For centuries, the British have been trying to prove that England is the birthplace of newspapers, because in 1622 in London, Esq. Nathaniel Botter published the first issue of the Weekly News. The fact that Stolichny Vestnik became the world's first printed newspaper, which began to appear in China in the 8th century, does not bother them.
And the prototype of modern periodicals was Acta diurna populi Romani ("Daily affairs of the Roman people") - the publication of official messages, practiced in ancient Rome since the time of Caesar.
It was Gaius Julius Caesar, the founder of the Roman Empire, who in the first year of his consulate (59 BC) ordered the mandatory distribution of imperial orders, reports of meetings, decisions and debates of the Senate, reports of commanders and messages of the rulers of neighboring states.
Roman "newspapers", which were plaster plaques with messages carved on them, were displayed daily in crowded places such as the Roman Forum. The first issue of the "newspaper" was placed on poles near the consular palace. The original "newspaper" was hung out for a short time and a few days later it was handed over to the archive. One of these archives was found by archaeologists at the end of the 19th century.
In the Eternal City, it was customary to exchange news before. Noble townspeople, leaving Rome for the provinces, made an agreement with someone from their acquaintances to record and forward news to them.
In addition to the decisions of the consul, orders of the Senate, political news, in the "Daily Affairs of the Roman People" such events from the life of the Eternal City as riots, floods, sacrifices, spectacles, the birth of heirs to dignitaries, weddings and marriages were covered quite fully and varied.
From Roman newspapers it was possible to learn about the introduction of new holidays into the state calendar. The heading of criminal chronicles was also present in them. All of these publications were a variegated mixture and had no system.
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Senate. Ancient Rome.
The Roman "press" was also used for political struggle. For example, the article about Mark Scavre's bribery that appeared in the newspaper when he arrived in Rome to participate in the consul elections was clearly "black PR":
Mark Scavre, returning to Rome to harass the consulate, was accused of a complaint against him by the Sardinians of bribes on the eve of the Quintile Non.
Whether Mark Scavre took bribes from the Sardinians is unknown, but according to the laws in force at that time, applicants for the post of consul underwent a probationary period, during which they had to prove themselves worthy of their claims.
The accusation of Mark Scavre strongly resembles an ordinary pre-election "canard" directed against the candidate, because those who were convicted of extortion were expelled from the senatorial class by Caesar.
Much was written about extortion and usury in the Roman newspapers. For example, the cases of a special court of justice were made public, which dealt with the examination of property disputes between the Romans and foreigners, as well as the analysis of charges of extortion.
The newspaper was made by a special official and scribes. There were also quite a few volunteers who copied the newspaper and sent it to the provinces. Many statesmen, aristocrats and scientists gladly collaborated with the newspaper, considering it prestigious.
Being not only a great commander, but also an excellent writer, Gaius Julius Caesar also wrote to the newspaper, not considering it shameful to be its freelance correspondent. According to the testimony of the consul of 43 BC Girtius, he wrote "not only well and accurately, but also easily and quickly."
Julius Caesar dictates his sayings / Pelaggio Palagi, 1813.
The newspaper "Daily Affairs of the Roman People" for 300 years after the reign of Gaius Julius Caesar did not change its name and was an official body controlled by the emperor.
At different times, depending on the state interests and tastes of the readers, censorship requirements were tightened or weakened. The topic also changed a little: in some periods there were more political messages, in others - Gordian rumors and gossip.
Almost all the rulers of the Roman Empire loved to indulge in writing articles for the newspaper. The suspicious and hypocritical Claudius Nero Tiberius, who ruled from 14 to 37 AD, wrote articles distinguished by ridiculous inventions and fantasies.
Under Tiberius, publications about the theater were of particular interest, describing the constantly flaring up quarrels and fights between the audience, noisily expressing their approval or disapproval of the actors during the performance.
Roman forum. Reconstruction.
Under Caligula, the number of notes on divorce cases increased sharply in Roman newspapers, which greatly outraged Seneca, who believed that such publications contributed to the corruption of morals.
Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus (180-185 AD) ordered a daily newspaper to publish a description of all his shameful and cruel acts. This emperor became famous for squandering the Roman treasury at circus games, in which he participated as a gladiator.
When and for what reason the publication of the Daily Affairs of the Roman People was discontinued is unknown. This probably happened at the end of the 3rd century AD, since the last indication of this edition dates back to the time of the emperor Probus, who ruled in 276-282.