Key Moments in Mass Media History

Printing Press

Jan 1, 1440

Around 1440, Johannes Gutenberg, A German inventor created the Printing Press. For the first time it was possible to make large amounts of copies at once using rapid metal movable type

First Newspaper

Jan 1, 1605

The 1st Newspaper is accredited to the German paper "aller Fumemmen und gedenckqurdigen Historien" (Account of all distinguished and commemorable news) which was printed by Johann Carolus in 1605

First Magazine Published

Jan 1, 1731

"The Gentleman's Magazine" published by Edward Cave in London of 1731

First Advertisement

Jun 1, 1836

Advertisements for business and personal have been found in artifacts of ancient civilization including Greece and Pompeii. The first paid advertisement was in the French newspaper "La Presse" in June of 1836

Invention of Radio

Jan 1, 1895

Many people contributed to the invention of radio. James Clerk Maxwell predicted radio waves existed in the 1860s and Heinrich Rudolph Hertz demonstrated that electric current could be projected into space as radio waves. The first sent and received radio signal was sent by Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi in Italy of 1895

Invention of Television

Sep 7, 1927

Philo Farnsworth demonstrated the first working television with amplifier tube technology on September 7th 1927

Invention of the Computer

Dec 1, 1943

Accredited as the first electric programmable cumputer, "The Colossus", was developed by Tommy Flowers and first demonstrated in December 1943

Invention of the Internet

Oct 29, 1969

After the launch of Sputnik the US military created the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) which developed the world wide web and the first launch was from UCLA on October 29 1969