"I work in a modern tower block office in an alley where an Internet was invented in the 15th century"

Who can resist a blog post that starts this way? If you too can’t, then read this piece from Charlie Beckett. Here’s a taster:

I work in a modern tower block office in an alley where an Internet was invented in the 15th century.

Let me explain.

After about 1422 Henry V started writing his letters in English instead of Latin. These were the documents that allowed him to exercise power. They were the business email of the time. Their purpose was to make and carry out the laws of the land. But they were often also made public as a way of letting everyone know what was going on. They told the English people about everything from battles to taxes. So they  were also the journalism of the age…