Wilbur Schramm: Вeginnings of the „communication” field

Abstract

This review is not a history of the beginning of communication study. Rather this is a review of some of the literature in our field about the man some have called the founder (Rogers, 1994) or the definer (Tankard, 1988) of the field. There are many accounts about this beginning surrounding Schramm and others who have a claim to the beginning of what is now called Communication Studies or, less recently, Mass Communication. What is clear historically is that Wilbur Schramm made significant contributions to institutionally establishing the field of communication as it is defined and practiced in universities in the U.S. and indirectly with the establishment of similar studies around the world. As is common in this review, the article will present the published record surrounding this beginning in the U.S. at mid-20th century that concerns Schramm’s role in the establishment of the field, and the remembered and the contested accounts of this establishment.
The original version of the article in English is:
McAnany E.G. (2014) Wilbur Schramm: Beginnings of the „Communication” Field. Communication Research Trends. V.33. No.4: 1-16.
International readers can find the text in English at the official page of the Communication Research Trends: http://cscc.scu.edu/trends/index.html