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Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, allowing for the mass production of books and newspapers. This was the start of spreading information quickly to a wider audience.
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Newspapers like The New York Sun began to sell for just a penny, making news affordable and available to a broader audience. This led to the growth of mass media in America.
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The first radio broadcast was made by KDKA in Pittsburgh in 1920. This marked the beginning of radio as a mass medium, bringing news, entertainment, and music into people’s homes.
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In 1936, the BBC began regular television broadcasts, introducing moving images as a new form of mass media. Television quickly became a popular way to consume information and entertainment.
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The first paid TV commercial aired on NBC in 1941. This marked the beginning of television advertising, which would become a major part of how television made money.
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Publick Occurrences, the first American newspaper, was published in Boston in 1690. Although it was shut down after just one issue, it marked the beginning of printed news in America.
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In the 1960s, programs like CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News became national staples. Television became the primary source of news for millions of Americans.
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In 1980, CNN became the first channel to offer 24-hour news coverage. This revolutionized the way people consumed news, allowing them to stay informed at any time of day.
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In the 1990s, the internet changed how people accessed news and information. Websites like Yahoo! and Google made it easy to search and find news online.
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In 2004, Facebook was launched, and soon after, other platforms like Twitter and YouTube followed. Social media changed the way news is shared and consumed, with people becoming both viewers and contributors.