Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

On this day in 1791, Britain's 'Observer' was first published. WS Bourne, the founder of the newspaper, stated that it would share "the spirit of enlightened Freedom, decent Toleration and universal Benevolence.". He also hoped that "the establishment of a Sunday newspaper would obtain him a rapid fortune.". Not quite, three years later he found himself £1,600 in debt and was attempting to sell the title to the government, an offer they declined. When this failed, Bourne's brother (a wealthy businessman) made an offer to the government, who still refused to buy the paper but agreed to subsidize it in return for influence over its editorial content. As a result, the paper soon took a strong line against radicals such as Thomas Paine, Francis Burdett and Joseph Priestley. It took just three years for the world's first Sunday newspaper to go from complete independence to government editorial control. For shame...

The first edition was four pages and included news about crops, sending convicts to Botany Bay (Australia), fashionable residences and a new theater on London's Drury Lane. It even had a dig at one of its competitors:

"A Morning Paper notoriously noted for its lies and blunders, has effrontery to baptize our infant Publication, 'a Sabbath breaking paper.' We would, with all due contempt, wish to know of this sanctified Print, which is the greater breach of the Sabbath, that of keeping a number of men at hard labour the whole of Sunday, for the Monday's paper, or that of employing but one or two individuals early on the Sunday morning, to give out the papers that have been composed and worked off the preceding evening and night?" Good question, though some might argue that even one man working on a Sunday morning is breaking the sabbath, leaving the new paper saying 'we're sinners too, just not as bad as them'.

pappadeux Loc: Phoenix AZ

Good post-Larry one. the part of your post makes mention of publications printing falsehoods Well some things never changed as proved by our NYT, Wash.Post.and a host of publications of which could not fit this page. This is followed by the 20/21st century MSN. Today we must take their news reporting with a grain of salt. however with these folks it would take a whole truck load.... The other 'Larry'

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Thanks for the bit of history, I didn’t know this..

Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

Me neither, until this morning. I get one of those 'this day in history' emails every morning. Sometimes they have interesting little factoids...

PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.

Yep, nothing has changed in the intervening century's/years.

Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

Why, the British government has branched out considerably since then, first into radio then into TV. Ever heard of the BBC? British Broadcasting Corporation. Owned and operated by the British government.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Isn’t that the truth.. We may have “modernized “ but everything is as it was and always will be..

Even when you consider progress.. We have enhanced but the basics that got us to that point are still centered in what it has always been, in theory I mean..

I’m finding it difficult to convey my thoughts here and hope you understand what I mean..??

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

Sounds like you were trying to say the times and technology change, but human nature doesn't. Was I close?

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Yessss!! Thank You, PeeWee.. I sure am glad you know what my mind is trying to get out!!!

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

Well, you see, I'm not sick, and I have the same problem sometimes...:)

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Lolol now must I admit sick or not I do too??

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

Laughing out loud out loud, see, your getting better already, you have to have oxygen to laugh.