By Anwarulhaq Baig
Media has become an integral part of our lives. It overwhelmingly influences our lifestyle and all arenas of human life, including politics, economics, culture, and values. Today, the world has become a global village due to the communication revolution. However, media is as old as human civilization. All messengers of Allah, from Prophet Adam to the last Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, used advanced means of communication of their times to spread divine teachings effectively among the people.
Historical Evolution of Media
The history of media can be broadly categorized into three distinct periods: ancient, middle, and modern. Typically, these three ages can be identified by the modes or technologies used as systems of mass communication during each era. In the ancient period, people relied on varied oral traditions. During the Middle Ages, writing systems became the predominant means of communication, while in the modern and post-modern eras, advanced machines, technologies, electronic, and digital equipment are prevalent for the same purpose.
Ancient Era
The oral tradition of communication, in which knowledge, art, and ideas are transmitted orally from one generation to another, is the first and most widespread mode of human communication. This tradition encompasses a vast array of genres, including speeches, sermons, prayers, chants, proverbs, riddles, tales, stories, rhymes, legends, epics, dramatic performances, prose, and poetry.
In search of suitable writing systems, ancient people developed paper from plants and forged tools from stone and metals. Cave paintings, clay tablets, papyrus, wax tablets, codex, woodblock printing, wooden type, parchment (writing material made from animal skins), and other materials were used as means of communication in ancient times.
A long-distance communication system through mail or postal service was developed during the Persian Empire. The Persian term Chapar Khaneh (چاپارخانه), meaning ‘courier-house,’ refers to a postal service system introduced during the Achaemenid Empire, the first Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC. Cyrus the Great developed a royal communication method, where each Chapar Khaneh, a station, was located along a highway connecting major cities across the empire. Similarly, Angarium was an institution of royal mounted couriers during the same Achaemenid period.
Middle and Muslim Era
In acknowledging the achievements of Muslims, Bernard Grun and Eva Simpson, in their book ‘The Timetable of History’, note that the first organized news service was introduced by the third Caliph, Hazrat Uthman ibn Affan, in 650 CE. The organized and advanced postal service created by Hazrat Muawiya was called ‘Barīd’, named after the towers built to protect the roads along which couriers traveled. The ‘Barīd’ (بريد) was the state-run courier service of the Umayyad and later Abbasid Caliphates.
After the Industrial Revolution in Europe, the invention of the printing press in 1440 by German goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg, and the electric telegraph in 1774 by George Louis Lesage, took mass media to new heights.
It is a myth that the printing press was outlawed by the Ottoman Empire. In fact, the first printing press was established in 1493 in the Ottoman Empire. Renowned Turkish historian Ekrem Buğra Ekinci, in his article “Myths and Reality about the Printing Press in the Ottoman Empire,” writes, “For many people, the late arrival of printing is the reason why the Ottomans lagged behind other great powers, something they attributed to bigotry. In reality, the first printing press in the Ottoman Empire dates back to the same period as that in Europe.”
Understanding Journalism, Media, and Mass Communication
In the present age of globalization and a rapidly changing world, a common person, and particularly a student, needs to be well aware of the three interrelated terms—journalism, mass media, and mass communication. One should understand the exact history of their evolution, stages, phases, and timelines.
Journalism :
Journalism derives from the Latin word diurnalis, meaning ‘daily.’ Initially referring to daily records or diaries, journalism evolved with the printing press to encompass newspapers and periodicals covering current affairs. Today, journalism spans various media including print, radio, TV, digital platforms, and social media.
In the second half of the 20th century, electronic media (TV and radio) became significant segments of journalism. Over the years, the term has continued to evolve into an essential pillar of communication with the advent of computers, the internet, smartphones, and social networking sites.
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, journalism is the collection, preparation, and distribution of news and related commentary and feature materials through various print and electronic media such as newspapers, magazines, books, blogs, webcasts, podcasts, social networking sites, and e-mail, as well as through radio, motion pictures, and television.
Journalism’s roots in Quran:
In Arabic, Persian, and Urdu, الصحافة and صحافت are equivalent to journalism, derived from the Arabic word ‘صحف’, which literally means book, script, or journal. The word ‘suhuf’ is the plural of ‘Sahifa’ (صحيفة), which is mentioned in the Qur’ān many times for divine scriptures or books revealed by Allah to His Messengers and Prophets. In verses 18 and 19 of the 87th Chapter (سورة الأعلى) of the Qur’ān, Allah says:
اِنَّهٰذَالَفِىالصُّحُفِالْاُوْلٰى (18) صُحُفِإِبْرَاهِيمَوَمُوْسٰى (19)
(This is in the earlier scriptures—the Scriptures of Abraham and Moses.)
Thus, the word ‘Sahafat’ (صحافت) started being used for all printed materials published at regular intervals, especially those dealing with current events. The Urdu Encyclopaedia defines صحافت as: “The preparation of news and comments on news, etc., for newspapers, magazines, and agencies is called Sahafat.”
Islam has laid down golden rules regarding freedom of speech and expression, which broadly cover media, journalism, and mass communication. Islam holds truth, honesty, sincerity, justice, goodwill, and teaching with the highest regard.
Several Islamic commands are generally meant for common Muslims but are equally applicable to journalists and media personnel while discharging their duties. Islam strongly emphasizes truthfulness and prohibits lying. The Qur’ān says, “That Allah may reward the truthful for their truth and punish the hypocrites if He wills, or accept their repentance.” (Al-Ahzab, Verse No. 24) “Indeed, Allah does not give guidance to anyone who is an extravagant liar.” (Al-Mu’min, Verse No. 28) “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” (At-Taubah, Verse No. 119)
The Holy Qur’ān directs Muslims to verify any news or information received from unreliable sources: “O believers, if a fasiq (evildoer/liar) brings you any news, verify its truthfulness, lest you should hurt a people unwittingly and thereafter repent for what you did.” (Al-Hujrat, Verse No. 6)
Adopting the best communication methods of his time, during the Makkan period, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ climbed Mount Safa to openly declare and explain his prophetic mission to the masses. It was prevalent at that time for making crucial announcements. Calling all the Arab tribes from Mount Safa, the Prophet ﷺ said: “O people! Will you believe me if I say that there is an enemy at the foot of this mountain behind, ready to launch an attack on you? Will you believe me?” They all replied, “Yes, you are trustworthy and truthful, and we have never seen you speak lies.” Soon, he declared his Prophethood.
Using another communication mode, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent several letters to rulers and kings of his time to convey the message of Islam.
Now, the definition of journalism has become very comprehensive, diverse, and broad because it constantly evolves over time, adopting the latest emerging technologies and tools to provide information and create awareness among people.
During the Turkish and Mughal periods in India, there was an elaborate system called ‘Akhbār-I-Darbār’, meaning news of the royal court, which broadly covered major incidents and news of the state, apart from the kingdom’s official reports. The Mughals appointed a network of officials called Akhbār-nawīs’, ‘waqā’i-nawīs’, or ‘waqā’i-nigār’ (newswriters) to collect day-to-day news and information from every part of the country.
A journalist is an individual who gathers or provides news or information about people, places, politics, and culture to the public through different mediums, including newspapers, magazines, television, radio, podcasts, websites, apps, and social media platforms.
In the late Middle Ages, the English word ‘news’ started being used as a plural form of ‘new’ or ‘new thing’. Later, it became associated with the presentation of new information on current events.
Media :
Similarly, the word ‘media’ is a plural form of the Latin word ‘medium’, meaning ‘middle ground’ or ‘intermediate agency’. However, its usage for newspapers, radio, TV channels, and other tools of information became prevalent in the early 20th century only after the introduction of the term ‘mass media’.
The word ‘media’ and its plural form were originally used in the advertising industry. Later, ‘medium,’ the singular form of media, came to define a means of communication, information, or entertainment, such as newspapers, radio, television, or internet media. After gaining widespread popularity, the term media is now used to refer to any form of communication that delivers information, while ‘mass media’ refers to all means of communication—whether written, broadcast, or spoken—that reach large numbers of people.
At present, mass media can broadly be classified into these segments: print, recordings, cinema, radio, television, internet, magazines, and mobile phones. Each segment has its own distinct features of content, artists, technicians, business models, etc.
Mass communication :
Mass communication is an umbrella term that refers to the study of human communication and its processes, covering many fields such as public relations, advertising, journalism, filmmaking, and publishing.
People often confuse these related terms. Mass communication is a broad subject with various specializations. While mass communication encompasses numerous fields, journalism is one aspect of it, involving the writing of news and current affairs.
The study of mass communication addresses various processes of human communication operating in the form of mass media like films, online media, documentaries, cinema, public relations, television, radio, graphics, events, advertising, corporate communications, etc. A journalism student should focus on news and current affairs with proficiency in speaking and writing skills.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Media:
Changing the entire landscape, mobile video, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI) are setting new narratives in digital media. Particularly, AI is transforming media through personalized content recommendations, automated journalism, and advanced analytics. AI algorithms curate news feeds, generate news reports, and even create deepfake content. These advancements pose both opportunities and challenges for the industry, raising questions about accuracy and ethics.
Media Industry and Emerging Technologies
Now, media is quickly transitioning to digital modes from traditional print and electronic mediums. Digital media shares information via digital devices or screens, including smartphones and tablets. Digital media includes software, digital images, digital videos, video games, web pages and websites, social media, digital data and databases, digital audio, electronic documents, and electronic books. According to the Pew Research Centre, the digital media industry continues to grow, with about 86% of American adults consuming some of their news online. According to Wikipedia, digital media platforms, such as YouTube, Vimeo, and Twitch, accounted for viewership rates of 27.9 billion hours in 2020. Even companies and the corporate world are increasingly adopting this media to advertise their brands or products through social media posts and video advertisements.
Career Opportunities and Education
Media has become the fastest-growing industry, with a large number of media companies and channels being launched every year. It has become one of the most attractive career options for creative students with strong communication skills, offering ample job opportunities in India and abroad. Currently, India is the biggest newspaper market in the world, with over 100 million copies sold each day and about 70,000 newspapers, according to estimates. Additionally, the country has more than 900 TV channels, including nearly 100 news channels.
Students can pursue various career paths in news media organizations, including news agencies, television and radio news channels, newspapers, magazines, and news portals. A media person or journalist can build a career in different roles such as a reporter, anchor, newscaster, editor, presenter, writer, copywriter, public relations professional, television and film producer, web content manager, photographer, media adviser, editorial assistant, camera person, advertising professional, cartoonist, digital marketer, etc.
Students aspiring to enter this field can pursue various educational paths. After completing 10+2, they can enroll in one-year certificate courses, three-year bachelor’s degrees, or two-year postgraduate programs in media and journalism. Around 1,300 mass communication institutions or colleges across the country offer courses in mass communication, journalism, advertising, photography, cinematography, etc. Notable institutions include:
- AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia: A premier institution offering a range of programs from doctoral studies to M.A. and PG Diplomas in mass communication.
- Indian Institute of Mass Communication: Established in 1965, it offers postgraduate diplomas in journalism in multiple languages and is known for its excellent placement record.
- St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication (SIMC) Pune, University of Hyderabad, and others: Renowned for their journalism and mass communication courses.
Conclusion
The media landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer behaviours. While traditional forms of journalism and mass communication remain relevant, new media, social platforms, and AI are reshaping how information is created, distributed, and consumed. As these changes unfold, it’s crucial for media professionals, students, and consumers to stay informed about emerging trends, develop critical thinking skills, and consider the ethical implications of new technologies. By understanding the diverse and interconnected nature of modern media, we can better explore the complex information ecosystem and harness the power of communication to inform, engage, and connect global audiences.
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