Francisco Mariano Nipho

Francisco Mariano Nipho (10 June 1719 – 10 January 1803), also known as Francisco Mariano Nipho Cagigal, was a Spanish writer and journalist. He founded several periodicals, including the Diario Noticioso, Curioso-Erudito y Comercial, Público y Económico., which is commonly considered as Spain's first modern newspaper.

Early life and career Nipho was born on 10 June 1719 in Alcañiz, Aragon, Spain. His mother was from Pamplona, and his father, originally from Naples, served as governor of Maella. As a child, Nipho moved with his family to Madrid, where he lived and worked for the rest of his life.

Later in life, Nipho served as a censor during the late 18th century.

Views on journalism Nipho advocated for newspapers as a medium more accessible to the general public than books, owing to their lower cost. He viewed newspaper circulation as being important for cultural development and the dissemination of ideas. His editorial approach emphasized variety, reader engagement, accuracy, and substantive content.

Journalism On 1 February 1758, Nipho began a collaboration with Juan Antonio Lozano. With the support of Ferdinand VI, they published the first issue of the Diario Noticioso, Curioso-Erudito y Comercial, Público y Económico, also called Diario de Madrid, In 1759, Nipho sold his stake in Diario printing privileges. The Diario would continue to be published until 1918.

In the following years, Nipho started several other journalism projects, most of which were short-lived:

El Caxón de sastre (1760–1761), reportedly the first work in Spain sold by subscription, collected literary fragments and articles on aesthetics, morality, society, and culture. El Duende Especulativo (1761), a criticism of Madrid customs. El murmurador imparcial (1761), an anthology of literary texts. La Estafeta de Londres (1762), a weekly publication on various subjects drawn from English newspapers. El Diario estrangero (1763), a weekly publication that collected literary news from Europe and included theater criticism from Madrid. El Pensador cristiana (1763) and El hablador juicioso y crítico imparcial (1763), weekly publications translated works by the Jesuit Juan Busseo (in the first) and Abbot Langlet (in the second). El Correo general, histórico, literario y económico de la Europa (1763), a weekly general news publication. El novelero de los estrados y tertulias (1764), a weekly publication translated seven novels by Marmontel and one by Matías de los Reyes, a 17th-century writer. El escolar Investigación (1764), translated works on the arts, laws, and sciences. El Bufón de la Corte (1767) ( 'The Court Jester'), a satirical weekly published by Nipho under the pseudonym "Joseph de la Serna".

Death Nipho died on 10 January 1803, in Madrid, Spain.