There are at least 23 newspapers and eight magazines published in Newfoundland and Labrador now, but the very first newspaper here was the Royal Gazette and Newfoundland Advertiser, which went to press on August 27, 1807. It was started by John Ryan, a native of Rhode Island, USA, who fled during the American Revolution in 1783 and settled in New Brunswick. Twenty-three years later Ryan arrived in Newfoundland and Governor Erasmus Gower granted him permission to print a weekly newspaper under the conditions that he submit each issue’s proposed content to the Magistrates for approval and not publish any content that might disturb the peace. The newspaper was printed on a single sheet folded in half to form four pages, and it contained mostly public notices. It displayed the Royal coat of arms in its masthead above the motto “Fear God: Honour the King.” By 1810, Ryan began referring to himself as “Printer to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty,” even though no such title was ever granted. Through the years, the paper had many owners and in 1924 its name was changed to Newfoundland Gazette. By then it was publishing government proclamations, acts and amendments, advertisements, shipping news, reprinted British and foreign news and some local news. At that time, editorial comment was still rare, though sometimes the back page was used for poetry and short essays. Since then, more than 240 newspapers have come and gone in this province according to Memorial University archives. Today, 20 of the province’s 23 papers are controlled by Transcontinental Media, a corporation based in Quebec.   Submitted By: DH Editorial