Competition

The paper survived with no competition until 1719, when the Boston Gazette appeared. The Gazette’s publisher, William Booker, had taken over as postmaster when John Campbell left and was adamant about helping to continue the publishing of the News-Letter as well. Campbell did not want his paper in another man’s hands and refused Booker’s offer.

Determined to make his own paper, Booker started the Gazette in 1719, much to the chagrin of Campbell. Less than a year later, the paper’s printer, James Franklin left to start his own paper, the New England Courant, which became the fourth newspaper in America and further competition for Campbell’s News-Letter.

Franklin, the brother to Benjamin Franklin, was imprisoned for criticizing the governor, and the paper went to a young Benjamin at the age of 17.

By 1740, there were 12 total papers circulating, five of which were in Boston. Competition became even harder when Philadelphia became a second center of information in the middle of the century. Papers followed the growth and urbanization of America and slowly moved their way south with the population.