The political life of the 'Porcupine' : provincial power and the satirical press, 1860-1880
Newspapers and periodicals produced in Victorian London have been researched extensively but journalism history scholars readily admit that knowledge and understanding of the wider, provincial press, as it evolved during the nineteenth century, remains patchy. This project helps remedy this historiographical gap by means of an extended investigative case study into an obscure and hitherto largely untapped primary source. The 'Porcupine', a weekly satirical journal launched in Liverpool in 1860, was a Private Eye for the ~top hat and crinoline~ generation. Independent and provocative, this self-styled public watchdog set out to hold truth unto power and to stir up local political debate. Aimed at the burgeoning bourgeoisie, the journal was liberal, Liberal and liberated. Its creators championed and practised the principles of scrutiny, transparency and accountability. They were ~doing~ investigative and campaigning journalism way ahead of the town's more orthodox newspaper pack. Countless comic periodicals emerged and rapidly folded during this hyper- entrepreneurial period. The Porcupine, however, lasted a remarkable fifty-five years, remaining commercially viable in a highly competitive environment. This
Kilfoyle, L. S.
The political life of the 'Porcupine' : provincial power and the satirical press, 1860-1880. Newspapers and periodicals produced in Victorian London have been researched extensively but journalism history scholars readily admit that knowledge and understanding of the wider, provincial press, as it evolved during the nineteenth century, remains patchy. This project helps remedy this historiographical gap by means of an extended investigative case study into an obscure and hitherto largely untapped primary source. The 'Porcupine', a weekly satirical journal launched in Liverpool in 1860, was a Private Eye for the ~top hat and crinoline~ generation. Independent and provocative, this self-styled public watchdog set out to hold truth unto power and to stir up local political debate. Aimed at the burgeoning bourgeoisie, the journal was liberal, Liberal and liberated. Its creators championed and practised the principles of scrutiny, transparency and accountability. They were ~doing~ investigative and campaigning journalism way ahead of the town's more orthodox newspaper pack. Countless comic periodicals emerged and rapidly folded during this hyper- entrepreneurial period. The Porcupine, however, lasted a remarkable fifty-five years, remaining commercially viable in a highly competitive environment. This
political_life provincial power satirical press newspapers periodical produce victorian_london research extensively journalism history scholar readily admit knowledge wider provincial press evolve remain project help remedy historiographical gap mean extend investigative case_study obscure hitherto_largely untapped primary_source weekly satirical journal launch liverpool private eye top hat generation independent provocative self public set hold truth power local political debate burgeon bourgeoisie journal liberal liberal liberate creator champion principle scrutiny transparency accountability investigative campaign journalism way ahead town orthodox newspaper pack countless comic periodical emerge rapidly fold hyper entrepreneurial period however last remarkable remain commercially viable highly competitive environment