From The Life Millennium “The 100 most important events and people of the past 1,000 years” I read about invention number 56 which was created in 1609: the first newspaper.
“Among the items appearing in Issue 47 of Relation, the first regularly printed newspaper in history, was this understated news flash: “Signore Gallileo [sic]… found a rule and visual measure, by which one can …. Look at places 30 miles away, as if they were close by.” That year’s papers would also include reports of a ne’er-do-well lieutenant general and two men prohibited from playing ninepins, demonstrating the mix of groundbreaking and trivial that still defines a newspaper. The weekly four-page Relation, first published in Strassburg, Germany, in 1609, wasn’t much to look at – no headlines, no ads, no catchy graphics. It attracted a readership consisting mostly of the wealthy, powerful and well educated. The first print daily was published in Leipzig in the mid-17th century, but it wasn’t until the debut of the “penny press” in the U.S in 1833 that news was transported to the general public. Then, as not, the free press filled an important role: campaigning for reform, focusing public attention on political and social problems, and stirring up trouble when trouble was needed.”
I like to think we’re still doing that today 
Thanks for reading.
Tags: elections, inventions, Johns Creek Herald, millenium, newspapers, Obama
