Introduction to Mass Communication

Mass Communication

Communication:

           Communication comes from the Latin word “Communis” meaning common. When we communicate, we are trying to establish a “commonness” with someone about any information, idea or an attitude.

           Communication is the art of transmitting knowledge and ideas from one person to another. Transfer should be such that the receiver understands the meaning and content of the message.

Communication is an integral instinct of all living things. Every interaction; we have with another person, from a raised eyebrow in a busy checkout lane towards an obscene gesture of another motorist in traffic to a simple wave to your family as you pull out of driveaway, is all communication.

Communication in terms of Different Experts/Scholars:

Lasswell Formula:

Lasswell formula includes five elements:-

1. ‘Who’ says 
2. ‘What’
3. In which ‘Channel’
4. To ‘whom’
5. With ‘what effect’

D.J. Pall:

It is a process by which people exchange ideas, feelings, facts, impressions in ways that each gainsa common understanding of the message.

Charles E.Osgood:

We have communication whenever one system(source), influences another (destination) by manipulation of alternative signal, which can be transmitted over channels connecting them. 

Clauds Shannon and Warren Weaver:

The word communication includes all those procedures by which one mind affects another. 

Communication Process:

At a general level, communication events involve the following elements:

1. A source        2) Encoding

      3)  Message         4) Channel

      5)  Decoding       6) Receiver

      7)  Potential for Feedback

      8)  Choice of Noise

Types of Communication:

There are four different types of communication:

Intrapersonal Communication:

This form of communication is extremely private and restricted to ourselves. “A process by which one person communicates with himself either consciously or unconsciously is called intra-personal communication.”

Interpersonal Communication:

This form of communication takes place between two individuals. “A process in which a person (or group) is interacting with another person (or group), without the aid of mechanical device.”

Essentials of interpersonal communication:

i) Suitable environment         ii) Compatibility

iii) Holding attention             iv) Frame of reference

Extra-personal Communication:

Extra-personal communication is the communication with non-human beings. 

It includes two subtypes:

i) Communication with Plants:

   e.g.    Touch-me-not

ii) Communication with Animals:

   e.g.     With Cats

Mass Communication:

Mass communication refers to the process by which we communicate with a large group of people through mass media.

“Mass Media” is the source of communication with masses and communication through mass media is mass communication.

It has two subtypes:

i)  Micro-Mass Communication

ii) Macro-Mass Communication