Effects of Print media on Society

Effects of print media on society

Language

The first to benefit from the printed words was the language itself. Due to distance and the literature getting into limited hands, common people were far from knowing a standard language of their land. The printing of books and letters in high number standardized the languages and make them an effective tool of communication by setting certain meanings of words, phrases, symbols and signs. It was due to print impression that some of the sign got international recognition. 

Economic ideas

 The breaking down of church’s control over written communication, and involving more people in the print communication by the early newspapers and periodicals, money generation methods and increasing trade became common topics. The growth of economies due to understanding of monetary and fiscal matters by more people further weaken the forces of religion in the west and the society continued to bend towards a material world.

 

Knowledge of science and technology

The newspapers and manuals proved a great success in highlighting the work of scientists and new ideas on technologies. Spreading the science ideas across the European continent, the print media worked as a catalyst to gear up the industrialization which was based on the new technologies worked out during the 18th centuries. The invention of steam engine in return gave boost to the print media by spreading the printed words to far flung areas and thus encouraging people from the small towns to participate in debates on science ideas and cause a great thrust in the growth of industries. 

Politics

 By sixteenth century the world knew little about democracy and civil rights. But with the world of civil rights spreading and voices were raised by sociologists. The sharing of political ideas grew in size to the extent that in many countries a revolution against the dictatorial government and monarchs took place. The setting up of parliaments and reports of deliberations from inside the parliament has always an interest for common people. Till today most politics are done through media which is regarded as the forth pillar of democracy

Education

The print media has been largely responsible for running educational campaign for ordinary people. Not only pieces of information or news are conveyed to readers, experts from almost all the major fields of life – medicine, education, environment, economists and religious scholars – write in the print media. This is an enormous thing to be done by the media.  

Wars

Media has stood firm at the times of war or invasion by the enemy. It tells people what to do at war time and keep the nation’s spirit high. 

Sports and entertainment

Not that the media is always busy in serious and rather sober matters of education and politics, it has done a great deal of entertainment by reporting articles and information about music, sports and other recreational activities.

Bring world closer

  The media has been responsible to bring the world closer. It tells similarities in human living and the differences so that people intending to travel due to business, health or educational purposes know in advance about the new land. It tells interesting features, discoveries and historical heritage to urge people to visit each other’s lands and thus know each other better than before.