Prospectuses and other editorial statements in the 18th-century Polish press: on building a communicative community

Abstract

A prospectus was a fairly popular form in the 18^th and 19^th centuries for announcing new publications, including new press titles. The article’s material base consists of prospectuses and other editorial statements introducing a newspaper. The research focuses on texts from the 18^th-century, the early stage of the development of the Polish periodical press. This period was also marked by the press’s significant influence on shaping Enlightenment values. The aim of the study is to analyze the content of prospectuses to identify factors that contributed to attracting readers, ultimately leading to the creation of a communicative community. The analyses revealed that one key factor fostering the formation of a reading community was the editorial declaration of the newspaper’s goals, which aligned with the values embraced by the audience (these included educational and moral objectives). There were numerous references to Enlightenment values such as science, truth, and freedom. The prospectuses promised to deliver current, reliable, and accurate information. Efforts were also made to attract readers through the newspaper’s appearance, such as good-quality paper and printing.