Frank Leslie's citizen journalism

At the National Press Club in Washington there's a framed copy of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper covering the Dred Scott case in the middle of the 19th Century.

Right at the top of Column 1 are these words:

"We shall be happy to receive personal narratives, including adventures and incidents, for every person who pleases to correspond with our paper.

"We take this opportunity of returning our thanks to our numerous artistic correspondents throughout the country, for the many sketches we are constantly receiving from them of the news of the day."