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Jan 1, 600
Egyptian Papyrus Scrolls
Egyptian Papyrus is the earliest known form of paper. It is made from the papyrus plant. It is most famous for being used in ancient Egypt, but was also used throughout the Mediterranean region. -
Publick Occurences published
Publick Occurences, Both Foreign and Domestick was the first newspaper published in America. It lasted only one issue, as the government at the time did not agree with all of the view proposed within it. Additionally, this was about 100 years before the Bill of Rights was ratified, and there was no freedom of speech or freedom of press yet. -
John Peter Zenger Trial
John Peter Zenger was an early publisher, editor, and journalist. In late 1734, he was arrested becaused of his derogatory views of then colonial governor, William Cosby. During his trial he set a precedent that truth should be considered a defense for libel. This is what would eventually lead to freedom of press in he bill of rights. -
First magazine pubished in America
The American was the first magazne publiches in America. It had only three issues published. This is largely because literacy at these times was limited to nobles, a very small audience indeed. However, this helped pave the way for reading as a recreational activity later on. -
Bill of RIghts Ratified
The Bill of Rights was ratified in December of 1791. Parts of the Bill of Rights include freedom of speech and freedom of press. This allowed for publications to have less worry about being censored by the government, allowing for more easily widespread information. -
Associated Press Founded
The Associated Press is a collaborative effort by multiple news organizations and was founded in 1846. This represents the first time that news media companies worked together to get their messages to reach more people through a collaborative effort. -
Heinrich Hertz tranzmits radio waves
Heinrich Hertz was the first to discover that there are electromagnetic waves. These were later named "radio waves" and were the basis for the creation of the radio. -
First radio stations in U.S and Canada
The first Radio stations in America and Canada came about in the early 1920s. As the popularity of radio increased, the amount of information given out to the masses increased exponentionally. -
First Televised Presidential Debate
The first televised presidential debate featured Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. Interesting findings are that people who listened to the debate on the radio seemed to think that Nixon had won, but others who watched it on television, seemed to believe that Kennedy was the victor. This shows the impact that television had on the presidential race, as the public was able to make decisions based on what they saw. -
First portable cassette player
The stereobelt is invented and is the first time the public has portable personal music. This invention eventually led to more popular products such as the Walkman and iPod. -
Phoenician Alphabet
The Phoenician Alphabet is the earliest form of language that used characters for letters instead of pictures for communication. The symbols used for this alphabet became the ancestors of other early written languages, such as Aramaic and Hebrew. -
Sumerian Clay Tablets
Ancient Sumerian clay tablets are the earliest known form of written language. The symbols are also commonly known as "cuneiform script."
