A Teesside University student is conducting research about former Northern Echo editor WT Stead, which could cement the former editor's position as one of the founders of modern journalism.

Owen Mulpetre has already completed a dissertation on the titan of Victorian newspapers and his campaign against child prostitution, and is now looking at Stead's role in developing a new form of journalism while he edited the Echo, from 1871 to 1880.

Owen began his research after his tutor showed him one of Stead's articles on child prostitution in the Pall Mall Gazette.

He said: "There are two schools of thought - that he did it for purely commercial reasons, to sell newspapers, or that he felt there was a lot of abuse of the working classes.

"When you look at his writing in The Northern Echo you find the same kind of language and he hints at his concerns over child prostitution in some very early articles."

Owen is now looking at Stead's influence over a new style of journalism.

He said: "They say he was one of the founders of modern journalism and I'm trying to see whether that started at the Pall Mall Gazette or The Northern Echo.

"And from what I've found so far, I personally think it started with The Northern Echo, the same kind of language is being used. His idea was that sensationalism was fine as long as it was serving a justified cause."

He said Stead's own approach came from both his fiercely Nonconformist religious views and his lack of journalistic training.

"There was an etiquette in journalism at the time but Stead has this rampaging style."

To read Owen's initial research, click here.

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