Final answer:
The statement is true; early newspaper advertising enabled the growth of a free press that could afford to expose corrupt practices and criticize powerful interests, thus contributing to the development of a more informed society.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, early newspaper advertising did play a significant role in the development of a free press which, alongside the growth in literacy and journalist numbers, allowed for the criticism of powerful interests. Newspapers, supported by advertising revenue and sometimes by political parties, fostered a diverse set of viewpoints.
This resulted in an environment where muckraking journalism could flourish, exposing scandalous business and governmental practices, ultimately contributing to societal changes like the introduction of the Pure Food and Drug Act.
Throughout the various eras of journalism, from the penny press to the yellow journalism period, and eventually to the emergence of a more professional, unbiased press, advertising was a fundamental economic supports. The ability of the press to carry out investigative journalism, often revealing uncomfortable truths to the public, was in part facilitated by the financial stability provided by advertising.