中國(guó)近代報(bào)刊的產(chǎn)生和發(fā)展，是和外國(guó)資本主義入侵、天津開(kāi)埠的過(guò)程相關(guān)聯(lián)的。早期的報(bào)紙和刊物并沒(méi)有嚴(yán)格的區(qū)分，有的雖名為報(bào)紙，卻也刊載論著。天津首家報(bào)紙，是清光緒十二年(1886)陽(yáng)歷5月創(chuàng)辦的英文《中國(guó)時(shí)報(bào)》,有“外人在華北的圣經(jīng)”之稱(chēng)。
同年四月十三日(5月16日),中文版天津《時(shí)報(bào)》 出版(日?qǐng)?bào)),這是天津第一份中文報(bào)紙。這兩個(gè)第一的報(bào)紙，都是由天津海關(guān)稅務(wù)司英籍德人德璀琳和怡和洋行總理笳臣集股創(chuàng)辦、天津印刷公司刊行的。中文版《時(shí)報(bào)》由英人米切(倫敦《泰晤士報(bào)》駐津通訊員、李鴻章的顧問(wèn))任主編。光緒十六年(1890)六月，李鴻章聘請(qǐng)英國(guó)傳教士李提摩太任主筆，歷時(shí)兩年。《時(shí)報(bào)》除注重商業(yè)新聞外，每日刊載時(shí)論一篇，7日刊圖一幅，鼓吹中國(guó)實(shí)行新政。
光緒十七年(1891)五月，中文版《時(shí)報(bào)》發(fā)行5年自行?？?。光緒二十一年(1895),李提摩太將刊載在中文版《時(shí)報(bào)》上的論著匯編成《時(shí)事新論》一書(shū)，由上海廣學(xué)會(huì)出版。此后，天津的報(bào)紙如雨后春筍涌現(xiàn)，使天津成為近代中國(guó)北方新聞中心。

The birth and development of modern newspapersin China was closely related with the invasion of theImperialists and Tianjin`s opening-up as a treaty port. Atthe beginning,there was no clear demarcation betweennewspapers and magazines. Some newspaper at thattime also carried theses. In May 1886 (the 12th yearof Emperor Guangxu),a English newspaper,"ChineseTimes",the first newspaper in Tianjin,was founded.It was regarded as "the Bible for foreigners living inNorth China".
On April 13 of the same year,the Times Daily(Chinese version) was published as the first Chinesenewspaper in Tianjin. These two newspapers were co-invested by Dertring,head of Taxation Department ofTianjin Customs,and the General Manager of YiheYanghang. The Chief Editor of the Times Daily was aBritish person,a correspondent of Thames in Tianjinand its adviser was Governor-General Li Hongzhang.In June 1890,Li invited a British missionary Latouretteas the chief editor for two years. Besides business news,the Times Daily also carried commentaries everyday anda picture every one week in order to promote the "NewDeal" in China.
In May of 1891,the Times Daily stoppedpublication after five years of operation. In 1895,Latourette compiled all his commentaries in TimesDaily into a book "Shishi Xinlun" (New Commentarieson Current Affairs) which was published by ShanghaiGuangxuehui Association. At that time,manynewspapers have mushroomed in Tianjin,turning it thecenter of news in North China.