The History of Communication Studies
An overview of the major phases, scholars, theories, and institutions that have shaped the discipline.
1. Foundations (Late 19th – Early 20th Century)
| Period |
Key Developments |
Representative Figures |
Core Contributions |
| Late 1800s |
Emergence of mass media (newspapers, telegraph) |
Harold D. Lasswell (political scientist) |
Introduced the “Lasswell model” – Who says what in which channel to whom with what effect? |
| 1910s‑1920s |
Rise of sociology & psychology in communication |
Charles Horton Cooley, George Herbert Mead |
Explored symbolic interaction and the formation of the self through communication. |
| 1930s‑1940s |
Institutionalization of communication research |
Paul Lazarsfeld, Hadley Cantril |
Pioneered survey research, media effects studies (e.g., The People's Choice). |
2. The “Golden Age” of Mass‑Media Research (1940s‑1960s)
2.1 Major Paradigms
- Media Effects – hypodermic needle model → limited effects (two‑step flow, opinion leaders).
- Agenda‑Setting – McCombs & Shaw (1972) – media shape what audiences think about.
- Uses & Gratifications – Blumler & Katz – audiences actively select media to satisfy needs.
2.2 Institutional Milestones
- 1947 – Founding of the Institute for Communication Research at Stanford.
- 1954 – Creation of the International Communication Association (ICA).
- 1955 – Launch of the journal “Communication Research.”
3. The Expansion Era (1970s‑1990s)
| Sub‑field |
Core Ideas |
Leading Scholars |
| Cultural Studies |
Media as sites of power, ideology, identity |
Stuart Hall, Raymond Williams |
| Critical Theory |
Critique of capitalist media structures |
Jürgen Habermas, Herbert Schiller |
| Semiotics |
Sign systems & meaning‑making |
Roland Barthes, Umberto Eco |
| Interpersonal Communication |
Relational dynamics, self‑disclosure |
John Gottman, Mark Knapp |
| Organizational Communication |
Communication as central to organizational life |
Karl Weick, Linda Putnam |
3.1 Methodological Diversification
- Qualitative approaches (ethnography, discourse analysis).
- Quantitative advances (structural equation modeling, longitudinal surveys).
- Mixed‑methods became standard for complex communication phenomena.
3.2 New Institutional Players
- 1973 – Formation of the National Communication Association (NCA).
- 1982 – Launch of “Journal of Communication” as a flagship peer‑reviewed outlet.
4. Digital Turn & Convergence (1990s‑2010s)
| Theme |
Description |
Notable Works |
| Computer‑Mediated Communication (CMC) |
Study of email, chat, early social media |
Manuel Castells, *The Rise of |