At the close of the nineteenth century, advancements in printing and paper technologies led to a boom in the newspaper industry, saturating cities across the United States. Focusing on New York, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and Chicago, Julia Guarneri examines how city newspapers became pivotal in shaping metropolitan spaces and unique urban cultures. The exploration includes a comprehensive look at various newspaper features, such as comic strips, sports pages, advice columns, and Sunday magazines, highlighting the intertwined histories of newspapers and the cities they served. Themed sections catering to women, businessmen, sports enthusiasts, and suburbanites reflected lifestyles centered around consumerism. While newspapers guided individual aspirations, they also nurtured civic engagement and responsibility, with charity campaigns and metropolitan sections fostering a sense of cohesive urban communities. Real estate and classified ads promoted suburban growth while reinforcing cities as economic and informational centers. Throughout this evolution, editors successfully attracted diverse readerships, including women, immigrants, and working-class individuals, contributing to the dynamic, contentious, and commercial public sphere that emerged in the twentieth century.
