Francisco Mariano Nipho
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francisco Mariano Nipho (10 June 1719 – 10 January 1803), also known as Francisco Mariano Nipho Cagigal, was a Spanish writer and journalist. He founded several periodicals, including the Diario Noticioso, Curioso-Erudito y Comercial, Público y Económico.[1], which is commonly considered as Spain's first modern newspaper.
Nipho was born on 10th June 1719 in Alcañiz, Aragon, Spain. His mother was from Pamplona, and his father, originally from Naples, served as governor of Maella. As a child, Nipho moved with his family to Madrid, where he lived and worked for the rest of his life.[2]
Later in life, Nipho served as a censor during the late 18th century.[3]
Views on journalism
Nipho advocated for newspapers as a medium more accessible to the general public than books, owing to their lower cost. He viewed newspaper circulation as being important for cultural development and the dissemination of ideas. His editorial approach emphasized variety, reader engagement, accuracy, and substantive content.[3]
Nipho's journalism was influenced by his Christian faith. He expressed reservations about the rationalist movement of his era, maintaining a theocentric perspective. His journalistic practice was guided by three principles: breadth of coverage, accuracy, and timeliness. He regarded education and the advancement of science as primary objectives of journalism.[4]
