Radical Printers of Revolutionary Philadelphia Utilized Frequent Publication to Disseminate News
During the American Revolution, printers in Philadelphia, particularly John Dunlap of the Pennsylvania Packet, played a crucial role in disseminating news and government information. Dunlap's paper significantly increased its publication frequency, moving from weekly to three times a week, and eventually becoming America's first successful daily newspaper. This expansion allowed for the printing of more current news and a greater volume of content, including government proceedings and advertisements. The paper itself varied in quality, reflecting Dunlap's struggles to source paper, which was often in short supply due to wartime conditions and reliance on rags. Other printers, like Thomas Bradford of the Pennsylvania Journal and Hall and Sellers of the Pennsylvania Gazette, also contributed to the revolutionary press, though with less radical publication schedules.
