Mass Comm Introduction

DISCUSSION: Definitions of communication, mass communication, mediated communication.

LECTURETTE: Ways to categorize communication:

• Intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group, organizational, public, mass
• Verbal and visual
• Mediated and non-mediated

POWERPOINT:  Basic model of communication (sender, message, channel, receiver, feedback, gatekeeper, noise) with discussion on feedback loop and types of environmental and psychological noise. Traditional mass media, converged mass media.

VIDEO: The Simpsons "Itchy Scratchy & Marge"  


DISCUSSION: Relevance of this video to our study of mass communication:

 - Does violence in the media affect or cause violence in society?

 - Marge catalogs violent actions in cartoon using "content analysis" -- a social sciences research method

 - Parents don't always have control over children's TV habits (can go to neighbors' houses and watch)

 - Talk show host does not provide equal time to both sides of the issue, despite having representation from both sides; TV news skims over important topics and doesn't go into depth; phony expert

 - The mass communication feedback process does not function as smoothly as the interpersonal communications feedback process, but there are options for it: boycotting products, picketing, going on talk shows, writing letters to management

- Cartoon writers: fun media job

 - First Amendment - freedom on speech - can you be for censorship of one type of freedom of speech, but not another?

- The model of communication

 
QUIZ: Practice quiz.

HOMEWORK: Read and complete worbook assignment for Chapter 1

BLOG ASSIGNMENT: Set up a blog in blogger.com and e-mail me the blog address. Post your first blog post.

BLOG 1: Media Autobiography

Write your short media autobiography. This should be a short essay (about 200-400 words) about you and your relationship with the eight types of mass media we are studying in this class: Books, Newspapers, Magazines, Movies, Recordings, Radio, Television and the Internet. Bullet points are OK.

  

Talk about your background with each of these media, your experiences (use/habits) with them, your likes and dislikes of them, and which ones are important to you now and when you were growing up. Tell if you have, had or would like a job or career in the media. If you have lived in another country, talk about the media there. Mention your major, if it is related to the media, and the name of the university you want to transfer to, if appropriate.

Do not write about other aspects of your life, unless they relate to the media. E-mail me your blog address!