penny press Inexpensive newspapers that transformed 19th-century American journalism Written by Debra van Tuyll Contributor to SAGE Publications's The SAGE Encyclopedia of Journalism (2022) whose work appears in Britannica as part of a joint publishing agreement with SAGE. Debra van Tuyll Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 6, 2026 •History penny press, a form of mass-circulation newspaper that emerged in the United States during the 1830s, fundamentally altering American journalism. Distinguished by its low price of one cent per copy, the penny press made newspapers widely accessible to working-class readers for the first time, democratizing information and contributing to significant changes in journalistic practice and civic engagement. Traditional newspapers cost six cents, placing them beyond the economic means of most working people. The penny press...

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