| The ezines that are available today bear an uncanny | | | | process known as desktop publishing began to allow |
| resemblance in intent to extended greeting cards | | | | more newsletters than ever to be developed. As the |
| (newsletters) of our past. | | | | Internet grew in popularity the idea that originated |
| Some of the earliest newsletters date back to the | | | | with newsletters splintered off into a variety of |
| early 1700's and were often political in nature. Some | | | | tangents including forum posts, blogs and ezines. |
| might even go so far as to say the earliest | | | | These web-based newsletters suddenly opened the |
| newsletters were filled with propaganda because the | | | | door for a variety of thoughts to be expressed to a |
| same information was not found in more reputable | | | | much larger potential constituency. |
| publications. | | | | While many of these ezines may have been op/ed |
| The 1800's saw a reduction in newsletters, but the | | | | there was also a growing number of newsletters that |
| often rebellious nature of many newsletters would | | | | ventured into how-to, self-help and a variety of |
| not allow the genre to remain dormant. By the 1900's | | | | practical application ezines. |
| newsletters were once again on the rise and their | | | | It seems that either the rebellious nature of the |
| importance began to be noticed and their acceptance | | | | original newsletters has been tamed or perhaps the |
| began to grow. | | | | genre has simply been embraced by those who do |
| Many individuals began to notice there were certain | | | | not know of it's rebellious past and simply recognize it |
| issues of interest that mainstream newspapers would | | | | as a tool worth using in developing connections with |
| not print. Perhaps their reluctance was due to a fear | | | | potential customers. |
| of retaliation or the fear of offending certain | | | | Modern ezines can allow advertising, but they can |
| prominent members of a community (many of whom | | | | also serve as a portal to other newsletters, articles |
| were paying for advertising). | | | | or informational pieces that may benefit the reader. |
| Newsletters were important because they provided | | | | What once served as a means of pushing an agenda |
| information not available elsewhere. They may not | | | | is now often used as a tool that genuinely seeks to |
| have been considered prime journalism. In fact, they | | | | assist potential customers with ideas and information |
| were often filled with spelling and grammar errors | | | | that the customer considers highly valuable. |
| because many who were interested in presenting an | | | | Interestingly it would seem the tables have been |
| idea were not the best equipped to write about the | | | | turned, today's ezines may be less of a propaganda |
| issue. | | | | tool while many newspapers are often criticized for |
| As society raced to the end of the millennium a | | | | being too political in nature. |