Christian missionaries installed the first printing press in South India in 1550. The second one was installed in Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu in 1578 and the third one was in 1601 at Vipicotta in Malabar Coast by Christian missionaries. At first, the aim was to publish religious books or pamphlets.

The first newspaper or India was Bengal Gazette started on January 29, 1780. It was commonly known as Hicky Gazette after the publisher James Augustus Hicky. It was a two-sheet Gazette. The published had claimed it a ' weekly political and commercial paper open to all parties but influenced by none.' However , Hicky was sued for libel and imprisoned.