Evolution of Media: Newspapers, Radio, and Film

Printing press

The major invention created in 1454 by Johannes Gutenberg.

Mass distribution of information

How the printing press changed information sharing.

Gutenberg's business failure

He was a bad businessman and couldn't afford production costs.

Water-powered printing presses

What replaced hand-operated printing presses.

Printing press mechanics innovation frequency

Every 2 years.

Approval of printed materials in colonial America

King George had to approve all printed materials.

Reading in early America

Only the wealthy were allowed to read.

First newspaper in early America

Publick Occurrences by Benjamin Harris in Boston.

Publick Occurrences shutdown reason

It reported on romantic affairs involving the King of France's son's wife.

Freedom of the press in early America

Newspapers required royal consent to print.

James Franklin

Benjamin Franklin's older brother; jailed for publishing a newspaper without permission.

Benjamin Franklin's newspaper innovations

He improved readability, organized content, used legible type, added cartoons, and promoted journalism as an honorable profession.

Cartoons in newspapers

Used because many people couldn't read.

Political press

Newspapers that sided with political parties.

Declaration of Independence signers' names release delay

Fear of retaliation from the British Crown.

Freedom of speech and press guarantee

The Bill of Rights.

Number of newspapers by 1820

24 newspapers.

Yearly newspaper subscription cost in early 1800s

Around $250 (adjusted for today).

Requirements for mass-producing newspapers

Printing presses, literate readers, money, and a large population.

Steam-powered printing press

Allowed newspapers to be printed faster and cheaper (1830).

Printing speed of steam-powered press

4,000 copies per hour.

Impact of public education on newspapers

The rise of public schools (1835) increased literacy, allowing more people to read newspapers.

First Penny Press newspaper

The New York Sun by Benjamin Day.

Penny Press impact on newspapers

Made newspapers affordable (1 cent vs. 6 cents), included local news, crime, and entertainment, and focused on mass appeal.

Newspaper competition strategy

By targeting specific audiences and relying on advertising revenue.

Most popular newspaper in early 1800s

New York Herald (included financial news, opposed capital punishment, supported Manifest Destiny).

Focus of the New York Tribune

Social issues, workers' rights, women's rights, and reform movements.

Transportation improvement for newspapers

Railroads, which transported newspapers quickly.

War-time reporting innovation

'The Lead' (Who, What, When, Where, Why) - led to the 'Inverted Pyramid' style.

Technology's impact on newspapers

The telegraph improved news distribution speed.

Newspaper circulation increase (1870-1890)

It increased fivefold.

Driving factor for newspaper advertising costs

Circulation size.

Biggest newspaper competitors of late 1800s

Joseph Pulitzer vs. William Randolph Hearst.

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalized news that exaggerated stories to attract readers.

Pulitzer's newspaper innovation

More space for ads, accurate reporting, and investigative journalism.

Jazz Journalism

1920s newspapers that focused on crime, celebrities, and sensational stories.

Newspaper consolidation after WWI

The cost of producing newspapers increased.

USA TODAY

A major newspaper created in the 1980s known for shorter stories, colorful design, and flashy presentation.

Defining Features of Newspapers

Diverse content (local and international news), convenience (widely available), records history (serves as a historical document), and timely (reports current events quickly).

Guglielmo Marconi

Founded a major wireless company and pioneered radio communication.

Early 1900s Radio Development

American inventors advanced radio with dots and dashes and worked with General Electric.

Vacuum Tube Innovation

Enabled voice transmission instead of just Morse code.

1914 (WWI) Radio Control

U.S. government took control of radio for military use.

Post-WWI Radio Potential

The potential of radio for commercial and entertainment use was recognized.

RCA

Radio Corporation of America, formed in 1919 to develop and commercialize radio.

1920 Radio Profit Doubts

Many doubted radio's profitability.

David Sarnoff

Former Marconi employee and later head of RCA; envisioned the 'radio music box' for households.

Frank Conrad

Westinghouse engineer who built a garage transmitter, broadcasting music and sports, attracting an audience.

KDKA

First U.S. commercial radio station, established by Westinghouse in 1920, sparking national radio interest.

Early Radio Receivers

Difficult to use and powered by unreliable batteries.

1926 Radio Improvements

Radios improved with household electricity, better antennas, and simple controls.

1926-1930 Radio Sales

17 million radios sold; personal radio stations flourished.

WLS Chicago

Owned by a company rather than a broadcaster.

Rising Costs in Radio

Upgrading technology became expensive for stations.

First Radio Advertisement

1922: Queens Borough Realty - 5 ads for $300.

Radio Funding Model

Radio would be supported through advertisements.

First Radio Network

1926: Formed as one network across two stations.

NBC

National Broadcasting Company, established in 1926, owned multiple stations and later sold some, leading to ABC's creation.

Great Depression Advertising

$27 million spent on big-name talent for radio during the 1930s.

Radio Act of 1927

Established the Federal Radio Commission (FRC), issued licenses, regulated frequencies, and banned portable stations.

FM Radio

Developed as an improvement over AM, but initially only worked with new radios.

Edward R. Murrow

Broadcasted live from Europe during WWII, bringing real-time war reports to America.

Post-WWII Television Emergence

TV emerged, offering live images & sound, delaying FM radio's growth.

Radio Profits 1948-1952

Radio profits continued to rise despite TV competition.

1950s Specialized Radio Format

Stations targeted specific demographics.

1960s Top 40 Format

Standardized playlists, structured by the hour.

No-Duplication Law

Prevented AM and FM stations from airing identical content.

Key Characteristics of Radio

Portable, supplemental (listened to while multitasking), universal (accessible to most people), and selective (listeners can choose niche stations).

Thomas Edison

In 1877, Edison recited 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' into his machine, marking the first recorded sound.

Competition in Recorded Music Industry

Two key inventors competed: Emil Berliner, who patented the gramophone (flat disc), and Graphophone.

Jesse Lipncock

Originally manufactured drinking glasses and dreamt of controlling recording devices in the business world.

Phonograph

A device used for recording music, which was initially used for recording sound.

Nickelodeons

Coin-operated phonographs in arcades and amusement centers where customers could listen to music for five cents and two minutes.

Columbia Records

A major record label that emerged as a strong competitor to Thomas Edison's companies between 1900-1920.

Victor Talking Machine

A key player in the record industry that emerged during the early 20th century.

Victoria record player

The first record player introduced in 1906, resembling a piece of furniture.

Jazz Age

The 1920s period characterized by a desire for independence and creativity, often linked to African American roots.

Prohibition

A period in the 1920s when the popularity of radio grew, but record sales dropped by 50% by 1924.

Electric records

Introduced in 1924, these improved sound quality compared to earlier records.

Great Depression

A severe economic downturn that hit in 1929, causing record sales to drop by 95%.

Jukeboxes

Coin-operated record players that became popular in diners, drug stores, and restaurants during the Great Depression.

33 RPM

A long play album format that became a standard for albums after World War II.

45 RPM

A single play record format that became the preferred choice for singles by 1950.

78 RPM

An older record format that was used before the introduction of 33 RPM and 45 RPM.

Stereo sound

Introduced in 1954, it provided a more immersive listening experience compared to mono sound.

Rock 'n' Roll

A music genre that emerged in the mid-1950s, gaining massive popularity with artists like Bill Haley and Elvis Presley.

The British Invasion

A musical movement in the 1960s led by bands like The Beatles, who introduced a new style blending Blues with energetic sound.

Disco boom

A musical trend that emerged in the 1970s, characterized by dance music and vibrant nightlife.

Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'

An album released in the 1980s that revolutionized the music industry with its first meaningful music video.

CD

Compact Disc, which became popular in the 1980s as it was cheaper to produce than records and more profitable.

Digital formats

Music formats that emerged in the late 1990s and 2000s, including downloads and streaming services like Spotify.

Persistence of Vision

The biological phenomenon where our eyes continue to 'see' an image for a split second after it's gone, allowing us to perceive motion.

Early Motion Pictures

Motion pictures made in the 1800s using hand-drawn images, often in toys.

Edward Muybridge

A pioneer in motion pictures who set up 24 cameras in 1878 to capture the first motion picture effect.

Kinetoscope

A device for watching moving pictures, limited to one viewer at a time.

Nickelodeons

Early movie theaters that charged 5 cents for admission, relying on profitability through volume.

Three Key Pillars of Film

Production: Creating the films. Distribution: Getting films out to theaters. Exhibition: Showing the films in theaters.

DW Griffith

Filmmaker who took filmmaking to the next level with his film, 'The Birth of a Nation' (1915), a 3-hour Civil War drama that cost $110,000 to produce.

'The Birth of a Nation'

A 3-hour Civil War drama directed by DW Griffith, which was a success but controversial for its racist themes.

'Tolerance'

A film by DW Griffith (1916) that explored themes of injustice, featuring two African-American characters, George and Mortal Johnson.