po polsku
The Emergence of Press Studies
With the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg and its widespread use, religious reformers, politicians, and educators sought to use the press to promote their ideas and counter opposing views. In the 17th century, with the emergence of periodical printing, the press became an object of analysis as a new means of disseminating human thought and influencing society. In 1695, Kaspar von Stiles wrote "Zeitungs Lust und Nutz," marking the beginnings of studies on the social aspect of the press. The 17th and 18th centuries allowed anyone with an opinion on the press and its importance to have a voice.
In Poland, figures like Krasicki, Mickiewicz, and Kraszewski expressed their opinions on the press. In 1884, Karl Bucher presented a series of lectures at the University of Basel covering the history, sociology, and law of the press, marking the birth of journalism as a new academic discipline. In Poland, notable works on this topic include J.W. Dawid`s "O zarazie moralnej" and S. Czarnowski`s "Literatura periodyczna i jej rozwój." In the 20th century, press studies began to be conducted within research institutions (Institut für Zeitungwissenschaft).
The Birth of the Sociology of the Press
In 1901, Gabriel Tarde, in his study "L`Opinion et la foule," distinguished between a crowd and an audience. According to him, crowds existed throughout history, while audiences are a product of modern society, where communication occurs through the printed word. This theory posits a new type of collective, characterized by a sense of unity among people separated by distance but exposed to the same stimuli.
In 1910, Max Weber developed a program for a new branch of sociology - the sociology of periodicals. This period saw the growth of content analysis as a method of subjectively understanding press content. The technique of "compass and scissors" was used, measuring the importance of information and discarding less appealing pieces. Thomas wrote the monograph "The Polish Peasant in Europe and America," analyzing the role of folk press in shaping the collective consciousness of the peasantry.
The 1930s brought studies in psychology, political science, and sociology. After World War I, these studies were primarily conducted in the United States, as Europe was recovering from a social, political, and cultural crisis. France, Belgium, and Switzerland saw only minor reflections on the press; Germany limited its focus to historical studies, while in Poland, the notable work was Szczurkiewicz’s 1934 study, "Wpływ prasy codziennej" (The Influence of the Daily Press).
The interwar period saw a fascination with propaganda, with Harold Laswell writing "Propaganda Technique in World War." Due to the impending threat of World War II, the Social Research Council established the Institute for Propaganda in 1937 to inform the public about propaganda techniques used by authorities. A year earlier, in 1936, the American Institute of Public Opinion was founded to conduct surveys and study public opinion.
The Office of Radio Research conducted studies on radio and its listenership. Additionally, the main research directions were defined by Laswell’s formula: who says (who speaks?), what (what is said?), through which channel (by what means?), to whom (to whom is it addressed?), with what effects (what effects?). This approach involved analyzing the communicator, content, communication medium, audience, and impact. By the late 1950s, research had waned, and old models were repeated. Only in the 1960s and 1970s did new perspectives emerge, with sociocybernetics developing and research expanding into the West.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
New articles in section History of the media
Havas. The history of the world's first news agency
Małgorzata Dwornik
The idea of two bankrupt Frenchmen in 1835 turned out to be brilliant: use information as a commodity. Along with translators, messengers, and correspondents, they hired a flock of carrier pigeons. These birds carried news from London to Paris in a single day. The product of L'Bureau Havas quickly became popular far beyond Europe.
România Liberă. 150 years of history of the Romanian press
Małgorzata Dwornik
On May 14, 1877, Romania officially declared independence from the Ottoman Empire, and just one day later, the newspaper România Liberă (Free Romania) appeared on the Bucharest market. Its founder, first director, and journalist was Dimitrie August Laurian, strongly supported by Professor Ştefan Mihăilescu.
El Mercurio de Valparaiso from Chile. The oldest Spanish language newspaper in the world
Małgorzata Dwornik
The first issue started a revolution in South America. It survived 200 years of turbulent history: headquarters fires, editorial office looting, economic crises, and dictatorship. Today, El Mercurio de Valparaiso holds a unique status in the Chilean media market. And the title of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
See articles on a similar topic:
Atuagagdliutit Grønlandsposten. The history of Greenlandic News
Małgorzata Dwornik
The first issue, published in 1861, had eight pages, an unusual column numbering system, and a print run of 300 copies. At the time, it was one of the few illustrated newspapers in the world and the first to print in color. Its purpose was to encourage Greenlanders to read - a mission it has continued for 163 years. Today, its motto is: "A week without AG is not a real week".
The history of Forbes Magazine. Business should give joy, not millions
Małgorzata Dwornik
Business was originated to produce happiness, not to pile up millions. This was the motto of Bertie Charles Forbes and Walter Dray. The magazine they launched in September 1917 was considered sheer madness by many at the time. Time proved that this madness paid off - immensely. For 108 years and counting.
The History of Radio Broadcasting
Agnieszka Osińska
Radio emerged almost simultaneously with film at the dawn of the 20th century, as the growth of the press pushed culture past the so-called second threshold of mass distribution. Alexander Popov and Guglielmo Marconi are considered its pioneers, though only Marconi succeeded in patenting the invention.
The Fourth Estate in America: Sex and Violence
Urszula Sienkiewicz
The media in the United States include many "business sharks" who prioritize their own interests and corporate profits over the public good. The average American spends 8 hours a day on mass media - 4 hours on television, 3 on radio, half an hour on recreational music, and the remaining minutes on reading.
