POPULAR NEWSPAPERS DURING WORLD WAR I

Part 1: 1914-1915
(The Daily Express, the Daily Mirror, the News of the World and The People)

Popular newspapers offer scholars the opportunity to see how the First World War was reported to the people at home.  They offer: 

• Human interest stories, which alter our view of the war as a massive struggle between millions of men, and Insights into the myths of war.
• First hand accounts of the Gallipoli campaign.
• Photographs from the front lines - especially in the Daily Mirror whose front page was always devoted to 'pictures of the day.'
• Detailed reports on the latest developments whether on the home front or the battlefield.
• Insightful articles by leading writers and politicians. 
• Much material on popular culture, ranging from music hall and variety, to the turf and football. 

Part 1 covers the period from 1914 to 1915. In January 1914, war was by no means inevitable.  Even in May, talk of the American war in Mexico and the ongoing struggle for women's suffrage were more prominent.  All that changed dramatically after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June.  How did the papers encourage popular support for the war?  How did advertising change?