Who is recognized as one of the early pioneers of mass communication?

Johannes Gutenberg is recognized as one of the early pioneers of mass communication primarily due to his invention of the movable-type printing press in the 15th century. This revolutionary technology significantly increased the production of books and written materials, making them more accessible to the general public. Prior to Gutenberg's innovation, books were laboriously hand-copied, making them rare and expensive.

The introduction of the printing press facilitated the spread of knowledge and ideas on a mass scale, contributing to significant cultural shifts such as the Renaissance and the Reformation. It laid the groundwork for modern mass media by enabling the dissemination of information quickly and widely, which transformed society in ways that were previously unattainable.

Other individuals mentioned in the choices made significant contributions to communication technologies, but none had the profound and far-reaching impact on mass communication that Gutenberg did with his printing press.