Dan Brekke introduces himself as our local Apiculturalist with a terrific analysis of the origin of the word "Bee" as the name for newspapers. You can read his post on his bee blog.
He failed to mention the link to ancient Greece, where Plato was referred to as the "Athenian Bee" for the "honeyed words" that came from his mouth. Similarly, Xenophon was called the "Attic Bee."
I believe that there are a number of different reasons for publications to have hit upon "Bee" as a name -- certainly one is that the Bee is viewed as an industrious insect. Also one that is social. Of course it is also interesting that news is sometimes referred to as the "buzz." But my favorite story about the name "Bee" for a newspaper as this one (from the Sacramento Bee) about a reporter's visit to relatives in the old communist bloc:
If the name "Bee" sounds odd to some American readers, it was positively astounding to some East Germans I visited a few years ago, before that country ended its Communist domination.
They listened gravely to my explanations, and were fascinated also to learn how journalism is practiced in this country.
"You mean to say," said my uncle in Meissen, "that when your newspaper criticizes, say, your president for doing something wrong, nothing happens to the paper? Nothing?"
That's right, uncle. Nothing. Oh, perhaps the president is angered with the paper. But basically, nothing happens. The paper keeps right on publishing.
He pondered that a long while, trying to grasp what was for him an unfamiliar system of unfettered news reporting. Later, we walked into town so he could introduce me to some of his cronies.
"This is my nephew from the U.S., and he works for a newspaper that is called The Bee. Yes, The Bee. And do you know why they call it The Bee? I'll tell you. In America, unlike here in our workers' republic, bees know how to sting."
We hope you enjoy our efforts in making this your Personal Bee - a new kind of community, filled with industrious activity, bringing you the buzz and celebrating the American tradition of unfettered news reporting that some may think of as honey and others as a sting.
Well, it's clear we're not done with the subject. I'll have more to add ... soon.
Posted by: Dan | January 18, 2006 at 11:31 PM