Download Lect notes Week 1

Intro to Mass Comm
Lecture 1 & 2:
Introduction
Benjamin Loh
CHECKLIST
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Should be able to:
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Explain a simple model of communication
and its components
Distinguish between interpersonal and
mass communication
Explain how the Internet / WWW is
blurring the distinctions between traditional
models of mass communication and
communication in general
WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?
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Sharing of info, idea,
attitude, etc.  try
to set up something
in common with
others (Schramm,
1954)
Process of creating
shared meaning
(Baran).
COMMUNICATION AT
VARIOUS LEVELS / TYPES
Intrapersonal
Interpersonal
Group
Organisational
COMMUNICATION AT
VARIOUS LEVELS / TYPES
Machine- /
Technologyassisted
Mass
COMMON POINTS
ABOUT COMMUNICATION
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Communication happens at different
levels
But still share some common points… what is communication?
Can look at communication in different
ways (models)
LASSWELL MODEL (1948)
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Process of communication can be
analysed by answering 5 questions:
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Who? (sender)
says what? (message)
on which channel? (method)
To whom? (audience)
With what effect? (effect on audience)
MODEL OF COMMUNICATION
PROCESS
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Various models, but common points:
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Sender / Source: encoding (e.g., words,
sentences)
Receiver: decoding & interpreting
Message
Channel
Noise (interference)
Feedback (later models, sometimes)
Osgood & Schramm’s
Model of Communication
Endless!
What is mass communication?
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Communication to the masses
Communication = transferring of ideas
and information or meaning between
two parties
Hence, mass communication
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transferring of messages / ideas / etc. via a
mass medium (transmitting device)
COMMUNICATION PROCESS
N
O
I
S
E
N
O
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S
E
SENDER
Message
Via
CHANNEL
FEEDBACK
RECEIVER
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SENDER: puts the message (involves
some encoding)
Message is delivered via CHANNEL
RECEIVER : decodes & interprets
message
FEEDBACK: response sent back to
Sender after processing of message;
may change subsequent messages from
Source
Feedback
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Receivers process message & send a
response back to sender (source)
Could be immediate or delayed
Noise / Interference
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Channel noise: in
transmission of
message
 e.g., faulty
microphone,
transmission static,
smudge
Source: Vivian (p. 23)
Noise / Interference (cont’d)
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Environmental noise: interferes with
decoding process
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e.g., kids shouting while watching news,
doorbell while reading article
Semantic noise: problems in crafting
message
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e.g., sloppy wording, jargon, language
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Source: Vivian (p. 23)
Noise / Interference (cont’d)
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Physiological – e.g., memory, hearing
loss
Psychological – e.g., audience’s
selectivity in
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Attention
Retention
Perception
How do we communicate?
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Verbal
Non-verbal (e.g., body language, etc)
Mass communication
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“the process by which a complex
organisation with the aid of one or
more machines produces and transmits
public messages that are directed at
large, heterogenous, and scattered
audiences” (Dominick, 2005).
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audience : different interests & backgrounds 
need skills in construction of effective message
(Vivian).
Schramm’s Model Of Mass Communication
Media
channels
COMPARISON
MASS
INTERPERSONAL
Source
Many
sources for
each
message
Indiv / grp; role
can reverse
Receiver /
audience
Diverse,
large,
Indiv / grp; role
can reverse
Message
standard
Feedback
Delayed
Fast
Can be adjusted,
private
Fast
More difficult
Termination
don’t know
one another
Other types of communication
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Group & team communication:
interaction of people in small groups,
usually in decision-making settings
Organizational communication: occurs
in complex organizations (e.g., large
businesses, govt) where there is some
formal hierarchy
Source: Baran
Intrapersonal communication
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Communication with ourselves, or selftalk – precedes our speaking or acting.
We are both sender and receiver.
Our thought and feelings constitute the
message.
Our brain acts as channel by processing
thoughts and feelings.
Source: Baran
Interpersonal communication
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Communication between people, usually
in face-to-face, private settings.
Can also occur if they are physically
separated but emotionally connected
(e.g., friends talking on phone).
Source: Baran
Public communication
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Public speaking, concerts, theatre and
public debates.
Commonly related to public speech.
Normally, a large number of people are
involved in the audience.
Source: Baran
Organizational communication
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Occurs in large cooperative networks and
includes virtually all aspects of both
interpersonal and group communication.
Encompasses topics such as the structure and
function of organizations, human relations,
communication and the process of organizing
and organizational culture.
Source: Baran
Intercultural communication
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The process that occurs when members
of two or more cultures exchange
messages in a manner that is influenced
by their different cultural perceptions
and symbol systems.
Source: Baran
Mass communication Industry
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Print
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Broadcast
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books, newspapers, magazines
radio, tv, cable, satellite
Film & music
Internet
Advertising
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$$$ support industry
Errors in communication
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Common…
but even more serious now that we are
highly dependent on machine &
technology / automated forms of
communication
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e.g., spam filters legitimate e-mail
machine breakdown / malfunction
Data entry error – MyKad, etc