All the News That’s Fit to Print Day is a holiday that is celebrated annually on February 10. The words “all the news that’s fit to print” are some of the most famous words in American journalism. The words took a permanent place in the upper left corner, or left “ear”, of the “New York Times” masthead. There was no notice, commentary, or fanfare when the motto appeared on the daily’s front page. Over time, the phrase has been admired as a timeless statement of purpose. It is considered to be a “war cry” for honest journalism.
History of All the News That's Fit to Print Day
“All the news that’s fit to print” is known to have been printed on February 10, 1897, by the “New York Times.” That edition was the first to be printed with the slogan at the top left corner of the front page. The slogan has continued to appear ever since on print copies of the “New York Times.” The slogan doesn’t appear in the digital version of the newspaper.Before the use of the slogan, the top left corner of the first page was used to note the number of pages in that day’s edition. The use of the slogan happened a few months after Adolph Ochs became the publisher of the newspaper. The company had been facing difficulties and nearly went bankrupt before Ochs took over. His mission was to try and elevate the quality of the paper’s reporting. He believed this would distinguish it from the “yellow journalism” newspapers that were dominant at the time. Those newspapers were usually filled with stories that tended to be lurid and sensationalized. Sometimes they carried information that was factually inaccurate or outright false. Ochs coined the slogan “all the news that’s fit to print” as a way to sum up his vision for “The Times.” The slogan debuted publicly in October 1896 on a sign that Ochs had placed in New York’s Madison Square.
All the News That's Fit to Print Day timeline
The first newspaper in England is printed.
The first newspaper in America is published.
The slogan “all the news that’s fit to print” is displayed on a sign in New York’s Madison Square.
The slogan is printed by the “New York Times” for the first time.
All the News That's Fit to Print Day FAQs
What was “The Times” formerly called?
“The Times” was formerly known as “The Daily Universal Register.” It was first published in 1785.
Which press was formerly used by “The Times?”
“The Times” used a steam-powered press for the first time in the year 1814.
When did newspapers become popular?
Newspapers started to gain popularity in the late 19th century.
All the News That's Fit to Print Day Activities
-
Read the news
You can take part in the holiday by reading the news. You can read it in paper or digital form.
-
Share information
Newspapers aim to share information. Share some useful and newsworthy information with the people around you.
-
Share the holiday
You can share the holiday with your friends. This can encourage more people to stay updated on the news.
5 Interesting Facts About Newspapers
-
Newspapers appeared early
The circulation of newspapers began in the 17th century.
-
There were daily newspapers in the 1700s
In 1702, the first successful daily newspaper in Britain was published.
-
Canadians adopted newspapers
In 1752, the “Halifax Gazette,” the first Canadian newspaper, was published.
-
There were Sunday papers
The first Sunday newspaper in Britain was the “British Gazette” and “Sunday Monitor.”
-
There are free papers
In 1999, a free newspaper for commuters called “Metro” was published.
Why We Love All the News That's Fit to Print Day
-
It supports honesty
The holiday encourages more newspapers to engage in honest journalism. This means the general public gets truthful information.
-
It spreads awareness
More people get access to useful information. News sources share important current events.
-
It supports news sources
The holiday helps to provide support to news sources. It lets them know their work is valued and appreciated.
All the News That's Fit to Print Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | February 10 | Friday |
| 2024 | February 10 | Saturday |
| 2025 | February 10 | Monday |
| 2026 | February 10 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | February 10 | Wednesday |
