Introduction
This exhibition investigates the representation of assault in The True Northerner from 1900 to 1920. This exhibition will go over assault in law, location, type of assault, gender associated, race, and legal systems we see through the stories published. I will also give input for the language used throughout these topics.
The setting of the Paper:
We will first examine where The True Northerner is located and why this is important. Founded in 1855 in Paw Paw, Michigan, The True Northerner was a leading Republican newspaper in southwestern Michigan. Paw Paw, Michigan, is a small town that focuses mainly on growth and culture during this time. Its growth relied on an agricultural center that focused on farming. This was shown throughout my search results for every crime as the setting was usually around 45% farming communities. During this time the communities were surrounded by a rise of new social movements like women's suffrage and the temperance movement according to historians. WW1 was during this period, and we see many stories throughout the paper describing the effects on the community. This community is also near Lake Michigan where I saw many stories with the setting of docks and stories containing sailors/boats from this lake.
The paper’s Focus:
The True Northerner focuses mostly on three main topics focusing on local community, Political coverage, and social reflection. Local coverage contains the daily life of the citizens and has countless stories containing births, marriages, deaths, social events, and local business news. As it is an agricultural community it also mentions frequently farming news, including crop reports, livestock prices, and dairy/farming fairs. Reporting on politics this paper strongly supported the Republican Party and its candidates. This is shown through published editorials and opinion pieces reflecting Republican viewpoints on local, state, and national issues including elections. True Northerner’s third main focus is social reflection, and this is mostly shown in local cultural events like concerts, plays, and lectures. Throughout the stories of all crimes, we covered many stories that had a combination of political leaning on social reflection. I will cover this throughout the topics in detail, showing patterns in this newspaper’s language.
Paper’s style:
The True Northerner, a Republican voice born in Paw Paw, Michigan in 1855, started small, just four pages. Over time, it grew, adding pages to keep pace with the community. Ownership changed hands several times, with John B. Butler, the founding editor, stepping aside for a career in telegraphy. George A. Fitch, the initial owner, passed the reins to John Reynolds and E.A. Thompson. T.R. Harrison held the editor's chair for a significant period, from 1858 to 1866. In 1920, it merged with another publisher, evolving into the Courier-Northern. Initially, the focus was on local news and Republican views. While it briefly dipped into international news in 1870, the heart of the paper remained firmly rooted in the local community. By the 1900s, it had grown into an eight-page publication with six columns per page, a mix of local news, national and international stories, and a growing number of advertisements. By 1919, the focus shifted. Local news took center stage, and advertisements became more prominent. The writing style sometimes leaned towards the drama, adding a touch of flair to the reporting. Essentially, The True Northerner was a blend of old and new journalism. It delivered facts while also employing engaging storytelling to capture the attention of its readers.