# Francisco Mariano Nipho

Francisco Mariano Nipho, also known as Francisco Mariano Nifo y Cagigal (1719 – 1803), was a Spanish writer and journalist, recognized as a pioneer of modern journalism in Spain.
Born in Alcañiz, Aragón, Nipho was the son of a woman from Pamplona and a man of Neapolitan descent, who served as governor of Maella. As a child, he moved with his family to Madrid, where he spent the rest of his life and career. He founded several newspapers and wrote under multiple pseudonyms, including "Mariano de la Diga" and "Manuel Ruiz de Uribe".
Nipho viewed journalism as a social and artistic responsibility, though he found it financially unrewarding. He described it as "a painful and unprofitable occupation," while stressing its role in "educating and moralizing". His contributions to journalism included direct English-to-Spanish literary translations, a rare practice at the time.
In 1758, he founded the Diario Noticioso, Curioso-Erudito y Comercial, Público y Económico, considered Spain’s first modern newspaper. Later in life, he achieved greater financial and professional stability, serving as a censor in the late 18th century.

## Views on journalism

Nipho believed that books were out of reach for the general public, and newspaper circulation was a critical source for sharing ideas within society. His newspaper articles, rather than conveying pure news and scholarly information, critiqued and sought for popularization to try and connect with readers.
Having a traditional and Christian background, Nipho intended to convey new ideas of his social class to Spain. Rationalism conflicted with his religious beliefs, although his theology remained intact. Nipho had several ideas about his approach to journalism, containing three fundamental notes: range, accuracy and speed. He believed journalists had to meet two objectives: education and development of science.

## Journalism

On 1 February, 1758, Nipho worked with Juan Antonio Lozano, with the support of Ferdinand VI, to publish the first issue of the Diario noticioso, curioso-erudito y comercial, público y económico, also called Diario de Madrid, the first daily Spanish newspaper to publish general news. However, in 1759 Nipho sold his share in Diario's printing privileges. Lozano continued to publish the newspaper until his death in 1780.
In the following years he began different journalism projects, most of them short-lived:
* El Caxón de sastre (1760-1761), the first work in Spain to be sold by subscription, which collected literary fragments and articles on aesthetics, morality, society and culture.
* El Duende Especulativo (1761), was criticism of customs in Madrid.
* El murmurador impartial (1761), was an anthology of literary texts.
* La Estafeta de Londres (1762), a weekly publication on various subjects from English newspapers.
* El Diario estrangero (1763), a weekly work that collected literary news from Europe and theater criticism from Madrid, a first of its kind.
* El Pensador cristiana (1763) and El hablador juicioso y crítica impartial (1763), were weekly publications in which works by Jesuit Juan Busseo were translated, for the first time, and by the abbot Langlet, in the second.
* El Correo general, histórico, literaria y económico de la Europa (1763), a general news produced weekly.
* El novelero de los estrados y tertulias (1764), a weekly publication in which seven novels by Marmontel and one by Matías de los Reyes, a 17th century writer, were translated.
* El escolar Investigación (1764), which offered translated works on the arts, laws, and sciences.
* El Bufón de la Corte (1767)(Eng: The Court Jester), a satirical weekly published by Nepho under the pseudonym "Joseph de la Serna" using dark humour and irony on current events.

## The Journal Noticioso

The first two copies were named: Daily News bulletins Curious-Scholar Public and Commercial and Economic, which was published until 1918. Noticioso Journal is paired with The Censor and The Thinker. The publication hosted ads for free. Nipho explained:
"Many individuals advised me to give the notices, which are published for the Journal from eight to eight days, or at most twice a week, but I have not been able to accommodate this idea, for a very strong reason is that many sometimes there is a person in this courtroom who has commissioned accuracy or wants to buy some things for themselves, or for people in their place. This person is a day in court and not the entire week, with that for it, if it does not come or is not in Madrid on the day of publication of the Journal, he will find that notices will be slow to communicate or not timely. For this reason, you want to sell some jewelry or furniture, you may lose the chance to say a good purchase. But today has money who need it tomorrow, so out every day of the Journal serves all ads."
This publication had up to 1,000 subscribers. In 1786, Jacques Thevin renamed it the Diario de Madrid.