by J.L. Eck

Created on: August 10, 2010   Last Updated: August 12, 2010

From cave paintings and drawings on skins to laser printers and micro-devices, mankind has found ways to tell us about the happenings of the world throughout history.  As mankind has grown fond of technology, journalism has gone through historic changes that have changed history.

While demand for information has brought about such technology as the printing press, journalism has become a means with which humanity gathers information to display.  In the beginning, the process of journalism was slow.  Technology was slow.  The news could have taken days or weeks to travel to its audience.

In the 1900’s, types of media increased exponentially.  In the first half of the century, radio and television were introduced to the world.  Journalists had a voice and a face that could reach millions, even tens of millions.  Soon, the size of the audience grew to hundreds of millions and billions. Journalists were able to transmit information as it happened to audiences like never before and the information was much more current, even “breaking.”

In the latter half of the century, the introduction of color television and then the Internet had an impact that would change journalism forever.  Devices became smaller and more portable.  Travel became faster and more affordable.  Information could be transmitted across the globe in nearly an instant.  People could become journalists from the comfort of their own home.  The journalism industry was overwhelmed with information and people.

The beginning of the 21st century brought about changes that made journalism devices so small that they could be concealed in a pocket.  A single cellular phone could be used as a weapon and a tool for the journalist, and it was.  Sites like Youtube.com and Blogger made it possible for anyone and everyone who owned a cell phone with Internet access to be on the go and connected to the World Wide Web as long as there was signal.  Journalism became a worldwide phenomenon fueled by the Internet and mobile technology.

As devices became smaller and more powerful, those who aspired to be journalists raved over new technologies.  Companies like Apple and Microsoft introduced innovative devices that carry their own brands of soft and hardware which journalists have fallen in love with.  Not only are they faster and more powerful than their ancestral devices, but they allow the user more functions and accessories such as digital video recorders and sound processing hardware that the user can manipulate with ease to broadcast their stories over the Internet as quickly as it happens. 

Keyboards have gotten bigger as the devices have gotten smaller as well.  This makes it much easier to pen the story from wherever it is happening.  Journalist don't need to haul around computers and cameras and printers and phone modems to send the story out.  It can be done from the palm of the hand from nearly anywhere.  Find a WiFi connection and push send.  With these types of technological advances, journalism happens faster than ever.

No doubt the future will bring about faster forms of media and resources will become even more accurate.  You'll probably read about it at  website like Helium.com as soon as it happens!

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