Throughout its history, The Providence Journal has kept its pledge to serve as "a faithful reporter of the passing news" with constant innovation in gathering
and disseminating information in Rhode Island
and southeastern Massachusetts.
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If someone asked when we started the "news blog," one would be tempted to answer "1863." That was the year the Journal launched an afternoon newspaper, The Evening Bulletin, to bring Rhode Island the news from the front in the Civil War.
The front page of the very first Bulletin reflects the quest for speed, and the challenge of putting ink on paper. The display technique of the day was a precursor of the Web "time stamp." These headlines all appeared on the same front page:
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First Edition ... Rumor that the Army of the Potomac is
to be Broken Up and Most of the Troops Sent West ...
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Postscript ... Two O'Clock ... Burnside
Resigned ... Hooker Appointed His Successor ...
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Second Edition ... Three O’Clock ...
Resignation of General Burnside Confirmed ...
- Third Edition ... Five O'Clock ... Gen. Burnside's Farewell to Our Troops
The year 1995 was pivotal in Journal history: The company ceased publication of the Bulletin, and launched its first online news service.
The news blog concept grew out of conversations we had in 2005 about the new directions for projo.com. There were some of our bearings:
- Implicit in the brand of a newspaper Web site is the contract for news -- and news implies speed and urgency.
- Implicit in the brand of The Providence Journal is the contract for accuracy -- and that must be preserved.
- The Web technology empowers print journalists to be as fast as we have always yearned to be.
- We can leverage the strength of our reporting and photography staffs to report breaking news while preserving an environment of authentic, comprehensive and enterprising journalism.
- Changes or improvements to the projo.com site must be dramatic so the audience can appreciate the added value.
