Francisco Mariano Nipho

Francisco Mariano Nipho (10 June 1719 – 10 January 1803), also known as Francisco Mariano Nipho Cagigal, was a Spanish writer and journalist. He is credited with founding several journals, including what is considered Spain's first modern newspaper.^[1]

Born in Alcañiz, Aragon, Spain, on 10 June 1719, Nipho's mother was from Pamplona, and his father, originally from Naples, served as governor of Maella. As a child, he moved with his family to Madrid, where he lived and worked for the rest of his life.^[2]

Nipho viewed journalism as both a social duty and an art form, though he found it financially difficult. He described it as "a painful and unprofitable occupation," while emphasizing its role in "educating and moralizing." His work included direct English-to-Spanish literary translations, which were uncommon at the time.

In 1758, he founded the Diario Noticioso, Curioso-Erudito y Comercial, Público y Económico, considered Spain's first modern newspaper. Later in life, he served as a censor during the late 18th century.

Nipho believed that books were inaccessible to the general public and considered newspaper circulation a critical means for sharing ideas within society. Instead of strictly conveying news and scholarly information, he incorporated critiques and aimed to popularize complex ideas that resonated with a broader audience.

With a traditional and Christian background, Nipho sought to disseminate ideas within Spain. Rationalism conflicted with his religious beliefs, though his theology remained intact. Nipho's approach to journalism was guided by three core principles: range, accuracy, and speed. He believed journalists had two main objectives: education and the development of science.

On 1 February 1758, Nipho collaborated with Juan Antonio Lozano. With the support of Ferdinand VI, they published the first issue of the Diario noticioso, curioso-erudito y comercial, público y económico, also called Diario de Madrid, the first Spanish daily general news newspaper. However, in 1759, Nipho sold his stake in Diario's printing privileges.^[1] Lozano continued to publish the newspaper until he died in 1780.

In the following years, Nipho started several other journalism projects, most of which were short-lived:

• El Caxón de sastre (1760–1761), reportedly the first work in Spain sold by subscription; collected literary fragments and articles on aesthetics, morality, society, and culture.
• El Duende Especulativo (1761), a criticism of Madrid customs.
• El murmurador imparcial (1761), an anthology of literary texts.
• La Estafeta de Londres (1762), a weekly publication on various subjects drawn from English newspapers.
• El Diario estrangero (1763), a weekly publication that collected literary news from Europe and included theater criticism from Madrid.
• El Pensador cristiana (1763) and El hablador juicioso y crítico imparcial (1763), weekly publications translating works by the Jesuit Juan Busseo (in the first) and Abbot Langlet (in the second).
• El Correo general, histórico, literaria y económico de la Europa (1763), a weekly general news publication.
• El novelero de los estrados y tertulias (1764), a weekly publication translating seven novels by Marmontel and one by Matías de los Reyes, a 17th-century writer.
• El escolar Investigación (1764), translated works on the arts, laws, and sciences.
• El Bufón de la Corte (1767) (Eng: The Court Jester), a satirical weekly^[1] published by Nipho under the pseudonym "Joseph de la Serna."

The publication was initially known as Daily News bulletins Curious-Scholar Public and later called Commercial and Economic. It was published until 1918. Noticioso Journal was associated with The Censor and The Thinker. The publication hosted advertisements for free. Nipho explained:

Many individuals advised me to give the notices, which are published for the Journal from eight to eight days, or at most twice a week, but I have not been able to accommodate this idea, for a very strong reason: many times there is a person in this court who has commissioned accuracy or wants to buy some things for themselve, or for people in their place. This person is in court for a day and not the entire week, so if they do not come or are not in Madrid on the day of publication of the Journal, they will find that notices will be slow to communicate or not timely. For this reason, if you want to sell some jewelry or furniture, you may lose the chance to find a good buyer. But today has money that needs it tomorro; thus,s publishing the Journal every day serves all ads.

This publication had up to 1,000 subscribers. In 1786, Jacques Thevin renamed it the Diario de Madrid.

Nipho died on 10 January 1803, in Madrid, Spain.