Timeline

  • 1440

    Invention of the Printing Press

    Johannes Gutenberg invents the movable-type printing press, revolutionizing the production of books and newspapers, making information widely accessible for the first time.
  • Invention of the Telegraph

    Samuel Morse develops the electric telegraph, enabling near instant long distance communication and laying the groundwork for electronic media.
  • Invention of the Telephone

    Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone, allowing real-time voice communication over distances, further shrinking the world.
  • First Radio Transmission

    Guglielmo Marconi successfully sends the first wireless radio signal, marking the birth of broadcast media.
  • First Television Broadcast

    The first public television broadcast is made, starting the visual mass media era.
  • Rise of Radio as Mass Media

    Radio becomes a household staple, providing news, entertainment, and propaganda, especially during WWII.
  • Introduction of Commercial Television

    Post-WWII boom leads to the widespread adoption of commercial TV broadcasting, changing news and entertainment consumption.
  • Launch of ARPANET

    The precursor to the internet, ARPANET is created, enabling digital communication that will revolutionize media dissemination.
  • World Wide Web Invented

    Tim Berners-Lee invents the web, enabling global information sharing and the birth of online mass media.
  • Rise of Social Media Platforms

    With the launch of the iPhone and platforms like Facebook and Twitter, social media transforms mass communication into interactive, user-driven media.