Visions of Gold, Viewed from Abroad: International Journalism and the California Gold Rush
Graduate co-author (Pritchard, A. D., Hinderaker, A., Beckermann, K., Adams, S., & Collins, R. F.). 2012. Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ross Collins
Historians have long documented the significance of the California Gold Rush of 1848 through the eyes of the American perspective; however, no research has been conducted to examine the impact of the global reach of this discovery and its international reverberation in the press. In an effort to determine the transnational significance of this event, researchers examined how The Times of London, the most important international newspaper in the world’s most important financial capital, portrayed this event from fall 1849 through summer 1850. Using traditional techniques of historical research and interpretation, researchers discovered The Times originally reflected the El Dorado theme of the abundance of gold. However, the tone was skeptical and as the winter progressed, themes turned to a sober and critical analysis of how the gold would affect larger issues of economics with the occasional political or cultural sidelight to give the event a human feel.
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Presented by Dr. Ross Collins, American Journalism Historians Association national conference, Raleigh, N.C., October 2012.