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The mutual distrust between government and the media dates back to the very first American newspaper in 1690，when a three-page publication called Publick Occurrences，Both Foreign and Domestick was suppressed by the government after one issue.A number of newspapers sprang up during the pre-Revolutionary War period，and by 1775the colonies，with a population of 2.5million people，were served by 48weekly newspapers，small in both size and circulation.The first daily，the Pennsylvania Evening Post and Daily Advertiser，was not published until 1783.By 1800there were 20daily newspapers and more than 1，000small-town and frontier weeklies in the US.The earliest newspapers in the US were linked with political groups.The Federalist Papers，which were written by Alexander Hamilton，John Jay，and James Madison between 1787and 1788to urge the ratification of the US Constitution，were first published in New York newspapers.During Washington’s administration，the Gazette of the United States represented Hamilton and the Federalists，while the National Gazette supported Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans.Dramatic technological improvements made cheap，mass-circulation newspapers possible in the 19th century.With competition for readers and advertisers intense，reporting that emphasized the sensational side of the news became popular.This became known as yellow journalism，and the most well-known practitioner was William Randoph Hearst in his New York Journal.Although there was a decided shift to objective reporting later，yellow journalism continues in the tabloid press，which includes some mainstream newspapers and the“supermarket newspapers”.

Now there are about 1，500daily newspapers in the US，with a daily circulation of about 58million.The number of newspapers has been declining for decades，in part because of radio and TV，but also because in the fight for readers and advertising，competing papers have battled until a single winner emerged.The top seven newspaper companies in the US are Gannett，Night-Ridder，Newhouse，Times Mirror，the New York Times Co.，Dow Jones ＆Co.，and Thomson Newspapers.They account for more than a third of all newspaper circulation.Of all papers，the following are the more noted and influential ones in the United States.

The New York Times was established in 1851，consistently ranking number one for editorial quality and news coverage in surveys of journalists.It was among the top three with a daily circulation of 916，911in 2011.It does endeavor to print“all the news that’s fit to print”.Known for its thorough coverage of the news，the Times prints important speeches and documents in full.In addition to exhaustive news coverage，the paper provides excellent reporting on issues vital to women，on culture including rock music and other counterculture arts，religion，education，food，law，science.The Times has a well-deserved reputation for integrity and balance in handling news coverage.It was a crusader in its criticism of the Vietnam War.In 1971，it courageously published the Pentagon Papers，classified documents on American policy in Vietnam.

The Washington Post，established in 1877，is a very influential paper in the US，with a daily circulation of over 550，000in 2011.Its main readers are government employees and it is closely associated with American Congress.With The New York Times，it published Pentagon Paper in 1971.And it was The Washington Post that first uncovered the Watergate scandal in 1972 through the efforts of reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.

Los Angeles Times，established in 1881，is another influential Paper in the US，with a daily circulation of over 605，000in 2011.The paper is physically huge，often running over 200pages on Sunday.Today the paper emphasizes accurate coverage of the news，both domestic and foreign.Still pursuing a moderate-Republican stance，the paper’s editorial pages are well balanced with a melange of syndicated columns.The paper had made it a policy not to endorse candidates for high offices such as President and governor.

New York Daily News was founded in 1919by Joseph Medill Patterson.It had a daily circulation of 530，924in 2011.The paper gives fine coverage of crimes and disasters.It has a good sports section and comic strips.The paper usually avoids printing stories about moral turpitude of religious figures and homosexuals.“There’s nothing sexy about an unnatural sex story，”a member of its staff said.

Wall Street Journal published its first issue in 1889，which was then a mere collection of bulletins of news affecting business.In 1901，the paper was bought from Charles H.Dow by Clarence W.Barrow.Under him the Journal began to publish stories to explain the facts behind statistics and formal statements so that the nonexpert could understand them.Today the paper is widely read by people in the business and economic communities.It gives precedence to stock market tables and other financial news，but it also prints personality profiles and sociological background articles.It had a daily circulation of 2，117，796in 2011.

The Christian Science Monitor was founded in 1908by Mary Baker Eddy，who is the originator of Christian Science，a religion based on spiritual healing and the belief that there is a higher reality above evil，pain，and sickness.The purpose of the paper，according to Mrs.Eddy，was“to injure no man，but to bless all mankind.”It was not intended as a house paper for the Church.Now the paper is usually considered as a balanced，thoughtful paper which presents significant，serious news in a highly professional manner.

There are some other noted and influential newspapers in the US.They include the Chicago Tribune，USA Today，and others.

Weekly and monthly magazines published in-depth articles on national issues and gained a large middle class audience by the late 19th century.They later became an outlet for the muckrakers¹，agroup of writers between 1902 and 1911who attacked social evils.The investigative reporting that brought the Watergate scandal to the public’attention is part of the muckraking tradition in print journalism.Now thousands of different magazines are published in the United States each month.Some appeal to the general public，others to special groups.Almost all magazines make money from both circulation and advertising.The most financially successful magazines are not necessarily the largest sellers，the difference being in the advertising fees they are able to obtain.In 1994，the top five magazines by circulation were NRTA／AARP Bulletin，Modern Maturity，Reader’s Digest，TV Guide，and National Geographic.Yet the top five magazines ranked in order by advertising revenues were People Weekly，TV Guide，Sports Illustrated，Time，and Newsweek.The most popular monthly magazine is the Reader’s Digest.It is established in 1922，and had a circulation of 17million copies for each issue in 2010.It has a very broad content，adopting particularly articles from big newspapers and famous magazines，and also having its own special articles.Reader’s Digest is currently published in 52editions and 35languages and is available in over 100countries.