I have a page from the “New England Journal – Containing the moft Remarkable Occurrences Foreign & Domeftck.” published Monday April 8, 1728, Boston. The first paragraph is: “There are Measures concerting for rendring this Paper yet more universally esteemed, and useful, in which ‘tis hop’d the Publick will be gratifi’d, and by which those Gentlemen who desire to be improv’d in History, Philosophy, Poetry, &c. Will be greatly advantaged. We will take the liberty at this to insert the following Passage of History.” The “History” referred to isn’t a long time previous but events that occurred during the prior year in London. The article ends with a listing of those moving out of the city and the location they had moved to, as well as obituaries and then several advertisements. Not much different than our newspapers today, except that perhaps events are published a little more timely.

HOWEVER, as noted above, the acceptance of the news related depended either on knowing the teller, or on the good name and reputation of the writer. Clearly, the MSM of today has lost our trust in re: good name and reputation. Interesting that we have returned to the beginning! We are more likely to trust the news of those we perceive as having actually witnessed the events or have traveled to the locations involved, hence the reliance on blogs from around the world, from those who are there.