The Great Moon Hoax
In discussions of &quot;fake news&quot; and the like:  pursuit of circulation by advertising-supported mass-market &quot;penny-press&quot; papers saw the running of outrageous hoaxes to pump up advertising reach.  This story from 1835 and the <i>New York Sun</i>.<p>The penny press are contrasted with the far more professional &quot;six cent&quot; papers which sought an up-market readership.