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Primary sourceNewspaper article1824

Novascotian

George Renny Young · 1824

A Halifax weekly newspaper that Joseph Howe bought in 1828 and built into the most influential paper in the colony, carrying his reform journalism.

Howe bought this newspaper in 1828 and used it as his platform for reform journalism and political reporting.

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Four-story red brick building with arched windows and a ground floor restaurant front bearing the sign 'The Pourhouse' and a green awning reading 'The Old Triangle'. Black umbrellas and outdoor tables stand near the street-level windows.
Nova Scotian Building, Prince Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

About this source

What it is

The Novascotian was a weekly newspaper published in Halifax, founded in 1824 by George Renny Young. In 1828 Joseph Howe bought the paper and became its sole editor and owner. Under Howe it reported assembly debates, carried his travel writing, and became one of the most read papers in British North America.

Why it matters

Through the Novascotian, Howe shaped public opinion in Nova Scotia, reported political news without favouring any one party, and used the paper to campaign for reform. A libel case over a letter published in the paper in 1835 led to his acquittal and his famous declaration that the press of Nova Scotia was free. The paper shows how newspapers could build a political career and push for change.

Look closer

  • Why might owning a newspaper have helped Howe become an influential politician?
  • What does the paper's motto about the constitution tell you about how it wanted to be seen?
  • What is left out of a paper written and controlled by one editor?

This newspaper article is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Joseph Howe on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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