Most newsreels covered current events in both domestic and international affairs. One of the first of these was produced by the French journalist Charles Pathé in 1895. Newsreels were very popular before television sets became common in homes. By the mid-1920s, approximately 80 percent of US movie theaters were selling newsreels, and some 200 million Americans saw them each week.
Newsreels were initially silent like other early motion pictures. Narrators would sometimes speak outside of the film in front of the screen, pointing out specific features or commenting on the events unfolding. Soon after the introduction of sound film in the 1920s, newsreels incorporated synchronized sound, although narration remained separate from the actual film. By 1927, most newsreels were made in sound form, called "soundies" when shown in short-film theatres.
Beginning in the 1930s, newsreels took on a more journalistic tone, with professional journalists reporting on the events and providing context. Although they were usually presented from an apolitical perspective, their presentation also reflected the politics of the time. For instance, during World War II, American newsreels portrayed America and its Allies in a positive light, while portraying Nazi Germany and Japan negatively.
Newsreels gradually declined in popularity with the rise of television news in the 1950s and 1960s. Television could bring news to viewers much faster and more frequently, and it also offered on-the-spot live reporting, which newsreels could not match. By the end of the 1960s, newsreels had all but disappeared from movie theaters, although a handful of television networks continued to produce newsreel-style programs until the 1970s.
Today, newsreels are considered valuable historical documents, providing a glimpse into the past and the way people viewed the news in the early 20th century. Many newsreel archives are now available online, allowing people to watch these historic films and learn more about the events that shaped the world.