The first important daily Armenian paper Arshalouys (Dawn) was first published in 1840 by Ghoukas (Lucas) Baltazar in Izmir, where the Armenian immigrants, with their spirit of progress, forged ahead of the rest of the population. This paper had an extensive edition with subscribers not only among the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire, but also among the Eastern Armenians and the Armenians of India.
Later, between 1840 and 1866, 14 different Armenian newspapers were established in Constantinople, including the newspaper Masis published by Utudjian. Basmadjian refers to it as the ‘Armenian era' because of the organisation and quality of its articles. Masis became a strong Armenian institution which over the decades breathed life to the Armenian intellectual sphere in Constantinople; its chief editor, Utujian, was an expert who educated a whole generation of Armenian journalists. 149 Guittar was also printed in Constantinople and was read by young Armenians. Later, around 1885, A. -Arpiarian produeced the paper Hayrenik (Fatherland) as an institution in which the thoughts of the Armenians in Constantinople could be expressed. This inspirational figure encouraged a new generation of Armenian intellectuals such as Shant, Levon Pashalian and Arshak Tchobanian. Several other papers and monthly magazines were also established in Constantinople.
The most important papers were arguably two monthly magazines named "the Eagle of Vaspourakan" and "the Eagle of Taron", both started by the Catholicos-to-be Khrimian Hayrik (father), the same Hayrik who guided the minds of the Armenian people and its path towards resurrection. These two magazines, which were published in Armenia itself (the former in Varag, in the vicinity of Van, and the latter in Sourp Karapet, in the vicinity of Moush), had an enormous influence on the Armenian nation.
Khrimian Hayrik fostered a whole generation of skilled writers, Bishop Servandiants and the great writer Raffi to name but a couple.
"Caucasus" was the first paper published in Armenian in Transcaucasia, established in 1846. This was followed by the papers ‘Ararat' (1850) and later ‘The Honeybee of Armenia' (1858). The paper ‘Husisapayl' (Northern lights), deserves special mention as the mouthpiece of Stepanos Nazariants; and also the paper ‘Pordz' (test), under the leadership of Hovannesian, whose paper held the status of a "Revue des Deux Mondes".
First and foremost amongst the papers published in Tbilisi, the intellectual centre of Eastern Armenians, was ‘Mshak' (labour), under the leadership of Grigor Artzrouni. Grigor Artzrouni, who had excelled in his studies in Russia, Germany and Switzerland, founded this paper which was instrumental in publishing the thoughts of the Armenian people; Sarkissian, in regard to the paper's design, edition and ideas of liberty, compares it to the Manchester Guardian at that time. 161 Artzrouni, who simultaneously attacked the Armenian clergy and the upper class, created this paper as a herald of the ideas about development and liberation expressed by the Armenian people. He surrounded himself with valuable personalities such as Raffi and the dramatist Soundoukian.
The monthly magazines of the Mkhitarists, were also eminent, including "Bazmavep", published in Venice, and "Handes Amsorya", published in Vienna from 1887.
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