What was the very first form of media?

Answer 1

There is a difference between the term media and mass media. Media has been around for ages. Mass media has only been defined since about the 1920s.

The first form of media would actually be recitation. Recitation predates printing and even writing. Recitation allowed large groups to gather to hear an individual speak and it allowed an individual to address large groups and even entire audiences. Many auditorium designs today are due to the engineering of the past that allowed the sound of the voice to travel more effectively. Over time, recitation maintained its power and effect in places such as theatre, education and debate. Aristotle himself created instruction, still used today to teach others how to use recitation as a tool for getting a message across to others effectively.

The term media was extended in the early 1900s to the term "mass media," which implied media outlets that could reach larger audiences faster. The term "media," however, goes back even further. Although mass media originally referred to printing and new visual outlets, these were not the first forms of media. Nor was this when newspaper, print and even visual were already impacting large audiences.

Answer 2

The first form of media is believed to be oral storytelling, dating back to ancient civilizations. This involved passing down stories, traditions, and knowledge through word of mouth from one generation to the next.