Electronic and digital media plays an instrumental role in the communication of information. Through electronic and digital media, the world around us is ever-changing making us wonder if we can keep up with the technological advances. With the help of both electronic and digital media, communication has apparently been taken a notch higher. The purpose of the paper is to elaborate the role of technology in the society. The essay will commence by explaining the history and contemporary roles of media in society and how electronic technology has advanced. The paper will also expound on how today’s mass media employs technological innovations as well as analyze how the development of digital technology has affected the content and distribution of electronic media. The paper will then end by assessing how mass media gas change with technological developments.
The first form of media to be embraced by humans in human civilization was a cave drawing that took place 30 thousand years ago. Since that period, man has developed writings as well as ways of storing and disseminating information to the public. During the yesteryears, only a few wealthy people had access to education making verbal communication the widely embraced form of conveying information. The first camera that was used to capture still images was formulated during the industrial revolution era (Kovarik, 2015).
A few years later, the television that allowed people to view live images from the comfort of their homes was invented. The first ever known film was designed in the 1820s. Nevertheless, it took several years before it spread to other parts of the globe. The first cameras that were produced were cumbersome to use, and they requited high technological expertise to use. In the 19th century, however, cameras were more advanced, and the field of photojournalist commenced (Kovarik, 2015).
The technological innovation and advancement that has been witnessed in the world have led to a focus on the delivery of high-quality news. Unlike during the 90s, today’s print media contain colored and highly clear images. On the other hand, the black and white TV sets of the 1980s have been replaced with new televisions that embrace 3D images. The development of digital media has also significantly impacted on the content and distribution of mass media. Unlike in the yesteryears when the messages were mainly communicated through print media, the digital development has enabled information to be conveyed online. Moreover, the development of digital media has ensured that information is disseminated quickly since it can be accessed from any location on the online platform. As stated earlier also, today’s images embrace clear pictures that enhance the quality of the overall information conveyed (Escobar, 2016).
Moreover, the rapid technological developments that have been witnessed in the recent years have significantly impacted on the role of mass media. While mass media was traditionally taken as a way of transmitting news, today it is more than just that. For instance, today’s mass media educates the masses on a variety of broad topics such as health and other aspects of the society. Through technological advancement, mass media has also become widely embraced in the advertisement of goods and services that are produced by different companies (Escobar, 2016).
To sum up, it is apparently clear that mass media has gone through tremendous transformations. Technology innovation and creativity have played a significant role in promoting the quality of the news in mass media. While the traditional media embraced low-quality pictures, today’s media encompasses digital platforms that contain 3D images that are of high quality. On top of that, digital platforms like Twitter and Facebook have ensured that the information communicated spreads rapidly and widely.
- Escobar, A. (2016). The Impact of the Digital Revolution in the Development of Market and Communication Strategies for the Luxury Sector (Fashion Luxury). Central European Business Review, 5(2), 17.
- Kovarik, B. (2015). Revolutions in communication: Media history from Gutenberg to the digital age. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.
