Newspapers

The first Manx newspaper, the Manks Mercury, published on 27 November 1792, was not targeted specifically at Manx people. Nor was its immediate successor, the Manks Advertiser, which was launched on 8 August 1801. Produced by English journalists in English, they catered principally for the few hundred non-Manx residents who wanted a cheap source of international news. Imported newspapers bore UK stamp duty and taxes. A Manx newspaper did not. Thus one which copied imported ‘intelligence’ had a ready sale. So was established the precedent, when most Manx could speak and read only Gaelic, that English was the language for news. Cover prices were also in British currency, not Manx.

As sales were only several hundred at most, viability depended on getting government notices and jobbing work. When the boats which brought UK newspapers arrived late, meanwhile, or changed sailing schedules, Manx newspapers were also late or changed their publication dates. Editor-printers were the principal writers, aided by contributors. The poet John Stowell of Peel Grammar School was one. Eventually the Manks Advertiser emerged as an ‘instrument of war’ between the Manx who resented the presence on the Island of non-Manx and the latter who claimed that they were its source of prosperity.

Some reporting became so maliciously libellous that Tynwald, on 21 May 1817, made the spreading of false news and malicious libelling criminal offences. Editorials still remained vicious for many years, but material of a higher literary standard was gradually attracted to new publications. T.E. Brown's early verse, for example, was published in the Isle of Man Times from 1871. Betsy Lee was also serialised by the Times as were Hall Caine's novels She's All the World to Me and The Bondman.

Politically, newspapers served as propaganda vehicles for rival factions. The Advertiser supported the disliked Duke of Atholl. The Manx Sun, launched on 24 April 1821 as the Rising Sun, allied itself with the self-elected House of Keys to defend Manx constitutional rights which it believed to be threatened by the Duke. When this was resolved, the Sun supported the Keys against reformers who wanted public elections. It believed that a transfer of control from land-owners to ‘trade’ through elections would lead to instability. This led to reformers launching the Mona's Herald as their mouthpiece on 3 August 1833. Bitter exchanges between it and the Sun followed.