Acta Diurna: World’s First Newspaper Appeared In 131 B.C

MessageToEagle.com – The first proto-newspaper appeared as early as 131 B.C. It was an ancient Roman daily gazette called Acta Diurna (Daily Acts sometimes translated as Daily Public Records). Acta Diurna informed citizens of political and social happenings in ancient Rome.

News of events such as military victories, gladiatorial bouts and other games, births and deaths and even human-interest stories were inscribed on metal or stone and posted in areas with heavy foot traffic, such as the Roman Forum where free citizens met to discuss ideas, philosophy and politics.

After a couple of days the notes were taken down and archived. Unfortunately,  no intact copy of the Acta Diurna has survived to the present day.

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Sometimes scribes made copies of the Acta and sent them to provincial governors for information. Later emperors used them to announce royal or senatorial decrees and events of the court.

Tacitus, a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire and Suetonius, Roman historian of the Equestrian Order used these Acta as sources of information about the empire’s early emperors in their histories of Rome.

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