Abstract:
The value of the newspaper in historical research is difficult to appreciate in general terms. Some historians prefer to disregard the newspaper as a source on the grounds of its at times obvious partiality, its championing of the short as against the long view, and its liability to error. Such treatment has relegated to oblivion much that is of first importance as historical material.
As a principal source of information, the newspaper undoubtedly has its disadvantages, not the least of which is the absence of an index to newspaper files, except in some rare cases such as the London Times Unsupported newspaper testimony might well be misleading, without a knowledge on the part of the historian of the policy adopted by the individual paper. Such policies are seldom stated openly, but the adoption of some sort of policy is virtually necessary, if only in the interests of consistency.
