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History of Mass Media

By NatalieRobbins
  • 1440

    1440- The Invention of the Printing Press

    1440- The Invention of the Printing Press
    Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in Germany. This revolutionized the distribution of information and made it possible to make books and pamphlets quickly and in large quantity.

  • 1605- The First Newspaper

    1605- The First Newspaper
    The first newspaper was published in Strasbourg, Holy Roman Empire which was called “Relation aller Fürnemmen und gedenckwürdigen Historien”. This started printed news as a form of communication.

  • 1830s- The Penny Press

    1830s- The Penny Press
    The penny press was introduced to the United States, mostly with the launch of the New York Sun in 1833. This made newspapers affordable and accessible to the public and expanded the reading and influence in the public on a large scale.

  • 1895- The Radio

    1895- The Radio
    Guglielmo Marconi successfully transmitted the first radio signal. This caused the radio to be a new form of mass communication and to soon become a dominant media for news, entertainment, and propaganda.

  • 1920- The First Radio News Broadcast

    1920- The First Radio News Broadcast
    KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania aired the first commercial radio broadcast to share about the results of the US presidential election.

  • 1930s- The Golden Age of the Radio

    1930s- The Golden Age of the Radio
    The radio became the primary source of entertainment and news for people worldwide. It had programs from News broadcast to dramas and comedies, and became a powerful tool for shaping public opinion.

  • 1950s- Television

    1950s- Television
    Television became a dominant medium in American households. The first nationwide TV broadcasts began and shows and live coverage demonstrated the TV influence on culture and politics.

  • Launch of CNN

    Launch of CNN
    The launch of Cable News Network by Ted Turner introduced the concept of 24-hour News coverage, changing the way news was reported and consumed. This marked the beginning of continuous real time news as a standard expectation.

  • 1990s- The Internet

    1990s- The Internet
    The commercialization of the Internet led to the rise of online news, the beginning of social media, and digital communication worldwide.

  • 2004- The Rise of Social Media

    2004- The Rise of Social Media
    The launch of Facebook, followed by Twitter, YouTube and many other social media platforms, revolutionized mass media by establishing user generated content and social networking. Social media has now become a powerful tool for communication, news, global movements, and much more around the world.