More chapters

To the readers...

I want to thank everyone who has commented so far. The response has been so valuable that I am going ahead and posting two more chapters. You can now read about the crucial developments in the news business during the 1830s in Chapter 3 and see how those changes played out during the Civil War in Chapter 4.

I've also changed the blog template to add links to all posted draft chapters in the sidebar.

Please continue to send me your thoughts and suggestions!

Romney's announcement

Here is a Letter to the Editor I wrote that The New York Times published recently. I am posting it here because it touches, at least tangentially, on journalism history by citing the Dearborn Independent.

Romney's Announcement

Published: February 19, 2007

To the Editor:

Any candidate for president should seek the support of all the American people. So it was disappointing to see that Mitt Romney, a Republican, chose to launch his campaign at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. (''Claiming Outsider Status, Romney Says He'll Seek White House,'' news article, Feb. 14).

Ford was, of course, a major industrial innovator, but he was also the most prominent anti-Semite in American history. Not only that, but Dearborn was also home to a Ford-sponsored magazine, The Dearborn Independent, which was the most visible outlet for anti-Semitic writing in the history of American journalism. Articles from The Independent were reprinted in a book published by Ford called ''The International Jew,'' which the Nazis later distributed in 29 German editions.

It is inexplicable that a presidential candidate like Mr. Romney -- who, as a Mormon, must base his entire campaign on the religious tolerance of the American people -- would choose such a backdrop. In all this beautiful country, couldn't he find a more inspiring spot?

Chris Daly
Boston, Feb. 14, 2007

The writer is an associate professor of journalism at Boston University.