J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. He was consultant for an episode of History Detectives, and contributed to a display at Minute Man National Historic Park.

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Monday, December 24, 2012

Newspapers on the Television on the Web

Yesterday evening C-SPAN’s BookTV aired its recording of the Reporting the Revolutionary War event at the Old State House early this month.

First, main author Todd Andrlik talked about Revolutionary-era newspapers and collecting them, as he also discusses at Rag Linen and BeforeHistory.com. One story he didn’t tell in this presentation, but which I heard at dinner afterward, was about coming across a one-page supplement to a newspaper that hadn’t been documented before. Todd arranged for that to go into the Library of Congress collection so it will be available to scholars.

After Todd’s talk, he sat down with me and Prof. Robert Allison of Suffolk University for a discussion of colonial news reporting and questions from the audience. Good questions and a lively interchange.

It doesn’t look possible to download this video or watch it on the C-SPAN site yet. There are only snatches of an automated transcript that says things like: “INTERESTEDLY IN THE MIDDLE MINOLTA WERE SOLD UPON A FEW LONDON, POOLS TO REPORT GEORGE WASHINGTON HAD DIED IN BATTLE. NORMALLY THESE ARE ALSO KIND OF...” I think that was Todd talking.

This show appears to be scheduled to run again on 1 January at 1:00 A.M.

(Benjamin Park had nice things to say about Reporting the Revolutionary War on the new Junto blog.)

5 comments:

RoJa said...

Thanks for your wonderful blog. It's always authoritative and informative.

John L Smith Jr said...

I was happy when I opened a Christmas gift this morning and found THIS book! Very nice! I duely noted your name and informational blurb at the back with the other distinguised contributors. Very good, Mr. Bell. Carry on!

J. L. Bell said...

And I felt honored to be included in the project with so many experts. I hope you enjoy the book!

tom r said...

The Video is on Book TV now.
http://www.booktv.org/Program/14089/quotReporting+the+Revolutionary+War+Before+It+Was+History+It+Was+Newsquot.aspx

J. L. Bell said...

Thanks for that link! I see that page now also says that the program will be broadcast on 1 Jan 2013 at 7:00 P.M.