Benjamin Franklin Bache, the editor of the Aurora, was a crucial figure in maintaining this polarization. Though political leaders hoped that the political settlement of the Constitution might lead to a more unified, less rowdy nation, American society remained resolutely politicized. This was, of course, critical to the political culture of the 1790s. As a DPhil student working through microfilm reels in a dark room at the British Library’s Colindale building, it was a joy to see the strident nature of the Aurora’s commentary. That is the beauty of the Aurora (or, for that matter, its Federalist counterpart Porcupine’s Gazette) for the historian of 1790s political culture – it is hard to think of anything that distills the essence of partisan rivalry so clearly as the abrasive and direct writing style of Benjamin Franklin Bache (and William Cobbett). Work such as Joanne Freeman’s Affairs of Honor has highlighted the importance of carefully-placed gossip in structuring political networks Jeffrey Pasley’s The Tyranny of Printers, among other works, highlights the important role that newspapers played not just in spreading the news, but in forming crucial pillars of nascent party organizations.Īfter all, the power of good writing often finds itself getting up the nose of powerful interests. Of course, it is not at all new to note that there are similarities between the internet journalism (of all types) of the early 21st century, and their late-18th century counterparts printing newspapers and pamphlets. ![]() And if anything embodied the no-holds-barred, gossipy style of Gawker in the 18th century – not to mention the attempted backlash from powerful forces – it was the Aurora General Advertiser. But as the trenchant news website was forced to shut down this week as the result of the combined forces of Peter Thiel and Hulk Hogan, I realized that I was being more than a little hypocritical.Īfter all, as a historian of 1790s culture, I rely heavily on the work of Benjamin Franklin Bache. However, I think Gawker will make sure that its editors think twice-not only about what the content is but the who and the why, too.I can’t say that I was ever the most avid reader, or the biggest fan, of Gawker. One lawsuit will not stop Gawker or the media at large from writing stories or posting sex tapes, especially in cases of hypocrisy. Last year, their outing of the Conde Nast CFO led many to say they Gawker reached a new low and led to Nick admitting that change was necessary. ![]() The case has acquired mass media attention, pitting freedom of the press against a the privacy rights of a celebrity, and raising the questions among the industry as to the future of gossip news sites.įounder of Q.Digital Scott Gatz told The Drum: "Gawker is already in the midst of significant change. ![]() "This is not only his victory today, but also anyone else who's been victimised by tabloid journalism," Hogan's lawyer David Houston said outside the courtroom. The jury, who spent less than six hours mulling over the case, ruled against the freedom of press argument, ruling that Gawker had indeed violated Hogan’s privacy by publishing the video, and awarding Hogan $115m in compensation, a sum that the website will be hard-pushed to bounce back from. Daulerio and founder Nick Denton might have been distasteful, the concept of freedom of the press was more important to uphold. ![]() The defense argued that while the actions of former Gawker editor A.J.
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