Given the following passage  "An analysis of the evolution of mass media in the US and Europe since World War II noted mixed results from the growth of the Internet: "The digital revolution has been good for freedom of expression [and] information [but] has had mixed effects on freedom of the press": It has disrupted traditional sources of funding, and new forms of Internet journalism have replaced only a tiny fraction of what's been lost.",  answer the following question. Note that the answer is present within the text.  Question: What thing happened before the point these stats are being accounted for?

World War II