On March 1, 1806, the first Estonian language newspaper, Tarto maa rahwa Näddali-Leht, was published, contrasting with the earlier publication titled Lühhikesest öppetusest which was not a newspaper but rather a brief teaching document. This edition reported on current events and was the work of local Lutheran pastors and educators, including Gustav Adolph Oldekopp and Johann Philipp von Roth. It was printed by Johann Michael Grenzius at the University of Tartu's printing house.

The launch of this newspaper was not without controversy; it faced strong opposition from the Baltic German nobility, who complained to imperial authorities about the paper. They believed that the existence of a newspaper in the Estonian language would incite peasant disobedience. The mission of the paper, as stated by its publishers, was to inform the rural population on important local affairs and educate them about their rights and circumstances.

The establishment of Tarto maa rahwa Näddali-Leht represented a pivotal moment in the Estonian national awakening, as it promoted the use of the Estonian language and gave a voice to the local populace. The opposition faced by the newspaper highlights the tensions between the ruling elites and the native Estonian speakers during a time of significant social stratification and cultural transformation in the region.