THE EVOLUTION OF COMMUNICATION

Evolution of Communication follows the Progress of Civilizations which, in turn, moves in response to changing Cultural Technologies. The Transfer of Complex Information, Ideas and Concepts from One Individual to Another, or to a Group, underwent extreme Evolution since Pre-Historic Times. It has been 30,000 years later since the first recorded evidence of Written Communication and it is still dramatically changing. Nowadays, Perhaps, faster than ever before due to Amazing Advancement in Technologies in recent years.

Ancient Era: Shouting

The Ancient Early Man Used to shout for him to be heard by others far to him. 

Before Written Communication

Human beings exchanged Information, News and Ideas, long before they could write. They spread news by Word of Mouth on crossroads, at campfires or at markets. Messengers Raced back from battlefields with reports on Victories or Defeats. Criers walked through villages announcing Births, Deaths, Marriages and Divorces. Stories of unlikely occurrences spread, in the words of one anthropological report, "like wildfire" through preliterate societies.

25,000-30,000 B.C: Cave Paintings

Pictures on Cave Walls is the beginning of Written Communication for the Human Kind. First Humans’ Painted descriptive Pictures on Cave Walls found in caves of Southern France and Spain. 

3500 B.C:  Clay Tablets

One of the earliest examples of Pictorial Writing was found in the excavation of Uruk in Mesopotamia, dating from 3500 B.C. The Sumerians developed “Cuneiform” (Pictographs) Writing on Wet Clay Tablets. 

3250 B.C:  Invention of Earliest Paper

The First ever known Paper was produced by The Egyptians in Egypt by 3500 BC. The central pulp of Papyrus reed was split, dried and glued together.

2900 B.C: Writing on Woods

In 2900 B.C. later The Egyptians developed “Hieroglyphic Writing” in which they used religious Literature on Papyrus and Woods, which combined Logo-graphic and Alphabetic Elements. 
(Papyrus: A thick type of paper made from the pith of the papyrus plant)

1900 B.C: Writing on Bones

The Chinese Independently developed their very own style of writing on Bones.

200 B.C: Fire & Smoke Signals 

Fire & Smoke signals are the oldest form of Visual Communication. Simplistic in design and execution, they were used first used in 200 BC to send messages along the Great Wall of China.

150 B.C: Alphabet through Smoke

Greek Historian Polybius devised a system of smoke signals that were visual representations of the alphabet. This meant that messages could easily be sent by holding sets of torches in pairs.

105 B.C: Invention of Paper

Tsai Lun of China Invented Paper as we know it today. Chinese made Paper by mixing finely chopped Mulberry Bark and Hemp Rags with Water, Mashing it Flat, and then Pressing out the water and Letting it Dry in the Sun.

500-1500 A.D: Pigeon Posting

Domesticated Pigeons are first developed in ancient Egypt, and the pigeon loft or dovecote subsequently becomes a living larder for many communities. In Baghdad, in the 11th century, the idea first occurs of making use of the tendency of certain pigeons to fly straight home from wherever they may be. A rapid postal service (always back to base) becomes possible.

In the 12th century A.D Sultan Nur-ud-din built Pigeon Lofts and Dovecotes in Cairo and Damascus, where Pigeons were used to carry messages from Egypt to cities as far away as Baghdad in modern day Iraq.

600 A.D: Invention of the Art of Printing

The Chinese were also the first to invent the art of printing. They made Wooden Blocks to Print Letters. This was started during the period of the Tang Dynasty in 600 A.D.

684 A.D: Oldest Printed Work

The oldest known surviving printed work in a woodblock is a Buddhist scripture of 684 A.D.

868 A.D: First Printed Book

“Diamond Sutra” (Buddhist Text) written by Wang Chick in 868 A.D. was the first printed book published in China.

11^th Century A.D: New Dimension to Printing

Print with movable Clay type was invented by Pi Shang of China in 11^th century A.D.

1377: Buddhist Scriptures Printing

Some copies of the Buddhist scriptures printed in 1377 are preserved in the museums in China.

1439: Invention of Printing Press

Germany’s Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of Printing Press (although the Chinese had a crude version of printing press) was revolutionary. He had developed printing technology around 1439. He also invented an Oil-based Ink for Printing.

1450: Printing of Bible

Gutenberg printed the Bible in 1450. He used movable Printing blocks for the book.

1556: Printing Technology in India

Printing Technology came to India in 1556 by the Jesuit Priests and Christian Missionaries.  

The Invention of Paper and Printing Technologies paved the way to emergence of Books and Newspapers and revolutionized Communication and Mass Communication and Journalism as well.

MASS COMMUNICATION

Mass Communications is the Transmission of Information to a Large Numbers of People through the Mass Media.

Mass Media (Channels or Medium): It includes Newspapers, Magazines, Radio, Television, Film, Social Networking Sites, Websites, Blogs and any Technology that allows for the Dissemination of Information to the Public.

Definitions: Denis McQuail in his Book “Towards Sociology of Mass Communication” defines The Term Mass Communication as “Institutionalized Forms of Public Message Production and Dissemination on a Large Scale”.

 “The Term Mass Communication Indicates the Entire Systems within which Messages are Produced, Selected, Transmitted, Received and Respond to”

- Denis McQuail (Towards Sociology of Mass Communication)

The Imparting or Exchanging of Information to a Wide Range of People.

Mass (Lack of Individuality): The Word “Mass” means “Common People”.

It essentially means Group, A Large “Heterogeneous” Unidentified Group of People.

Usually, Shapeless, Unruly, Undisciplined, almost Equivalent to a Mob.

Communication: The Imparting or Exchanging of Information by Speaking, Writing, or Using other Channels or Medium.

Communication is simply the Act of Transferring Information from One place to another.


Mass communication is a process in which a Person, Group of People, or an Organization sends a message through a channel of Communication to a Large Group of Anonymous and Heterogeneous People (either the general public or a segment of the general public) and Organizations.

Mass Communication is an Expensive Process. Unlike Interpersonal communication, Feedback for Mass Communication is usually slow and indirect.

Mass communication is mostly a One-Way Process, with Little Feedback from the Audience, although the Internet is bringing some changes, with options that allow people to comment or otherwise provide Feedback.

Role of Mass Communication: Surveillance, Interpretation, Socialization, Democratization, Entertainment. 

The Field of Mass Communications: Journalism, Advertising, Public Relations, Management, Cinema, Political or other Campaigns, etc. 

JOURNALISM

JOURNALISM

The Art and Work of Gathering, Processing and Dissemination of News & Information is called Journalism.

Gathering :  The work of Collecting News from different Sources for Publication or Broadcast.

Processing : It includes the work of Reporting, Writing, Recording, Shooting, Editing and Publishing or Broadcasting or Webcasting of News.

Dissemination : Spreading the News and Information to the Mass by different Media.

MEDIA

Print               -           Newspapers and Magazines etc.

Electronic      -           Radio and T.V

New Media     -           Internet (News Portal, Blogs etc.)

Origin : The Word Journalism (or Journalist and Journal) is derived from the french JOURNAL which in terms comes from the Latin word DIURNAL (stands for Daily).

Definition : Journalism is a discipline that deals with Collecting, Analyzing, Verifying and Presenting Information regarding Current Events, Trends and Issues to the People.