Linotype, a method of creating movable type by machine instead of by hand, was introduced in 1884 and marked a significant leap in production speed. Previous to the introduction of linotype machines each individual letter had to be placed on an iron tray before it could be used, a painstakingly slow process. With the introduction of linotype machines the efficiency of the printing press was improved dramatically.

The next significant step forward was the introduction of computers into all areas of journalism and printing. These days the morning newspaper is written, edited, photographs are added, and it is printed, all with the help of computers.

The invention of the printing press depended on the invention and refinement of paper in China. The Chinese have known the secrets of creating paper for centuries before, some would say even before the Egyptians. Several centuries before, China had developed a kind of "rag" paper, a cheap cloth-srap and plant-fiber substitute for cumbersome bark and bamboo strips which were a popular medium for writing at that time. Also long before Gutenberg invented the press, the Chinese had begun using ink, block printing and movable clay type technologies, all of which are combined together in the Gutenberg printing press.

The printing press works as follows: Each letter was carved into the end of a steel punch, which was then hammered into a small piece of copper called a blank. The copper impression was inserted into a mold and a molten alloy made of lead, antimony and bismuth was poured in. The alloy cooled quickly and the resulting reverse image of the letter attached to a lead base could be handled in minutes. The width of the lead base varied according to the letter's size, therefore the base of an "i" would not be nearly as wide as the base of a "w". The resulting alloy blocks were put together either by hand or by a linotype machine (see linotype). The resulting line of type was inserted into a frame. When all of the rows of type were in the frame the printer could put them in the press, ink them and print as many copies as required. Obviously type-setting was a slow process so very often this process was only used for books or newspapers for which there was a strong demand.