Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in 1440 was one of the biggest game-changers within the history of human communication. With the printing press came the ability to record, distribute and share information, opinions and rumours, thus laying the groundwork for journalism as it is known today. Though modern-day Britain may be known for its controversial tabloid press, the nation also has a strong history of quality journalism and has continued to produce some of the most-read newspapers in the world. By tracing the British newspaper industry back to its roots, you can see just how much it has transformed over the years.

The tradition of spreading 'news' through printed stories first took off during the 17th Century, when small pamphlets and posters alerted Britain's various communities of current events. However, the definition of 'current' in those days is far from how you would define the term now. Unlike the 24-hour rolling news updates of today's online newspapers, it could take weeks for news to make it from one end of the country to another.

One of the first newspapers published in the UK was the Oxford Gazette, which was launched in 1665. After his move from London to Oxford, Charles II and his courtiers refused to touch the London publications for fear they'd been infected with the 'Great Plague of London.' This inspired the publication of the Oxford Gazette, although it was later re-named the London Gazette after the King moved back to London. The Oxford/London Gazette differed significantly from the modern newspaper model, as it was only available to subscribers and not sold to the general public.

As the decades passed and the restrictions on printing rights decreased, a growing number of news publications cropped up across the country. However, it wasn't just the increased ease and availability of printing capabilities that inspired this booming industry - it was also spawned by a growing need for information. This was particularly evident during the English Civil War, in which a number of battles occurred between Parliamentarians and Royalists during the mid-17th Century. The British public were hungry for news, and reports on the war and its various conflicts fed them with that most satisfying of goods - information.

In the 18th Century, British newspapers began to spread and diversify, with certain publications focusing on local issues and others providing broader news coverage. This century also saw the invention of the daily newspaper, which is one of precursors to today's 24-hour news cycle. London's Daily Courant newspaper is often credited with being the city's first ever daily news publication.

From these humble beginnings, the British newspaper industry grew significantly during the 19th Century, with the launch of The Times in 1785 (formerly known as The Daily Universal Register), the Guardian in 1821 (formerly known as The Manchester Guardian), and the Daily Telegraph in 1855 (formerly known as the Daily Telegraph and Courier).

These old newspapers have since transformed into their modern online counterparts, providing multi-media content to an international audience 24-hours a day. Just as Gutenberg's printing press forever changed the way people communicate, so has the Internet. Today's online newspapers may look nothing like the small paper pamphlets of the 17th Century, but, for the most part, their journalistic goals remain the same.

Fiona Roy writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.