We are thrilled to introduce Communicating the News in Early Modern Europe, a pioneering publication co-authored by Dr Jenni Hyde, Lecturer in Early Modern History. This ground-breaking study, which emerges from the European Dimensions of Popular Print conference at Utrecht University in 2018, delves into how news stories were disseminated throughout early modern Europe.

The book challenges conventional perspectives on news culture and communication, highlighting the paramount importance of the exchange of ideas over the medium through which information was spread.

Exploring the realm of news ballads, another section intricately compares the performers and audiences of topical songs, dissecting musical choices and ballad performances across multiple European cities. It underscores the profound role of intangible elements like sound, melody and voice in the transmission and comprehension of news through songs.

Additionally, the book proposes a unique approach: examining news as a machine would interpret it: through its metadata. It contends that digital humanities methodologies unveil unexpected parallels in news cultures, bridging vast disparities in time and place.

Communicating the News in Early Modern Europe is now accessible via Cambridge University Press. The volume will soon be available to Lancaster University's staff and students through the library.