World Development of mass media

Before 19^th century

Early forms of transmitting news began with word of mouth; news was limited to what someone saw and retold. There have also always been informal networks of travelers and traders. The medium of communication developed from the clay tablets of Mesopotamia in Egypt and Greece.

In 59 BC roman emperor Julius Caesar published the Acta Diurna. He wants to inform the public about important social and political happening. So, he ordered to upcoming events posted in major cities that were Acta Diurna. Written on a large board and displayed in popular places, Acta Diurna kept citizens informed about government activities, military campaigns or trials and executions.

Before Acta diurnal appeared in Rome, paper invented in china in 105 BC. Then in fourth century first wooden printing press invented in china, symbols carved on wooden block.

In 1455 Johannes Gutenberg invented a printing press with metal movable type. At first he secretly kept his technology for some years. Later he published holy bible. One hundred copies of bible were already published till his death in 1460's decade.

After the development of printing press newsletters and pamphlets were published and being circulated in German cities, by the late 15^th century. Even in the ancient and early medieval times bulletins, news bulletins and pamphlets and other propaganda materials were used to be posted on the walls. Royal order and proclamations were also posted on the walls or inscribed on the stone. Kings had used spies or agents to get the news from the other king of state.

Between 1560-1609 in countries like Germany and Switzerland news pamphlets or news-sheets were published. That kind of newsletters and news-sheets contain war news, economic situation, social customs and news about human interest. From the half of 17^th century news began to appear as a regular and frequent publication. The first modern newspapers were published in France, Germany and England. The newspapers consisted news from Europe and America. They rarely used to cover domestic issues. In 1621 English news-sheets started from UK.

London Gazette was the first newspaper founded in 1665 and Daily Courant published in 1704 was the first daily newspaper in UK. And first newspaper Public Occurrences appeared in America in 1690, Zeitung in 1700s from Germany and Bengal Gazette in India in 1780. at the initial era of newspaper there was press censorship in Europe and America. British government imposed license system but scholars like john Milton condemned the system. Daily courant (1704), Tatlor(1704) and spectator(1711) from UK were the popular at that time.

A magazine called Gentlemen published the activities of parliament and gained the popularity because at that time government had banned parliament reporting. In 1785 john walterI published daily universal register later it changed its name as Times. The invention of the different types of technology made the journalism easier.

19^th century journalism

19^th century was the significant era of the development of journalism. Fifty countries have already started to publish daily and weekly newspaper in this century. There were many development of printing technology. The Times changed its printing press which was operated by steam power which had the power to print 1100 paper per hour. At that time industrial revolution happened in the western countries which transformed the entire sector. In the 1860 Times again changed its printing press which could publish 10,000 papers per hour in both sides.

The rapid expansion of newspaper during the 19^th century was influenced by the improvements of the printing technology. In 1833 Benjamin Day began to sell his New York Sun only in 1 penny, after that penny press era began in the journalism history. American press had also practiced the penny press to make the newspaper more popular. Penny press made a record in the modern journalism history.

To compete with the cheap and popular newspaper New York journal and New York world have been published. They published the news with more sensationalize and became popular. The concept of yellow journalism also coined in the same time. In Britain Telegraph sold 200 thousand copies and set a new record. And Daily Mail the tabloid newspaper also set another record with the sold of 1 million copies.

In the same era news agencies also established, i.e. AFP in 1845, AP in 1849 and Reuters in 1851, the major news agencies in the world. The popular magazines also began to published like Times, Newsweek, The Nation etc. Asian countries also got the chances to taste different types and languages newspaper and magazine. In the same era Times of India, Amrit Bazar, Statesman, The Hindu of India plays the vital role to get freedom from the British colony. At the same period SudhaSagar was published by Motiram Bhatta in 1899 in Nepal. Christian missionaries published the modern newspaper from the china. During the end of the 19^th century there was 1200 newspaper being published from Germany.

In the 19^th century journalism experienced the different types of technology. Rotary press, electric press, development of half tone block, telegraph, typewriter, telephone, steam rail(1825), car(1865), photography made the journalism more easier. At the end of this century film technology also developed.

20^th century journalism (key date of technology development)

First radio station- 1915 in USA

Regular radio transmission- 1920 in USA

First radio in UK- 1922, BBC

Experiment of Television- 1927 in USA

Regular TV transmission- 1936 in UK, BBC

Regular TV transmission in USA- 1936 (but TV development stopped during the Second World War)

FM technology- 1937

Colour TV- 1950s

Satellite technology- 1960

Internet