Building a National Literature

Summary
As early as 1800, America had become a nation of newspaper readers. Cheap to produce, easy to circulate, and a something for everyone approach, were all key factors in building the literature for the nation to consume.

The press played an integral part in the conduct of business and politics. The freedom of the press influenced political leaders to bring their ideas and views into newspaper circulations. Urban daily papers were some of the first organizations to start using advertisements to create revenue and supply valuable commercial intelligence. The news featured in papers ranged from official documents to presidential addresses to trial records.

The birth of the penny press dawned a new age in newspaper circulation. These papers catered to the working class, and were conveniently sized to fit into a man’s pocket. They were even cheaper than a traditional paper, and available on almost every street corner. Due to the motto of delivering “all the news of the day,” writers started what we now considered tabloids. These human interest pieces ranging on topics of sex to crime surged in popularity.

Comment

Under her pen name, Fanny Fern, Sara Payson Willis Parton was one of the first literary celebrities. It’s interesting to see how well her story resonated with readers, and how something as simple as detailing her struggles (which many could relate to) brought her such huge success in her career. Sarah Parton is an excellent example of how valuable intellectual property can be. Today’s novelists are exploding, and gaining celebrity and recognition in the same vain that Fanny Fern did. Catering to a specific market, like John Green with his “manic pixie dream girl” trope, shows how a niche market can be exploited for financial success, and recognition.

Question

What has the penny press evolved into today?