I'll find a source for you later (if I remember). But that started in colonial times. Basically print media (aside from religious tracts) started as posters/broadsheets to publicize things like the arrival of ship with merchandise available for purchase. That was one of (if not) the principal ways for a merchant to connect with his potential customers. More "content" was gradually added to attract readers but also answer growing demand for "news". It also meant the original.ptont media was not printed daily (or necessarily weekly) or on a schedule, but was printed as needed (e.g., when a ship carrying trade goods arrived in port).
I'll find a source for you later (if I remember). But that started in colonial times. Basically print media (aside from religious tracts) started as posters/broadsheets to publicize things like the arrival of ship with merchandise available for purchase. That was one of (if not) the principal ways for a merchant to connect with his potential customers. More "content" was gradually added to attract readers but also answer growing demand for "news". It also meant the original.ptont media was not printed daily (or necessarily weekly) or on a schedule, but was printed as needed (e.g., when a ship carrying trade goods arrived in port).