The mass media include a wide variety of forms, including television, newspapers, films, magazines, radio, advertisements, video games, and CDs. They are referred to as ‘mass’ media because they reach mass audiences – audiences comprised of very large numbers of people. They are also sometimes referred to as mass communications. For many in your generation, it is probably difficult to imagine a world without some form of mass media and communications. The first modern mass media institution began with the development of the printing press. Although the history of print in certain societies dates back many centuries, the first attempts at printing books using modern technologies began in Europe. |