Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 145, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1919 — HOW ROMANS GOT THE NEWS [ARTICLE]

HOW ROMANS GOT THE NEWS

Bulletin Board* Furnished Information to tho Citizens of the “Capital of tho World.” Caius Julius Caesar knew the value Of publicity. As, far back as when he was consul (60 B. C.) he ordered the publication of senate acts and discussions. These “Acta Senatns” were published on a whitened wooden board called “album,” the neuter of “albus,” which means white. • In imperial days, at least as early as 20 A. D., there was an official publisher, “Curator Actorum.” This news corresponded to what we get in our Congressional Record, .and contained —as our record once did ?Z-the interruptions and the applause. In 60 B, C., Caesar also ordered published “in albo” the private news of general interest, “Acta Diurna Populi Romani.” Thfc hwlWtaa toroxto t>l the modem newspapers had their precursors in these white tablets ordered to be displayed publicly by Caesar. In New York there are men who haunt the bulletin boards of the metropolitan dailies, Jot down the news displayed thereon, and later telegraph the items to the dallies In small cities which do not support so extensive a news service as that furnished by the United or the Associated Press. So in Rome, the writer of news letters or circulars copied the news published “in albo” and sent the most important items to his subscriber out of the city. Scandal was featured in “Acto Diurna,” and society news, in modem fashion, was furnished by families concerned.— From the Quill.