[dredmorbius]

Mass circulation media date to the early 19th century, so approaching 200 years. Benjamin Day's Sun wasn't the first "penny-press" newspaper, but it transformed the concept, in 1833.

Developments (and cost reductions) in printing and paper-making, as well as rapidly increasing literacy rates, climbing from 25% or lower around 1700 to 90%+ by 1900 throughout much of Europe and North America, also meant that prior to 1800 there really wasn't a mass-circulation media of any stripe, outside religious mass, and that there very much was one afterwards.

Though yes, your observation that this has been going on for a while is valid.