Electronic and digital era

Media Timeline

By lapulley
  • 1453

    Invention of the Printing Press

    The print press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany. This invention came along between 1453 and 1456. Her staff of printers produced the first so-called modern books. As a result of the books being cheaper to produce, printers were able to sell them for less; which made it easier for more people to buy them.

  • The Sedition Act

    The Federalist Party passed this act, which was the first major attempt to constrain the First Amendment. This act eventually solidified American support behind the notion of a free press.

  • The Electronic and Digital Eras

    This caused the rise of industry to completely transform everyday life. Factories replaced farms and became the main centers of work and production.

  • The Invention of the Telegraph

    The telegraph was invented in the 1840's. This was the first technology that made messages travel faster than human travel.

  • The Radio Act of 1927

    This act was created to restore order after the Radio Act of 1912. The Radio Act of 1927 said "licensees did not own their channels but could use them as long as they operated to serve the public interest, convenience, or necessity. As a result, the Federal Radio Commission was created.

  • Analog Goes Digital

    The arrival of the magnetic audiotape and tape players in the 1940's led to major inventions. For example: cassettes, stereophonic sound, and digital recording. The audiotape made it possible to record at one location and mix the sounds in a recording studio. As a result, the studio recording quality improved and sales skyrocketed in vinyl format.

  • The Creation of the Internet

    This was described as "the information superhighway". The internet eventually replaced books, newspapers, television, and radio. The internet was created in the 1950's, and exploited the power of digitization.

  • The Extension of the Copyright Period

    Congress extended the copyright period to the life of the author plus fifty years, or seventy five years for a corporate copyright owner. This was beneficial to artists as they could profit from creative works.

  • The Arrival of Cable News

    The arrival of CNN led to drastic changes for many people. Instead of only being able to watch the news in the afternoon, people were able to watch the news multiple times a day at any time.