This book presents a series of fifteen articles, written in 1911 by the journalist Will Irwin, that discuss the origins, purposes, and principles of newspaper journalism. The articles first appeared in "Collier's" magazine and have been reprinted to give journalism students a better understanding of how twentieth-century newspapers developed in the United States. Topics include the power of the press, the four main currents of journalistic history in the United States, the spread and decline of yellow journalism, what constitutes news, the newspaper publisher/editor, news reporting, ethical practices in journalism, advertising and its influence on journalism, journalism from a business perspective, two case studies of newspapers, and a general evaluation of United States newspapers in 1911. An introduction provides biographical information on Will Irwin, and background notes preface each article, putting it in historical perspective. Reader response from the 1911 publications is included. (RL)