When the News Became a Business: How Newspapers Invented the Attention Economy

Most people think the attention economy began with social media.It didn't.In this first episode of Rosenberg, we explore how newspapers transformed from political tools into commercial businesses competing for attention. Along the way, we look at how media shapes our understanding of the world, why shared stories matter, and what the rise of newspapers can teach us about today's digital platforms.From nineteenth-century publishers to modern algorithms, the technology has changed—but the business remains the same.The business is attention.Topics discussed: • History of newspapers • The attention economy • Walter Lippmann • Benedict Anderson • Neil Postman • Media history • Communication • Social media and algorithms • Human behaviorRosenberg explores history, media, psychology, communication, and human behavior through thoughtful audio storytelling.