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10,000 BCE
Art expressions as the original Mass Media
Before settlements of hunter gatherer style humans developed their own languages to share ideas, events and pieces of information were shared in the form of drawn representations. An example of this would be cave drawings found of the early humans. This form of media stuck around and evolved even after most humans spoke some form of language and eventually turned into cultural icons such as Egyptian hieroglyphics. -
6000 BCE
The evolution of human language
When hunter gatherer groups began to come together to form small communities, they would develop their own shared languages in order to effectively communicate important current information to one another. As communities grew and formed the first civilizations and their sub civilizations, spoken language allowed events and news to be carried from village to village by story men. -
Jul 3, 618
Books
Once Spoken language evolved throughout cultures, so did ways to write it down. Some of the first books began appearing around this time in China where paper was invented. Before paper, stone and bones were used for writing. Most books were philosophical or religious. -
Jan 1, 1440
Invention of Printing Press
civilizations have grown enormously to this point, with books and writings being popular with the masses. A fellow named Johannes Gutenberg made a huge breakthrough with his invention of the printing press allowing for works of literature to be mass produced for the first time, ending the need to copy books one by one. -
Invention of newspaper
The concept of the newspaper had already existed over many different cultures at this time but this time period introduces the American newspaper being mass produced for the first time to be a source of information and news to all countrymen. -
Invention of Phonograph
This day marks the invention of Edison's phonograph. Which gave mankind the ability to record sounds for the first time. This would go on to birth the recording industry which would become one of the biggest representations of culture to the masses. -
First Radio Broadcast
A radio stationary by the name of KDKA out of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania put out the first commercially recognized radio broadcast on this date. Radio would become one of the main sources of media, news, and entertainment for many years and is still relevant today. People would eventually have personal radios for their homes. -
Televisions made available
Philo Farnsworth is the man we give credit to for creating the first models of the televisions. Television was the main form of mass media for house holds for many years. It supplied information about current events, entertaining shows that reflected and affected culture, and advertisements for current businesses who would buy commercial time on TV networks -
Internet
The internet has taken mass media to the next level by offering a virtually endless amount of information and cultural content to anyone who has their own personal computer or smart device. -
Social Media
Social Media has become the newest mass media craze. The first social media platforms began appearing around 1997. There is such a large variety of used platforms at current day with each seeing huge numbers of people sharing information with one another and the world via pictures, videos and written posts.
