In this work, the author, a longtime scholar of digital media begins with a brief history of the technological development of news media from the appearance of newspapers in the sixteenth century to the rise of broadcasting and the Internet. Within that context, he demystifies the emergence of online communication and social media as the third major technological platform for news, making the current pace of change appear less vertiginous. The book provides anyone with an interest in the future of journalism the grounding necessary for an informed discussion.