Why are newspapers an important source for the study of the national movement?
Contemporary newspapers are an important source of the study of national movement. Following points lay bare their importance as source of history with reference to Indian Freedom Movement.
(a)Many contemporary newspapers were published by those who were involved in the freedom struggle. For example, National Herald was issued by Motilal Nehru, further Mr Jinnah issued Dawn. These newspapers were mouthpieces and represented important voices of the movement. Hence, they made important source of information regarding the freedom movement.
(b)Newspapers do daily reporting, hence, their reporting is more detailed than perhaps any other source can be. As they report on extremely recent events, the chances of misreporting is less. Reading different newspapers further makes our reading balanced and free from bias.
(c)Many newspapers were in local Indian languages, i.e. in vernacular languages and their circulation was limited Hence, they published newspaper from local perspective which other sources of history may not have.
(d)They reflect the mood of the people too. These newspapers shaped what was published and the way events were reported. Accounts published in a London newspaper would be different from a report in an Indian nationalist paper.