In the 20th century, mass media industries were traditionally categorised into eight main sectors: books, the Internet, magazines, movies, newspapers, radio, recordings, and television.
The rise of digital communication technology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries led to debates on redefining what constitutes “mass media,” particularly in the context of emerging technologies such as mobile phones and video games.
By the early 2000s, a more refined classification system known as the “seven mass media” gained prominence, highlighting the chronological introduction of influential mediums. They are:
Print: Including books, pamphlets, newspapers, magazines, posters, etc., dating back to the late 15th century.
Recordings: Encompassing gramophone records, magnetic tapes, cassettes, cartridges, CDs, and DVDs, originating from the late 19th century.
Cinema: Emerged around 1900 as a significant mass media form.
Radio: Gained prominence from approximately 1910 as a widely accessible medium.
Television: Became a dominant mass media form around 1950, transforming how information and entertainment were consumed.
The Internet: Emerged as a revolutionary mass media platform around 1990, revolutionising communication and information access.
Mobile phones: Entered the mass media landscape around 2000, marking a significant shift in how individuals interacted with information and communication technologies.
Since the 2020s, blogs, podcasts and RSS feeds have also been considered part of mass media.
This evolving classification system reflects the dynamic nature of mass media, adapting to technological advancements and shifting patterns of information consumption and dissemination.
WORKS CITED
https://www.britannica.com/topic/mass-media
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/mass-media
Dr Aswathy Aravindakshan is a teacher, bilingual writer and artist with over two decades of experience in teaching English language and literature. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of English at NSS College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Her blog, ashlit.in brings together academic resources, creative writing in Malayalam and English, and visual art. The platform features lecture notes, study materials, poems, reflections, short prose, and a curated collection of her paintings. Through this space, she seeks to foster learning, creativity, and meaningful engagement with literature and the arts.
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