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PIPRR

Newspapers through Time

Grand Rapids Press, January 1, 1918, headline

The reaction to historical events can be traced through the surviving newspaper reports and editorials on particular issues. This article details local prohibition enforcement prior to the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment.

 

Overview

Explore thousands of local, national, and international newspapers dating from the 18th century to the present day. Examine specific moments or developments in the history of the medium, compare how news was delivered by competing papers, or study the rhetoric around politics, war, disaster, or other issues.

Guiding Questions

 

  • How have newspapers evolved over time? What changes can you identify?
  • What do historical newspapers reveal about the objectivity of journalism?
  • How did multiple newspapers cover and discuss the same historical events?
  • What elements of historical printed newspapers survive today in contemporary forms of journalism?
Where to Search
  • Historic and contemporary newspaper databases
  • Print holdings 18th-21st century newspapers (see Special Collections)
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