Primary sourceNewspaper article1846
The Daily News
Charles Dickens · 1846
A national British newspaper founded and briefly edited by Charles Dickens in 1846 as a liberal rival to the Morning Chronicle.
Dickens founded and briefly edited this newspaper, showing his engagement with politics and journalism.
About this source
What it is
The Daily News was a British newspaper published from 1846 to 1930. Charles Dickens founded it and served as its first editor, though he only edited seventeen issues before his friend John Forster took over.
Why it matters
Dickens created the paper as a radical alternative to the conservative press of his day. Even though his time as editor was brief, the paper went on to employ many reformist writers and later campaigned on issues like sweatshop labour and women's suffrage, continuing the spirit Dickens gave it at its start.
Look closer
- Why might a successful novelist also want to run a newspaper?
- What does Dickens's quick departure from editing suggest about his skills and interests?
- How might a newspaper founded by a famous writer differ from one founded by a professional journalist?
This newspaper article is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Charles Dickens on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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