Infamous Scribblers
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Eric Burns |
| Products | Non-fiction book |
Infamous Scribblers: The Founding Fathers and the Rowdy Beginnings of American Journalism is a 2006 publication authored by journalist and historian Eric Burns that investigates the origins of the American press. Released by PublicAffairs, this work examines journalism’s influence throughout the nation’s early development. A later edition appeared in 2007.
Background
At the time of Infamous Scribblers release, Eric Burns was serving as a media critic and host on Fox News Watch for Fox News, with prior experience at NBC.
The term "infamous scribblers" was originally coined by George Washington to refer to the journalists active during his era.
Overview
This book traces the evolution of American newspapers from the colonial era through the American Revolution and into the period of the early Republic. Burns attributes significant influence to journalism in shaping the political and ideological foundations of the fledgling nation. He contends that practices such as partisan journalism and sensationalism have deep roots, reaching their height within the timeframe he examines. The narrative centers on the journalists themselves, combining engaging storytelling with scholarly historical interpretation.
Reception
The Claremont Review of Books described it as both enjoyable and insightful, with reviewer Richard Brookhiser appreciating Burns’s background in journalism for accurately presenting essential details.
Roger Mellen from H-Net regarded Infamous Scribblers as a valuable yet not entirely academic resource, pointing out occasional inaccuracies and source concerns. Mellen noted that while Burns effectively highlights early American media partisanship, he neglects some complexities identified by other scholars. Nonetheless, Mellen commended the book’s compelling style, labeling it an "interesting and useful" primer on early American journalism.
Publishers Weekly praised its engaging nature, highlighting Burns's passion and blend of well-known and obscure anecdotes, though they suggested some claims were overstated.
According to The Boston Globe, Burns is a "competent researcher" but criticized the book for repetitive storytelling and a lack of in-depth analysis.
Kirkus Reviews characterized it as "a brief, enlightening history" that suffers from inconsistent prose and problematic quotations—ultimately describing it as "important, informative, amusing, surprising and even cautionary," albeit less polished than desired.
See also
External links
- Television appearance on The Daily Show (7 minutes)
- Radio interview on NPR (20 minutes)
- Television presentation on C-SPAN (50 minutes)