Introduction to Mass Communication

Ever since Johannes Gutenberg invented the first printing press in 1453, mass communication has been escalating. By the late nineteenth century, the telegraph, the telephone, and the photograph had all been invented and changed the way the world communicated. People could communicate around the world with the laying of the transatlantic telegraph wires. By the turn of the twentieth century telephony wires had been installed in many parts of the world including Manhattan New York. For industrialized, European empires such as Britain, communication was crucial in running an empire that spanned four continents. In the world wars, communication became crucial, and the affect changed modern history. During the two world wars, inventions such as the radio, and the television greatly affected the outcome and more innovations were an outcome of the wars themselves. In the 1960's and 70's, Satellites were launched into outer space, now satellites give information to us through many forms. Today, mass communication has also turned into mass media, a superhighway for information on anything of interest. Getting up to the minute information has not only become a high-speed luxury, but also a crucial necessity. The internet, the cell phone, and the computer, have all come together to form a seamlessly integrated super network that delivers any info to our finger tips.
These inventions and innovations no undoubtedly changed history and the way countries run. These advances in communication changed the way diplomacy is conducted. Censorship became a big issue as during times of war; the issue still today gets debated over the right to the freedom of press. During the world wars issues over propaganda, true and false, were raised. Communication is the root to the development and spreading of human intellect and has changed history time and again. Communication had a major advancement and impact on the 20th century. It will be interesting to see how mass communication of propaganda affected the world wars and what other technology was used during this time period.