While the press of today might not be reporting on aliens with the same fervour, many of the tropes from those days are still alive and well in modern-day journalism. 

Stories about how no one wants to work anymore, or how technology is killing the art of conversation, have been told for over 130 years… and counting. 

What are the tropes that keep coming back again and again? And are we really so different from the hysterical, partisan press of yesteryear? 

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Cherise Seucharan (Reporter), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor)

Further information:

• Paul Fairie on Twitter 
• Think Like a Historian, Historica Canada
• Making National News: A History of the Canadian Press, Gene Allen
• Library of Congress: Chronicling America Archives
• Sharp Wits and Busy Pens: The role of the Parliamentary Press Gallery over the years, Video Series, Carleton University

Additional music by Audio Network

Sponsors: Oxio, Article, Better Help, Peloton

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Broadcast on:

22 May 2023