A Theological and Journalistic Reformation: Martin Luther’s bold theological stand on Oct. 31, 1517, made independent journalism possible. Modern journalism began in 1517 as the German prince Frederick the Wise was putting the finishing touches on his life’s work of building up Wittenberg’s sacred relic collection. The effect of Luther’s 95 Theses and his subsequent publications is well known, but what often is missed is that Luther’s primary impact was not as a producer of treatises, but as a very popular writer of vigorous prose that concerned not only theological issues but their social and political ramifications.
