A New Era of Modern Journalism

In the earlier years when newspapers first came out they were seen as revolutionary. However with this new idea came also the concept of public opinion. When we examine "Controlling Chaos" from "PR" by Ewen on the topic of this phenomenon Tarde, one of Lippmann's close friend and colleague explains this further by saying that the newspaper was basically "the centerpiece of a higher order of communication, one that would, in time, erase the conflicts that had marked human ineraction throughout history" and he was correct.

Like Tarde and Lippmann they were not alone, sharing similiar views and perception. Ferdinand Tonnies who was a German socialist, also expressed his opinion. Taken from Ewen Tonnies had thought that "The newspaper had become an unprescidented machinery for the manufacture and marketing of public opinion, a channel through which a particular faction could 'present its own will and the rational genral will'.

During the 18th Century when newspapers were in their infancy (Pamphlets, Newspaper, etc) they were noted for being revolutionary "extensions of public discourse" (Ewen 70) and now that they were being mass produced in this modern age it had "become an instrument of social order" (Ewen 70). As the modern press went on to grow many other socical scientists followed or rather "Embraced" the new modern public. Many people now had an outlet to shed new ideas and opinions which would spread throughout the world as time went on.