The ezines that are available today bear an uncanny resemblance in intent to extended greeting cards (newsletters) of our past.
Some of the earliest newsletters date back to the early 1700s and were often political in nature. Some might even go so far as to say the earliest newsletters were filled with propaganda because the same information was not found in more reputable publications.
The 1800s saw a reduction in newsletters, but the often rebellious nature of many newsletters would not allow the genre to remain dormant. By the 1900s newsletters were once again on the rise and their importance began to be noticed and their acceptance began to grow.
Many individuals began to notice there were certain issues of interest that mainstream newspapers would not print. Perhaps their reluctance was due to a fear of retaliation or the fear of offending certain prominent members of a community (many of whom were paying for advertising).
Newsletters were important because they provided information not available elsewhere. They may not have been considered prime journalism. In fact, they were often filled with spelling and grammar errors because many who were...