Early forms of newspapers published in German anonymously for fear of government persecution. Soon spread through Europe.

James Franklin turned his early American newspaper over to brother Ben Franklin after the government censored his political articles and forbade him to publish anymore.

John Milton wrote a famous treatise, the Areopigatica, defending the importance of reason as manifested in uncensored print. The treatise influenced British government and governments following to allow more freedom of the press.

The Bill of Rights guaranteed free press in Unites States, but a sedition law passed by Congress limited criticism of the government. When Thomas Jefferson was elected President, he said he wanted to try an experiment to prove that a free press and orderly government could co-exist. There have been no more sedition laws since in the U.S.

The penny press, led by newspaper The Sun, began publishing news at affordable prices for the common people, funding the paper with mass production and advertisements.

In late 1800s, Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst competed using "yellow journalism," a sensational-style journalism that morphed into the tabloids of today.

Pyramid structure and concisely written articles developed during Civil War, when journalists used telegraphs to relay their stories across the country and had to limit their stories to few words.

Nelly Bly's stunt reporting brought women into the front lines of journalism and started a tradition of investigative reporting that continues today.

The New York Times pioneered an objective style of writing that became the standard for quality journalismm.

Literary journalism: Tom Wolfe and Truman Capote were early literary journalists who went beyond objectivity to add style or plot to their work. Literary journalism is considered art and focuses on giving larger meaning to the reporting through showing setting, personality, sense of place and history.

Analytical reporting: pioneered by The Times in 1923. In uncertain times of 1930s, people were hungry to hear more than bare facts. Analytical reporting that gave some larger context and meaning to the facts became popular.

While journalism has threatened newspaper income, it has also broadened a newspaper's reach. A story written about a local child and published online may quickly spread across the country and garner support from multiple sources.