Book description
The Ascent of Media tells the whole story of media from its
earliest incarnation in the clay tablets of Gilgamesh, through the
Gutenberg press, right up to Google and the unfurling world of digital
content. The Ascent of Media is a narrative history of the media in
its every form, from theatre to posters to video games, and told with
a host of fascinating fact and anecdote. • Opening up a whole new
forum for debate, Parry argues that contemporary media is not, as the
doomsayers suggest, in decline, but on the cusp of a new era - one in
which it will adapt, evolve and thrive. History teaches us that media
cannot and do not die. • This is a startling account of the mediums
that inform us, shape us, move us and make us, and a rallying call to
innovators of the future.
Roger Parry's scholarly journey through the history of media contains
important lessons for today's digital pioneers Roger Parry is a wise,
experienced media operator and observer. His range is wide - across
books, comics, radio, movies, video games, theatre and more - with
eclectic taste and a gift for detail. But one theme, essentially, covers
all. He perceives a public hunger for information, entertainment, and
shared experience growing invention by invention, device by device: he
extrapolates Aristotle's city on a global scale. He stresses ways as
well as means. Were Defoe and mates the first bloggers? Were the random
collection of contributors who compiled the earliest news sheets really
citizen journalists? He binds evolving society and accelerating
communication together. He seems to see the whole picture. So we can
finally begin to get a handle on a future that, in essence if not in
precise physical form, our children's children will recognise 50 years
hence. And Parry's textbook? That may be still read for its scholarship
and plain old-fashioned common sense by students of life itself. Peter
Preston, The Observer ""The Ascent of Media, Roger Parry's new
book tracing how we moved from clay tablets to Apple's iPad...anyone
trying to forecast the media's future should find [this] sobering...[An]
important lesson stems from Mr Parry's central thesis: all media
developments are shaped by politics, economics and
technology.""-Andy Edge, Financial Times "The Ascent of
Media is really about the ascent of man: from a species that started
recording his life experience on clay tablets and now records it on
computer tablets. In Mr. Parry's view, the future isn't a rejection of
the past. It's just a natural evolution. There are two reasons to read
any book: To learn or to be entertained. With The Ascent of Media, Roger
Parry manages to do both. We can't wait to see the movie." -David
Bernstein and Beau Fraser, co-authors of Death to all Sacred Cows
"Whatever the technology, mankind has always enjoyed a good story.
The Ascent of Media tells a cracking story with a cornucopia of
insights. Read Roger Parry and you're equipped to imagine where digital
media might take us next." -Peter Bazalgette, TV producer and
President, Royal Television Society "Media are going through huge
changes. This book provides a thought provoking read and a terrific
insight into where we are now and where media might go next."
-James Palumbo, founder of Ministry of Sound "The aptly titled
Ascent of Media is a must for anyone with even a passing interest in
today's vast and exploding world of media. From students of the industry
to the leaders of businesses who may struggle to know how to spend their
shareholders' advertising money wisely, Roger Parry provides insights
into what is really happening in the digital chaos of the twenty-first
century..." -Richard Wheatly, Chief Executive of Jazz FM "The
Ascent of Media is a wonderful overview of the history of all forms of
media and the key people responsible for their development. It leaves
the reader in no doubt as to its power to influence our opinions and
emotions, leverage commercial and political messages, stimulate the
senses and at the same time enhance our productivity." -Neil
Blackley, director of Ingenious Media, former Head of UK and European
Media Research, Merrill Lynch "Roger's enjoyable and wide-ranging
book should definitely be read by young people entering or thinking of
entering the media industry, but also by older people like me already
passionately immersed in it and wrestling daily with the digital
monster." -Richard Hooper, former Deputy Chairman of the Office of
Communications (Ofcom) "Roger Parry provides a fascinating
narrative of media past, present and future which will inform all
practitioners and all who are interested in the development of the
zeitgeist and of the great forces in society. The shape of the media is
constantly altered by changes in technology, lifestyles and fashion, and
the media affect all political, commercial, cultural and scientific
developments." -Claire Enders, media analyst "Roger Parry is
extra-ordinarily well placed to provide this informed tour d'horizon of
media. It is rare to find insight illuminated by both creative and
commercial expertise. But no appraisal of the development of modern
media would be complete without such an inclusive perspective. Parry is
exceptionally well placed to provide it." -Richard Eyre, Chairman
of the Internet Advertising Bureau and ex-CEO of ITV and ex-CEO of
Capital Radio.
Roger Parry began his career working for Saatchi
& Saatchi, then worked as a journalist for the BBC, LBC and ITV
and a consultant with McKinsey and Company. Chairman and CEO of the
international division of Clear Channel Communications Inc between
1998 and 2006, he has always sat in the upper echelons of the global
media industry. As it stands he is Chairman of four publicly listed
companies - representing every aspect of the media from publishing to
market research to Shakespeare's Globe Trust.
