The document discusses the origins and history of newspapers. It begins with the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440, which enabled news and information to be widely distributed. Early printed news items were pamphlets in Germany containing sensationalized stories. Ownership became concentrated in the late 19th/early 20th century under wealthy "Press Barons". In the 20th century, newspaper ownership consolidated into large corporations, and notable British newspapers emerged and disappeared through mergers and acquisitions.