Media, Technology, and Society: From Broadcast to Digital

Introduction

This paper offers a brief summary and review of several topics pertaining to media, modern technology, and the overall paradigm shaped by the combination of the two. The topics covered include the historical and contemporary roles of media in society, how the chemical and electronic technologies of photography, recording, and transmission have advanced from their initial discovery to the present, how the mass media makes use of these technological innovations, how the development of digital technology has affected the content, distribution, and style of electronic media, and how the role of mass media has changed alongside these developments. At least two peer-reviewed sources are consulted throughout. While there is much more to life than media and technology, there is absolutely no question that both thoroughly envelop the daily lives of most Americans.

The Historical and Contemporary Roles of Media

When media first came into its own, there were very few channels — essentially the major over-the-air broadcast networks. These networks, along with newspapers that were widely read at the time, served as the primary sources of news for the general public. Cable television followed, dramatically increasing the number of available channels and media streams. Not long thereafter came the cable news networks — first CNN, then eventually Fox News, MSNBC, and others — giving rise to what became known as the "24-hour news cycle." Since then, social media and "new media" outlets have proliferated, and there are now essentially limitless sources of media available on the internet, on cable and satellite television, or both. We are even approaching a point where cable television itself is becoming somewhat obsolete, though that transition is happening gradually (Jung & Walden, 2015).

Technological Advances in Photography and Transmission

Television was originally broadcast over the air, much like radio. As wiring infrastructure and transmission technology developed, however, the industry shifted to line-based media delivery. Today, there is a decided move back toward wireless methods — satellite, Wi-Fi, and cellular — though these modern wireless technologies are far more advanced and capable than the over-the-air transmissions of earlier decades. Photography has undergone a similarly dramatic transformation, shifting from a film-based medium requiring chemical development to one that is entirely electronic. Hard copies and prints are produced only when specifically needed or desired; quite often, the entire photographic process remains digital from capture to storage (Vaast, 2013).

Conclusion

The presence of mass media in virtually every corner of everyday life is producing some genuinely positive effects, but there are also individuals and organizations using these developments for harmful or deceptive purposes — and some of those actors are members of the media itself. On balance, the good outweighs the bad; however, it remains to be seen what will unfold as the pace of media and technological advancement continues to accelerate. There will be remarkable developments in the years ahead, but there will also be consequences that are less than desirable.

References

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Jung, E. H., & Walden, J. (2015). Extending the television brand: An examination of why consumers use broadcast network web sites. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 59(1), 94–111. doi:10.1080/08838151.2014.998229

Vaast, E. T. (2013). Talking about technology: The emergence of a new actor category through new media. MIS Quarterly, 37(4), 1069–A2.