When I was young and going to school, a joke was played on me. My friend said, "What is black and
white and red all over?" Of course I said, "I do not know." My friend said, "The newspaper." And he started
to laugh. Those were the days before I read the newspaper. That was before I knew what was ahead and
how important the newspaper would become in my life.
     The first American newspaper was published in Boston in 1690. The paper had only one issue (期刊).
The next newspaper was the Boston Newsletter, printed in 1704. During the following years several other
papers were printed in different parts of America. Today there are thousands of newspapers throughout the
world that report world, national and local news in many different languages. There are morning and evening
papers, all of which have material for every reader. You automatically (自動的) think of the newspaper if you
want to know what is happening in the community (社會).
     But what is a newspaper? A newspaper is a piece of printed paper that presents the current news in the
local community as well as news of national and world events. The world events and important local events
are usually reported on the front page. As you go through the paper, you find sports news, comics, news on
deaths, and news of sqcial events. Often the important speech of a public officer is printed in the paper. You
can even find out who got married in the community.