This document discusses how new technologies have increased the power of information over time. It begins with the first newspapers in the 1600s and discusses how the invention of photography in the 1800s allowed newspapers to provide undisputed proof of events. The development of radio in the 1920s allowed people to remotely listen to live events. Television and film in the mid-1900s added a visual dimension to reporting. The moon landing in 1969 was a seminal event watched live on TV worldwide. More recently, smartphones and social media have enabled real-time sharing of news, photos and videos, changing politics and amplifying the spread of misinformation. Social media also expects photographic proof from its users.

1. New technologies increase the power of information.
Newspapers
Television
Radio
Internet

2. Relation aller Fürnemmen und
gedenckwürdigen Historien (Account of all
distinguished and commemorable news) was
first printed in 1605 in Strasbourg, Germany.
In the U.S. the first newspaper, Publick
Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick,
was published in Boston in 1690, and
suppressed by the government after one issue.
The First Newspapers

3. Photographic Proof
In the 1800’s, the invention of photography, and subsequently the printing of
photos in newspapers, changed the world of information. Photos could offer
undisputed proof of events and actions.
But Seeing Is Not Always Believing…
When Soviet dictator Josef Stalin ordered the death of the head his secret police,
Nikolai Ezhov, he had his photo-retouchers “airbrush” the man out of existence.

4. And Then You Were There (Radio)
Developed by Tesla, Fessenden and Marconi, radio
made it possible by 1920 to hear live broadcasts of
presidential elections for the first time. It was the first
medium by which people could remotely witness
events as they happened.
“The radio news item is a vibration in the air, without
record, without visible responsibility, without that
incentive to accuracy that comes with print.”
- (NY Times, 1929)

5. Film & TV Add a New Dimension
The 1937 crash of the
Hindenburg, an experimental
aircraft, was broadcast live on
radio. At the same time, it was
filmed. Visuals brought a whole
new dimension to reporting
information.
When Apollo 11 landed on the
moon on July 20, 1969, there
was a television camera aboard
and millions of people around the
world watched it live.
Click the Video to Play

6. Social media adds to the
power of information…
We have the means to connect in real
time, augmented with video and
photos.
Smartphones are an extension of
Gutenberg’s press.
Just as movable type rocked the
Catholic Church’s hold on Europe and
Britain’s hold on America, social media
have changed politics in your lifetime.

7. Social media also expects proof...
Because of the ease of
capturing images and video,
the public expects
photographic proof from its
users.

8. Social media amplifies the power of fake images...
In 2017, Irish journalist Jason Michael
tweeted a fake pic to prove how easily
people are tricked into believing what
they see on social media.

9. Social Media Goes Viral
The tweet ended up being retweeted
over 88,000 times, and has
resurfaced with every subsequent
hurricane.

10. Click the Video to Play

11. Think: How else have these
technologies changed your life as a
citizen and the functioning of your
government and political system?