Mass Communication Studies

Mass Communication Studies – B. A. Complimentary

Mass Communication StudiesModule1. Fundamentals of Communication

Definitions “Communication: the transmission of information, idea, emotion, skills, etc., by the use of symbols-words,

pictures, figures, graphs, etc. It is the act or process of transmission that is usually called communication”

(Berelson and Steiner, 1964).

“Communication is the verbal interchange of thought or idea” (Hoben, 1954)

“Communication is the process by which we understand others and in turn endeavor to be understood by

them. It is dynamic, constantly changing and shifting in response to the total situation” (Anderson, 1959).

“Interaction, even on the biological level, is a kind of communication; otherwise common acts could not

occur” (Mead, reprinted 1963).

“Communication arises out of the need to reduce uncertainty, to act effectively, to defend or strengthen the

ego” (Barnlund, 1964).

“Communication is the process that links discontinuous parts of the living world to one another” (Ruesch,

1957).

“It (communication) is a process that makes common to two or several what was the monopoly of one or

some” (Gode, 1959).

“Communication is the discriminatory response of an organism to a stimulus” (Stevens, 1950).

“Every communication act is viewed as a transmission of information, consisting of a discriminative

stimuli, from a source to a recipient” (Newcomb, reprinted 1966).

“In the main, communication has as its central interest those behavioral situations in which a source

transmits a message to a receiver(s) with conscious intent to affect the latter’s behaviors” (Miller, 1966).

DJK Dept. of MCJ DBASC, Angadikadavu.


‘Communication’ derived from the Latin word Communis means ‘to make common’

Elements of CommunicationSource

Communication starts with the source

Conveys the content

Also known as sender

Encodes the message

Influenced/ affected by the context

Context

Always there is a context

The situation/state/condition in which the process occurs

Either stimulate or regulate the entire process

Four dimensions

Physical – closeness, health, potentials, abilities

Social – community, culture

Psychological – Mental, rational, intellectual, spiritual

Temporal – time /duration

Message

The text/content being conveyed

Sensation/ emotion, philosophy, idea etc.

Encoding

Occurs within the source

Translation process

Message is changed to symbols

Suitable for the medium

Channel

It is the route/medium through which the message is conveyed.

Message in the form of symbols

Connects the source and receiver

Noise

The Hurdles in the communication process

Also called barriers or blocks



Can occur in any of the elements

There are six types of noises

Mechanical or technical – Caused by the quality of the media used

Physical or external – Caused by the actual disturbances in the environment

Physiological or personal – Bodily (illness, weakness, inability)

Psychological – caused by the subjectivity of the individuals (mind)

Contextual – caused by a poor knowledge or interpretation of the context

Semantic - There is no shared meaning

Decoding

Occurs within the receiver

Translation process

Reverse of encoding

Symbols are changed to message

Interpreting the signals received

Receiver

Communication is directed to the receiver

Receives the content

Decodes the message

Influenced/ affected by the context

Giving feedback

Feedback

Immediate response of the receiver

Can be either positive or negative

Useful and effective in interpersonal communication

Comparatively less in group communication

Delayed or absent in mass communication

Reaches the source

Effect

The consequences of the communication process

Present in successful communication

Highly relative

Either positive or negative

Can be short term or long term

Can be immediate or delayed



Types of CommunicationBased on the number of persons (receivers) directly involved

Intra-personal

Communication process within oneself

Inter-personal

Between two persons

Face to face situation

Effective interaction

Feedback is present

Air is the medium

Multi senses used

Non-verbal gestures are possible

Interactions may be focused or unfocused

Stages of interpersonal relationships

Phatic/ Casual

Personal

Intimate

Group

More than two persons

Effective interaction

Feedback is less/ multi directional

Air is the medium / technology assistance required for larger groups

Multi senses used

Non-verbal gestures are possible

Institutional/Organizational Communication

Vertical and horizontal directions

Multi directional

Systematic

Task oriented

Formal



Feedback is present

Expecting immediate effects

Mass

Large number of individuals

Feedback is delayed or absent

Scattered audience

Presence of mass media

More chance for noise

Heterogeneous audience (Age, Education, Language, Interests, Tastes, Culture etc. )

Interactive

Communication through new media

Personal conversation is possible

Feedback is possible

Interactive communication

Text audio & video can be used

Based on the use of the bodily sensesVisual Communication – By sight

Aural/ Auditory Communication – By Hearing

Olfactory Communication – By smell

Tactile Communication – By touch

Gustatory Communication – By taste

Based on the modeBody – Study and interpretations of body language is called Kinesics

Symbols -

Verbal and Non Verbal

Linguistic words (Language) either written or spoken are present in verbal communication.

Eg. Danger, go ahead, No Parking, Go slow

Instead of words some other symbols are used in non-verbal communication

Eg. Alarms, colours, diagrams, shapes etc


Documents

Mass Communication Studies