By the 60s, daily events began being recorded in a formulaic way, using the 5 ws (who, what where, when, why?) This new journalism was an attempt to record events mirroring  language and style of the events.

Politics/Culture:

-Great hope of JFK was destroyed in assignation
-1963- War in Vietnam
-Muhammad Ali refused to be in the army
-Baby boom after WW2 created youth culture. Voice of radical change was younger generations wishing to rebel against old conventions.
-Sexual Revolution- Introduction of the pill, and sexual freedom.
-prohibition of drugs created subcultures. LSD seen as an escape of controlling hierarchy.
-Music of the 60s attack on the norms. Drug fueled, political and anti establishment.

Existentialism:

-freedom and choice.
-Anti-establishment feeling-''There is a policeman inside your head- he must be destroyed''.
-Bad faith/ journalism questioned for objectivity
-New forms of Journalism began to emerge
-This alternative journalism was personal and expressed an individual point of view.