Portuguese press in the dawn of the twentieth century

The Portuguese press was marked by the contexts that enhanced or restricted its diffusion, depending on the political context. During most of the nineteenth century, political journalism was the most relevant, accordingly to the French press trend. In a period of transition, the industrialization and social and cultural changes allowed newspapers to adopt new formats and contents and get into the path to modern journalism. Gradually, newspapers included news extracted from international press, namely facts, emotional events and fait-divers, that would eventually prevail on national news. News reports, richly documented with engraves, gained importance in terms of innovation in journalism genders. Reporting and the sensationalist framework found its followers in some Portuguese dailies, which generated new audiences eager for a more popular model in subjects and discourse. This chapter approaches the evolution of news and editorial formats in four daily newspapers, their editorial identity, changes and innovation. Comércio do Porto, Diário de Notícias, Século, and Jornal de Notícias are analyzed according to new influences and perceived transnational trends during the transition from late nineteenth century and the following decade. It will take in consideration the adoption of new formats and discourse, emerging subjects and editorial orientation, and changes brought by influence of the international press.