New Light on "Publick Occurrences" America's First Newspaper.

The article presents an examination into the history of the first newspaper printed in the colonial United States, entitled "Publick Occurrences." Details are given reviewing the scholastic debate surrounding the actual first printed periodical, citing varying accounts by early American historians. The contents of the first issue, printed in 1690 are examined, providing reprints of its brief articles. Further information is offered relating to the government response to the first printing, issuing a suppression order. The written responses of the Puritan minister Cotton Mather against the policy decision are also examined.