Mass Communication Potentially the most influential form of

Mass Communication Potentially, the most influential form of human communication

Types of communication • Intrapersonal – When we talk to ourselves • Interpersonal – When we talk to another • Group – When we give a speech to a group • Mass communication--an unseen audience

• Q. How do mass communicators differ from other types of communicators? • They cannot see their audience.

Components of mass communication • • • The five m’s of mass communication: Mass communicators Mass messages Mass media Mass communication Mass audiences

Mass communication? Or mass communications? • 1. Communication refers to the process • 2. There is a double encoding and double decoding. • 3. Mass communications refers to a thing.

Communication models • • Shannon and Weaver 1. Decision to communicate 2. Encoding 3. Transmission through Medium (channel) double encoding/decoding • 4. Reception • 5. Decoding 6. Internalization

Cue for test: • Remember that the recipient internalizes the message.

Narrative model • Harold Lasswell: • • Who says what? In which channel? To whom? With what effect?

Concentric circle model effects Mass media filters audiences gatekeepers codes regulators codes communicators gatekeepers communicators

Concentric circle model • • Effects Audiences Filters Regulators Mass media Gatekeepers Codes • Communicators Misses many complexities

Q. What is the message in a communication model? A. The representation of the thought.

Mysterious process • Millions spent in advertising and promotions • Need to know all there is about the process

Fundamentals in the process • Stimulation – source • Decoding – Receiver/transmitter • Encoding – Put thoughts into symbols • Transmission – The channel, media • Internalization – Understanding the message

Players in the process • Gatekeepers – News producers • Regulators – FCC, PMRC • Hybrids – “gatekeeperregulator hybrids” – NAB, SPJ

Impediments to communication • Noise – Semantic--sloppy messages – Channel--static – Environmental--noise at reception site

• Q. What is the mass communicator’s best antidote against noise? • A. Repetition

Filters • Informational filters – Audience doesn’t understand us • Physical filters – Receiver’s mind is clouded; • Psychological filters – Receiver’s bias; selective perception

Results of mass communication • Feedback • Q. How do mass communicators get it? • A. Indirectly. • Effects • Q. Greatest influence of mass media? • A. When it moves people to action.

• Q. When mass communicators choose to communicate about something, that “thing” has…. • A. ? ? ?

• Q. Why would you want Boomer Esiason to campaign for your cause? • A. ? ? ? ? ?