An Annual Conference on 19th Century Media and Free Expression
E-Mail: lsillars@email.utexas.edu
"STILL ANOTHER HORROR! A Study of Death in 19th Century Newspapers."
By Les Sillars
Abstract: It is generally accepted that toward the end of the 19th century many newspapers became increasingly sensationalistic to attract readers in a fiercely competitive market. However, this is not the whole story. This study analyzes the attitudes and worldviews of 19th century newsmen toward death. It argues that early in the century some journalists interpreted fatal events in a theological and philosophical context that allowed them to make moral assessments about the deceased and their conduct and to draw from the events lessons about right and wrong. These newsmen did not shy away from gory detail; on the contrary, such details only strengthened the message. This tendency was still apparent in a few of the large independent dailies that arose in the middle of the century, but by 1900 many journalists had largely abandoned the theological framework of their predecessors. Without a context that provided meaning to death, the bloody red "particulars" turned yellow on the page.
Dr. Kittrell Rushing or Dr. David Sachsman 311 Frist Hall Communication Department The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403-2598 http://www.utc.edu/commdept/conference/
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Last updated: November 20, 1999
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