Georgia's First Newspaper: The Georgia Gazette

Savannah has several newspapers. There are two black newspapers Savannah Herald and the older Savannah Tribune. There is also the weekly Connect which connects to events in the city and a little commentary on the events of the week on the side. There is also  a Latina paper. But the only daily paper is the Savannah Morning News.

But the very first paper in Georgia was the Georgia Gazette. It was established in 1763 by James Johnston, the Colony's official printer. Johnston was a Scottish immigrant who came to Savannah probably at the invitation of his brother Lewis a planter and member of the legislature James Johnston was the royal printer. Royal Printers were appointed by the King of England. The royal Printers were the only printers allowed to print. So the position carried a certain amount of prestige. At first the things they printed were closely monitored by the king’s men. As the colonies grew and developed a little differently from England printers became more bold and printed things the royalty would not appreciate. But Johnston remained a Loyalist. He would never personally challenge the king as other printers such as Peter Zenger or James Franklin (Ben Franklin’s son) did. Both of these men would spend time in jail because of the criticism they offered the king and his royal governors.
Johnston described his publication as ‘public press.’  His job was to provide content for the colonists they were interested in.  He firmly believed that he published information and his job was not to share his opinion about them. The paper was published regularly from April 7, 1763 through November 21, 1765, He printed from his office on Broughton Street. Johnston printed anonymous letters that the king’s men did not appreciate and they demanded he stop. And even though he was a Loyalist he decided whether then comply with the king’s men and not to print these types of letters he would close the paper down. His job was to be impartial even with the King.

While most Loyalists were hung or fled the country during the American Revolution Johnston remained but not in Savannah. After the war having fled Savannah his great skill and craft were in great demand in Savannah. Even though he was a Loyalist he was allowed return to Savannah in 1782. On January 30, 1783, Johnston began a new publication under the name Gazette of the State of Georgia. The reason he was let back in probably was related to his principle stand of printing what the people wanted to read. So even though he was a loyalist he had acted as a revolutionary.

On October 23, 1788 the name of the paper was changed back to Georgia Gazette. The name was no longer associated with the King’s Paper and he could once again use it. In 1789 he made his son Nicholas partner .Its imprint no longer bared the name of the father alone but now read “Printed by James and Nicholas Johnston, Broughton Street.” Nicholas was his father’s son as far as the publishing principles. You printed the news for the people leaving your personal political views out. Many readers of the paper because of this philosophy could never decide if the printers were Federalist or Republicans.

The eagle holding a banner became the logo for the paper. The paper endured one fire that totally destroyed the print shop. It endured Savannah’s rapid growth. But the untimely death of Nicholas in 1802 would portend the end for the newspaper. James would continue the paper for a month after his death until November 25, 1802. This was the date of the last publication.

James Johnston was the first generation of America’s printers. His principle stand helped create the concept of staying neutral in your reporting of events. His printing craftsmanship set a high standard for publishing. He was indeed an American printer. Today his remains are in downtown’s Colonial Cemetery.

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The grave site of James Johnston

Eagle image from the Georgia Gazette