An early history of newspaper agents

Authors

Tim P. Vos, Michigan State University
You Li, Eastern Michigan University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2024

Department/School

Communication, Media and Theatre Arts

Publication Title

American Journalism

Abstract

Newspaper agents have often been relegated to a minor role in the pre-history of advertising firms in the United States—individuals working at promotions long before the more recognizable modern advertising agents emerged in the twentieth century. This study reexamines the history of newspaper agents in the nineteenth century to determine who these agents were and what their duties included. The study used primary sources to examine an array of references to newspaper agents and to craft profiles on agents from thirteen newspapers in the first half of the century. The results show a much broader array of duties and identities than existing histories generally acknowledge.

Comments

Y. Li is a faculty member in EMU's School of Communication, Media, and Theatre Arts.

Link to Published Version

DOI: 10.1080/08821127.2024.2410707

Recommended Citation

Vos, T. P., & Li, Y. (2024). An early history of newspaper agents. American Journalism, 41(4), 476–501. https://doi.org/10.1080/08821127.2024.2410707