Lecture Notes for Feb 2, 2010

Mass Communications Defined What is Mass Communications? ? Mechanical or electronic component ? Convergence- each medium is using the same software, platform, etc ? Reproducible or saved ? A product that can be saved ? Popular culture oriented- seldom serious ? Takes little effort to consume or participate ? Don't have to be literate to watch TV Communications Model Source- Message- Channel- Audience- Feedback- back to Source The Differences Among Forms of Communication Interpersonal ? Source: one or a few, known, familiar, homogenous ? Channel: verbal, non-verbal ? 70% of interactions are non-verbal ? Message: specific, tailored, process oriented, shared meaning ? Audience: known, homogenous, familiar, same social status ? 90% of time spent with people your own age ? Feedback: immediate, direct Mass Communication ? Source: corporate, conservative, profit oriented; responsible to shareholders ? Channel: print, electromagnetic spectrum, cable/satellite ? Message: innocuous, general, universal themes, inoffensive ? Sex and violence sell ? Largest selling television show ever: I Love Lucy ? Audience: heterogeneous, separated in time and space, unknown to one another ? We are the first generation of people to listen to our parents music ? Feedback: inferred, delayed, non-existent ? based on sales Internet ? Source: one/few, known/not, similar interests ? prone to people lying ? Channel: computer, data bases, screen, DSL/dial ? Message: specific, code, jargon, tailored ? lol, jk, etc... ? Audience: shared interests, known, unknown, predators ? Feedback: immediate or delayed, asynchronous ? can blame not responding on the internet ? passive aggressiveness ? more immediate feedback on texts than e-mails ? More like interpersonal than mass communication with the exception of non-verbal communications ? More time consuming ? Lose connections with reality, can't be in the moment ? Reduced our concentration dramatically ? Level of boredom increased