Media are the different communication tools or media used to transmit and store data or information. The word refers generally to components of today’s mass communications media sector, including broadcast media, print media, television, radio, film, photography, online media, book publishing, and the music business. The media can be used for all of these activities, but it is mostly used for transmitting information. But it also encompasses the history of media as well as the process of getting media into a usable form. This article covers the development of media over time and their various forms.
The early forms of media were recorded sounds and images from the ancient world. These early forms of media were very different from the media we know today. The ancient systems of media did not include digital technologies and the earliest forms of web media do not include audio and visual in their makeup. These early forms of media had a strong influence on how we think and communicate today. The ancient Greek and Egyptian societies, for instance, produced a considerable body of literature through phonetic writing, pictorial representation, and spectacle. Much of this was recorded in sounds that could be deciphered by experts.
While most forms of classical media were largely controlled by the government, broadcast media includes independent productions and broadcasts of events beyond the range of the state or organized media. This includes anything from news broadcasts on radio and television to wire services and audio and video podcasts. This type of media is considered non-traditional since most newspapers, magazines, and broadcast networks are now entirely dependent on the revenue generated from advertisers who pay for space in the newspapers or magazines.
While classical and print media is largely dependent on advertisers, digital media is largely independent. Most online publications and companies rely on small independent publishing houses that rely on donations from readers and advertisers to sustain themselves. Some notable digital media outlets include the BBC, Al Jazeera English, and Yahoo! Answers.
The rapid growth of social media has posed a new challenge to traditional media. Social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, have become an important tool for individuals and businesses to connect and form alliances. For decades, the newspaper was the primary source of information for most Americans. While the newspaper still accounts for a large percentage of overall print media sales, the decline of the newspaper industry has led to the emergence of magazines, pamphlets, and online journals. In terms of distribution, many news organizations now outsource print and television news to online sources, while smaller publications have also experienced a dramatic decline in profit and circulation.
As newspapers and magazines become more expensive, they are viewed less as a vital part of American society and more as commodities that are prone to falling prices because of lack of circulation. Digital publications have capitalized on this tendency to provide a cheap and convenient alternative to newspapers and magazines, while giving readers the same content and experience that they would find in a traditional publication. Although some traditional news sources such as Fox News and CNN have attempted to mimic the appearance and format of digital publications, they have fallen short in terms of both content and distribution. Since these sources often receive little exposure in the media and are rarely read, it is unlikely that any amount of media coverage will push these forms of media into the status of “traditional” sources of news.