1. A History in Mass Communication
The First 3 Information Revolutions

2. There are six information revolutions:
Eras in Communication
There are six information revolutions:
Oral/Writing
Printing
Mass Media Revolution
Entertainment
Communication Toolshed Home
Information Highway

3. Pre-Mass Communication
Oral communication
Circulated slowly through poets, teachers, and tribal storytellers
The Socrates Method: Public conversations and debates
Primary form of spreading news
Working class people were illiterate
Written communication
Phoenicia's invented the alphabet
Papyrus: Material from Egypt from the pithy stem of a water plant, used in sheets throughout the ancient Mediterranean
Greeks made it flourish around 8th century B.C.
Made knowledge boundless.

4. Oral v. Written
Many philosophers believed that the written word would kill oral tradition.
Socrates felt it would threaten debate where as Plato tried to banish poetry because he thought it was not as rigorous.
Connect to today: Do you feel that the growth of communication has “cheapen” the way we communicate? Think of how communication is now (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, reality TV, etc.)

5. Printing Revolution
China is credited for developing paper around 100 B.C.
Began in Europe around the second half of the 15th century
German Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press and movable metallic type
Printing spread information through society and marked the start of the modern world. Combined three critical elements:
Machine replaced the system of hand-copies
Duplication happened more rapidly
Faster production brought down cost per unit so it made books affordable.
People started to resist traditional clerical authority and also think for themselves because knowledge was available.

6. Mass Media Revolution
Began in western Europe and eastern United States around 19th century.
With the advancements in paper production and printing press, the telegraph was invented.
The telegraph started the transformation of communication, which was continued by film, radio, and television.
For the first time newspapers and magazines reached our to communities
Photography was invented
Public school and libraries rapidly increased and literacy became important
Mass media made it possible to be involved in culture and all aspects of life. Think of the following vocabulary:
Communication: The creation and use of symbol systems that convey information and meanings
Culture: The symbols of expression that individuals, groups, and societies use to make sense of daily life and articulate their values
Mass Media: Culture links individuals to their shared and contested values, mass media circulates those values; culture industries.
Mass communication: The process of designing cultural messages and stories and delivering them to large and diverse audience

7. The First Libraries
Ancient Egyptians temples held collections of writing mainly about religion and rituals.
Referred to as “House of Life”
Archives, not true libraries
Literacy was apart of government or temple bureaucracy, not for education