<P> Journalism in America began as a humble affair and became a political force in the campaign for American independence . Following independence, the first article of U.S. Constitution guaranteed freedom of the press and speech and the American press grew rapidly following the American Revolution . The press became a key support element to the country's political parties but also organized religious institutions . </P> <P> During the 19th century, newspapers began to expand and appear outside eastern U.S. cities . From the 1830s onward the penny press began to play a major role in American journalism and technological advancements such as the telegraph and faster printing presses in the 1840s helped expand the press of the nation as it experienced rapid economic and demographic growth . </P> <P> By 1900 major newspapers had become profitable powerhouses of advocacy, muckraking and sensationalism, along with serious, and objective news - gathering . During the early 20th Century, prior to rise of television, the average American read several newspapers per day . Starting in the 1920s changes in technology again morphed the nature of American journalism as radio and later, television, began to play increasingly important roles . </P> <P> In the late 20th Century, much of American journalism became housed in big media conglomerates (principally owned by the media moguls, Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch). With the coming of digital journalism in the 21st Century, all newspapers faced a business crisis as readers turned to the internet for sources and advertisers followed them . New social media technologies such as Twitter have proved to be a major source and venue for American journalism in the early 21st century . </P>

When did newspapers peak as a mass medium