A social history of the media : from Gutenberg to the Internet / Asa Briggs and Peter Burke.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 281-294) and index.

The print revolution in context -- The media and the public sphere in early modern Europe -- From steam to electricity -- Processes and patterns -- Information, education, entertainment -- Convergence -- Multimedia.

In this new and revised edition, Asa Briggs and Peter Burke have updated their classic study to cover the media developments of the early twenty-first century. In addition to the historical material exploring the continuing importance of oral and manuscript communication, the rise of print and the relationship between physical transportation and social communication, a new chapter on multimedia extends the far-reaching scope of this book. New media technologies are treated in depth throughout the latter sections and the book concludes with an account of the convergences associated with digital communication technology, the rise of the Internet and the phenomenon of globalization." "Avoiding technological determinism and rejecting assumptions of straightforward evolutionary progress, this book brings out the rich and varied histories of communication media. It will be an ideal text for students in history, media and cultural studies and journalism, but it will also appeal to a wide general readership. It has already been translated into more than ten languages.