Definition of newsprint

The term "newsprint" has its roots in the late 19th century, when the rise of industrialization and the development of modern printing techniques led to a demand for a specifically engineered type of paper for newspapers. The paper had to be strong enough to withstand the high-speed presses needed for mass production, while also being lightweight and absorbent enough to allow for bold headlines and clear typefaces. Enter the German chemist Friedrich Keller, who in 1866 invented a process of pulping unbleached, or "brown," sugarcane and wood fibers to create a strong, durable paper suitable for newspaper production. This type of paper became known as "brown bag" paper, and it quickly caught on as the preferred material for newspapers around the world. The term "newsprint" wasn't coined until 1889, when the American Chronotype Press Company filed a patent for a new type of newsprint that was made from bleached wood fibers. This new paper, which was lighter and had a higher whiteness than brown bag paper, helped pave the way for the mass production of color printing and made it possible for newspapers to produce more pages with less waste. Since then, the term "newsprint" has come to refer specifically to uncoated, high-quality paper used for printing newspapers and other periodicals. As the demand for print media has declined in recent years, however, the term has taken on new meanings, as some paper manufacturers have begun to repurpose newsprint for other uses, such as packaging and insulation. Despite its evolving use, though, the term "newsprint" remains a potent symbol of the history of mass communication and the important role that print media has played in shaping modern society.