"Who owned the first newspapers in New Zealand and how did they get started? What were the logistics of such an enterprise? What sort of readership did they attract? What exactly was the role of the newspaper in colonial society? Patrick Day gives a comprehensive account of the evolving forms and functions of newspapers in this crucial period. He describes those changes which saw newspapers shift from being political discussion forums for higher status politicians to profit oriented businesses concerned with advertising and newsgiving. Offering a revealing picture of how power was organised through a nascent press, this book is a significant contribution to our understanding of the forces that shaped journalism." -- Back cover.