The Boston News-Letter

 By Chloe Brussard

Known as the second newspaper to ever be printed in the United States, and also at the first newspaper to be printed more than once, the Boston News Letter was first published on April 24, 1704.

John Campbell, the first editor, and John Green were the first to print the paper. Campbell gave John Green the editorial job, but when Green passed away in 1772, his son took over for him.

Boston is a place where so many things happened. The Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre are just a few of the main things to be associated with historic Boston. But the News Letter was the first American newspaper to stay in print.

It was also the first mass media medium to spread information, both foreign and domestic on politics, wars, ship arrivals, deaths, sermons, fires, and accidents. The News Letter also allowed the community to respond back to the government or to other areas of interest by having a page at the end of their newspaper where they could write back.

During the time when the News Letter was being published, many things were going on. This newspaper carried important news all throughout the colonies, like the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Boston Tea Party, Bunker Hill, and the head to head fight of the pirate Blackbeard. 

But unfortunately, the Boston News Letter was closed down by British rule after 72 years. Even in that short period of time, the News Letter was able to do so much. They spread all different kinds of news in a way that no other newspaper was able to do. They were the first to successfully spread news, foreign and domestically. 

Campbells intention was to newspaper to be an open forum, a marketplace of ideas for people, which is why he made his newspaper in such a way where people could write back about the government or different opinions or thoughts on certain events. 

The News Letter was originally issued on a half sheet of paper double sided that covered Monday-Monday news. 

Campbell actually wrote letters to Governor Fitz-John Winthrop of Connecticut on politics and news. Winthrop actually liked the idea so much that he was the one who encouraged Campbell to turn it into a newspaper -- the Boston News Letter!