A newspaper that has kept up with the latest technologies through the years

The Deseret News—founded in 1850 as Utah’s first newspaper—has been a living witness to the technological revolutions that have reshaped journalism over the last 175 years. A recent special‑series feature on Deseret.com charts that evolution, weaving together the paper’s own archival records with broader trends in printing, communications, and digital media. The piece is part history essay, part photo‑rich timeline, and it offers readers a chance to see how a regional paper kept pace with (and sometimes pioneered) the technologies that enabled it to reach and inform a growing Utah population.

The Early Years: Hand‑Press Innovation

The Deseret News began as a modest hand‑cobbled press in the settlement of Salt Lake City, relying on a small cadre of volunteers to print the first issues. The article points out that the paper’s early editions were produced on a portable hand‑press, a common tool among 19th‑century pioneers. The early editors had to master everything from typesetting to ink preparation, a labor‑intensive process that required a great deal of ingenuity. As Utah’s population swelled, so did the volume of daily news, prompting the paper to adopt a larger, more efficient press in the 1860s.

Telegraph, Photography, and the Dawn of Rapid News

By the 1870s, the Deseret News embraced the telegraph to receive breaking news from New York and Chicago, an innovation that cut communication delays from weeks to days. The article’s accompanying photos illustrate the paper’s early adoption of photographic plates—first in a small studio in downtown Salt Lake and later in a dedicated photo lab by the turn of the century. These images were printed in black‑and‑white and later in color in the 1930s, marking a milestone in visual journalism for Utah.

Radio, Television, and the “Broadcasting Era”

The 1920s and ’30s brought radio to Utah’s airwaves, and the Deseret News followed suit by providing news summaries for local stations. The feature traces how the paper’s staff produced radio‑friendly scripts, a practice that later translated into television news segments in the 1950s. An interview with a former Deseret News producer highlighted how the newsroom’s workflow shifted from a purely print‑centric model to a multi‑platform one, with journalists juggling print, radio, and broadcast duties.

Computers and Digital Workflow

A turning point arrived in the late 1960s with the introduction of early computer typesetting. The Deseret News was among the first Utah papers to adopt electronic word processors in 1974, a move that streamlined copy editing and layout. By the mid‑1980s, the newsroom had transitioned to a desktop publishing system, allowing for faster turnaround and more sophisticated graphics. The article notes that these changes were accompanied by the hiring of a dedicated computer editor—a role that remains crucial today.

The Internet Age and the First Website

When the internet began to crackle in the early 1990s, the Deseret News launched its first web presence in 1995. The piece quotes the then‑editor who described the early site as a “digital proof‑reading station” rather than a full‑blown news portal. Over the next decade, the newspaper expanded its online offerings to include interactive features, email newsletters, and eventually a fully integrated content management system. The article links to a 2000 Deseret News press release announcing the launch of the site’s “first interactive feature,” which allowed readers to comment on stories—a precursor to modern social‑media engagement.

Digital‑Only Subscriptions and Mobile Platforms

The 2010s brought a dramatic shift toward digital‑only subscriptions. In 2013, the Deseret News rolled out a pay‑wall for its website, prompting a flurry of reader feedback and an editorial debate about the sustainability of print revenue. The feature details how the newsroom responded by investing in a mobile app, social‑media strategies, and data analytics to understand reader preferences. An interview with the app’s developer reveals that the mobile platform now accounts for roughly 60 % of all traffic to the Deseret News website.

AI, Machine Learning, and the Future of News

The article concludes by looking forward to the next wave of technology. Deseret News is experimenting with AI‑driven content curation, using machine learning algorithms to surface stories tailored to individual readers. A preview of the paper’s partnership with a Utah‑based startup demonstrates how AI can help predict trending topics and automate certain aspects of reporting—though the newsroom stresses that human judgment remains essential. The feature cites a 2024 conference in Salt Lake City where the Deseret News team presented their findings on “AI‑Augmented Journalism” to a panel of academics and industry experts.

How to Dive Deeper

For readers who want to explore beyond the summary, the Deseret.com feature offers clickable links to the newspaper’s own archival photographs, a timeline of major technological milestones, and a PDF of the original press release announcing the first website. A sidebar includes a QR code that, when scanned, directs users to the Deseret News Digital Archives—an online repository of past issues dating back to the 1850s. By visiting those linked resources, you can see firsthand how the paper’s early printing methods compare to today’s digital formats.

In short, the Deseret News’ own chronicle of technology is a microcosm of the broader evolution of journalism. From hand‑presses to AI‑augmented storytelling, the paper’s history illustrates the continuous dialogue between new tools and the journalistic mission of informing the public. The feature’s 500‑plus‑word recap brings that story to life, offering a concise yet comprehensive overview for anyone interested in how a regional newspaper has survived—and thrived—through the relentless march of technology.

Read the Full deseret Article at:
[ https://www.deseret.com/special-series/2025/06/18/deseret-news-and-technology-throughout-history/ ]