ABSTRACT

Most countries in the Americas share similar traits regarding the origin of journalism. According to the narratives that predominate in most Western books, the first manifestations of journalism in the “New World” are linked to the arrival of the printed press from European empires to colonial countries in the 17th century (→ Conquest and Colonization, I/7). The first Gazettes, which were produced in the colonies, focused on European court, religion, and administrative information. These informative pieces were meant to circulate among those who were closely related to administrative posts in the colonies. They rarely criticized local leaders or challenged colonial authorities (→ Colonial Rule, I/5).