Benjamin Franklin Discover Project JOUR11005

1. PRESENTED BY
KORMAN, MEARS, MILLS, BAGGOW
Figure 1: Benjamin Franklin Quote Source: cracked.com

2. Benjamin Franklin
Born 17 January 1706
Boston, United States
One of the Founding Fathers
An author, Journalist, Printer, Inventor, Scientist, Statesman, Diplomat
Figure 2: Benjamin Franklin Source: ushistoryimages.com

3. • At 12 years of age, became apprentice to
his brother, James Franklin
• James Franklin owned New England
Courant
• Pseudonym Mrs Silence Dogooder
• 14 articles published in the New
England Courant
• Ran away from his brother and
apprenticeship to Philadelphia
Figure 3: Apprentice Benjamin Franklin
Source: worldhistoryproject.org

4. The Pennsylvania Gazette
• In 1729, Benjamin became owner, editor and publisher
• Newspaper was filled with articles that were serious and satire
• Published his work under his own name and pseudonyms
• Serious articles and reported news stories on crimes, laws , natural
events and odd incidents
• General stories, gossip stories and letters from readers
Figure 4: The Pennsylvania Gazette Source: The Lit Mod Liz Blog

5. “Journalism is the gathering and disseminating of
new information about current events, trends,
issues and people to a wide audience.”
Media and Journalism, 2011
Articles were concisely descriptive and exposed all sides of an
issue
Help ordinary people to start thinking for themselves
The Pennsylvania Gazette was one of the most successful
newspapers of his time

6. Announcement of The Fourth Estate was three years prior
to Benjamin’s death
“a newspaper in every house [is] the principal support of
virtue, morality and civil liberty” Benjamin Franklin
Every person is entitled to know the truth
Upkeep of a healthy democracy

7. Passionate about Politics
Contributions to Science, Philosophy, Politics, and Education
American Revolution
Declaration of Independence
Continental Congress
Colonial Deputy Postmaster
Figure 5: The Declaration Committee Source:
http://www.loc.gov/

8. The Library Company of Philadelphia – 1731
Subscription free Lending
Set the path for others
Improving intelligence and knowledge
Rich or Poor
Figure 6: Library Company of Philadelphia Source:
http://www.desertsailor.info

9. “I grew convinced that truth, sincerity, and integrity in
dealings between man and man were of the utmost
importance to the felicity of life.”
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, 1896
Journalists should strive to
Communicate ideas
Promote open and spirited dialog
Be ethically bound to avoid injury to others
Not publish scurrilous or defamatory material
Air both sides of a story

10. Ethical Conflicts
1731 threatened the Freemasons with bad publicity in
his writings if he wasn’t elected as
a member.
1740 heavily criticised New Jersey
Governor Lewis Morris and refused
to print Governor Morris’ side of
the issue.
Figure 7 Governor Lewis Morris

11. Limitations in the practical side of journalism rather
than his writing.
Pennsylvania Gazette was rarely edited or collated in
a consistent manner.
No serious attempts to raise the mechanical standards
of his business.

12.  Man of many talents and titles
 Biographer J. A. Leo Lemay describes
Franklin as “a harmonious human multitude”
 His journalism was used for the
greater good
 Provided public access to education
& knowledge
 Husband, father, friend.
 Man who est. “good citizenship”
 Fought for rights of everyday person
 Inventor: Lighting rod, Odometer, Swim Fins, Daylight saving time to
name a few.
 1785 – President Pennsylvania Quakers
(abolition of Slavery group)
Appreciation
Figure 8:
Source: http://www.upenn.edu
Penn Press, 2015, accessed 23rd
March 2015,
http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14523.html

13. Animosity
Utilised his fame & journalistic skills for power &
personal progression i.e.: Freemasons
Owned 2 slaves & thought of the black race as inferior
Journalistic sense – there is no animosity against the
great man.
Personal values – flirtatious manner, dropped out of
school at age of 6, but no faults in journalistic history.

14. Man of honour
Fought for freedom of speech – bringing knowledge &
information to the masses
Adhered to his own writing
ethics
Very influential to any budding
journalist.
Figure 9
Source: http://www.burbanklodge.com/
Burbank Masonic Lodge No. 406 F&AM, 2010, accessed 23rd
March 2010
http://www.burbanklodge.com/foundingfathers.htm

15. Figure 1: Benjamin Franklin Quote
Source: cracked.com
Cracked Readers, 2013, The 45 Most Badass Lines uttered in Real Life, 16 March 2015, http
//www.cracked.com/photoplasty_713_the-45-most-badass-lines-ever-uttered-in-real-life/&ie=UTF-8&oe=U
cscHVefhCrDu8wen7YGICg
Figure 2: Benjamin Franklin
Source: ushistoryimages.com
Hatzigeorfiou K.J, 2012, U.S. History Images, 16 March 2015,
http://ushistoryimages.com/images/benjamin-franklin/fullsize/benjamin-franklin-5.jpg
Figure 3: Apprentice Benjamin Franklin
Source: worldhistoryproject.org
Samuels B, 2015, Benjamin Franklin Begins Apprenticeship, 17 March 2015,
http://worldhistoryproject.org/1718/benjamin-franklin-begins-apprenticeship
Figure 4: The Pennsylvania Gazette
Source: The Lit Mod Liz Blog
Saturday Evening Post, 16 March 2015, http://stantoneng14620.wordpress.com
Figure 5: The Declaration Committee
Source: http://www.loc.gov/
Currier & Ives 1876, The Declaration Committee http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/91795008/

16. Figure 6: Library Company of Philadelphia
Source: http://www.desertsailor.info
DesertSailor.info 2006, Library Company of Philadelphia http://
www.desertsailor.info/libs/1876_report/libcophil.php
Figure 7 : Governor Lewis Morris
Source : New Jersey County Information Sites
Morris County Library, 2014, accessed 18th
March 2015, http://www.gti.net/mocolib1/kid/county.html
Figure 8: The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Volume 3
Source: http://www.upenn.edu
Penn Press, 2015, accessed 23rd
March 2015, http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14523.html
Figure 9: Burbank Masonic Lodge No. 406 Free & Accepted Masons
Source: http://www.burbanklodge.com/
Burbank Masonic Lodge No. 406 F&AM, 2010, accessed 23rd
March 2010
http://www.burbanklodge.com/foundingfathers.htm

17. Beck, S 2006, Franklin’s Practical Ethics, viewed 17th
March 2015,
http://www.san.beck.org/11-11-FranklinsEthics.html
Benjamin Franklin, 2015, 16 March 2015,
www.biography.com/people/benjamin-franklin-9301234
Canada M, 2010, Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790, 16 March 2015,
http://www2.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/16071783/lit/franklin/
Franklin Centre for Government & Public Integrity, 2015, 17 march 2015,
www.franklincentrehq.org
Franklin, B 1896, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, e-book, American Book Company, New York,
available at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/36151/36151-h/36151-h.htm
Franklin & Marshall College 2005, Franklin’s Fair Handed American Journalism, viewed 17th
March 2015,
http://www.benfranklin300.org/_edu_pdf/BF300Plans_Middle4.pdf
LEVINSON M 2009, Benjamin Franklin: A Time-Binder Extra Ordinaire,
Benjamin Franklin: A Time-Binder Extra Ordinaire
Lifediscdocs1001, 2014, THE LIFE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, 17 March 2015,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmJegIpEGQg

18. Media as Fourth Estate, 2012, 18 March 2015,
www.usfca.edu/fac-staff/boaz/pol326/feb12.htm
Independence Hall Association 2014, The Library Company http://
www.ushistory.org/franklin/philadelphia/library.htm
Stverak J, 2011, Ben Franklin’s legacy thrives in 2011, 17 March 2015,
www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/ben-franklins-legacy-thrives-in-2011/Content?oid=2168256
The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary 2005, Benjamin Franklin Timeline of Events
https://harrisburg.psu.edu/teachingfranklin/Docs/7_12/Gnatz/Ben_Franklin_Timeline_Gnatz.pdf
Twin Cities Public Gtelevision Inc., 2002, Benjamin Franklin, An extraordinay Life. An Electric Mind, viewed 23rd
March 2015
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/
U.S. National Archives & Records Administration 2015, The Founding Fathers: Pennsylvania
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_founding_fathers_pennsylvania.html