1 of 1- Paul Jeffries
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Online newspapers, circa 1981
I came across this news report on YouTube from around 42 years ago about how computers were making their way into newsrooms in various parts of the U.S. and what kind of role they would play in the future.
"Imagine, if you will, sitting down [with] your morning coffee, turning on your home computer to read the day's newspaper," says the TV anchorwoman. Considering the fact that, at the time, computers were still considered objects of science fiction to many, and the only people that likely owned one were wealthy tech geeks, this prediction was surprisingly bang on. They also predicted many of us would be reading magazines online, too.
The whole idea of receiving an entire newspaper online (just text only, no pictures or ads) seemed pretty novel at the time...until you get to the part where the newscaster says it takes about two hours to download an entire paper over the phone lines at a charge of about $5.00/hour! Even by today's standards that's pretty pricey, and when you factor in inflation, that's almost $32.00 for each daily edition in today's money!
PJ
Last edited by Paul Jeffries (September 24, 2023 5:09 pm)
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- RadioActive
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Re: Online newspapers, circa 1981
What most people don't remember is there was once an attempt to deliver newspapers over the radio - yes, the radio - in the 1930s. They would be transmitted over the air in the hours when the stations involved were off the air, kind of like an early fax machine. Subscribers would then wake up in the morning to see their local paper hanging out of a very early version of a printer.
"In the early 1930s, radio facsimile looked like the dream application for newspapers. They could use their own local radio stations to deliver newspapers directly to consumers during overnight hours. It would eliminate the cost of printing and distribution and shift those costs onto consumers, who would provide their own printers and paper."
But it was expensive and bulky and didn't last long. But they tried it!
A lost bit of history that involved two different media coming together.
A Look Back at the Radio Newspaper of the Air
- RadioAaron
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Re: Online newspapers, circa 1981
RadioActive wrote:
What most people don't remember is there was once an attempt to deliver newspapers over the radio - yes, the radio - in the 1930s. They would be transmitted over the air in the hours when the stations involved were off the air, kind of like an early fax machine. Subscribers would then wake up in the morning to see their local paper hanging out of a very early version of a printer.
"In the early 1930s, radio facsimile looked like the dream application for newspapers. They could use their own local radio stations to deliver newspapers directly to consumers during overnight hours. It would eliminate the cost of printing and distribution and shift those costs onto consumers, who would provide their own printers and paper."
But it was expensive and bulky and didn't last long. But they tried it!
A lost bit of history that involved two different media coming together.
A Look Back at the Radio Newspaper of the Air
Wow!
- SpinningWheel
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Re: Online newspapers, circa 1981
Two excellent historical articles. Thanks for sharing!