Newspaper, a sheet of paper printed and distributed at short intervals for conveying intelligence of passing events. This is a definition of a newspaper which might safely be employed for legal purposes; but it is altogether inadequate to describe the great institution which is now, in all parts of the civilised and semi-civilised world, at once the bearer of tidings, the herald of commerce, and, according to the predilections of its readers, a more or less accepted guide in matters of politics, theology, morals, arts, and sports.
The number of the newspapers of the world is (1891) estimated at 41,000, of which 24,000 appear in Europe. A further division, according to stricter geographical limitations, shows that Germany heads the list with 5500, then comes France with 4100, Great Britain and Ireland with 4000, Austria-Hungary with 3500, Italy with 1400, Spain with 850, Russia with 800, Switzerland with 450, and Belgium and Holland with 300 each. The rest of European newspapers are published in Portugal and the Scandinavian and Balkan countries. The United States of America must be credited with 12,500 newspapers. Canada claims 700, and Australia about the same number. Of journals issued in Asia, Japan alone has 200. Africa has 200 newspapers, and the Sandwich Islands three. Having regard to the respective popularity of the languages employed, it is found that 17,000 newspapers are published in English, 7500 in German, 6800 in French, 1800 in Spanish, and 1500 in Italian.
The newspaper came into existence when accounts of the imperial armies of Rome were sent to the generals in command in all parts of the provinces. These Acta Diurna were communicated by the generals to the officers under their command, and thus the foundation of a system of newspaper circulation was laid. It is to Germany that we have to look for the beginnings of modern European journalism. As early as the 15th century small news-sheets in the form of letters were issued in Augsburg, Vienna, Ratisbon, and Nuremberg. It was not until 1566, however, when the official