mass communication
Reaching many simultaneously
Mass communication is the transmission of information to large audiences through media channels—television, radio, newspapers, the internet.
Unlike personal communication between individuals, mass communication is one-to-many: a broadcaster speaks, millions listen.
She studied mass communication in college.
The term often appears in academic contexts discussing how media shapes public opinion.
Broadcast viewing device
- radioElectromagnetic wave receiver
- satelliteOrbiting celestial body
- cableHeavy-duty woven line
- networkInterconnected system
airwaves · transmitter · antenna · telecast · frequency · broadcaster · anchor · webcast
Controlling which issues dominate
- gatekeepingControlling access to something
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
- cultivationFostering growth through care
- media literacySkill evaluating information sources
semiotics · encoding · decoding · reception · McLuhan · public sphere · hegemony
Interconnected computer systems
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
- viralSpreading quickly online
- platformsElevated flat surfaces
- algorithmsFinite instruction sequences
influencers · content creation · multimedia · online · engagement · clicks · shares · memes
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
censorship · psyops · agitprop · bias · persuasion · messaging · narrative control · state media
Conveying documented information
- newsroomMedia gathering hub
- correspondentJournalist covering distant events
- headlineNews article title
- editorialPublication's official viewpoint article
investigative · byline · dateline · columnist · lede · photojournalism · beat · press corps
Extend to touch
- demographicsStatistical population characteristics
- viewershipCollective television audience
- ratingsEvaluative scores assigned
- circulationMovement through a system
readership · listenership · public opinion · feedback · surveys · focus groups · market segmentation · engagement
Organized effort toward goal
- commercialsPaid promotional broadcasts
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
- billboardsLarge outdoor advertisements
- sponsorshipFunded endorsement arrangement
jingles · targeting · promotions · endorsements · infomercials · copywriting · taglines · product placement
television
Broadcast viewing device
network · airwaves · transmitter · antenna · telecast · frequency · broadcaster · anchor · webcast · streaming
agenda-setting
Controlling which issues dominate
- gatekeepingControlling access to something
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
- cultivationFostering growth through care
media literacy · semiotics · encoding · decoding · reception · McLuhan · public sphere · hegemony
internet
Interconnected computer systems
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
- viralSpreading quickly online
- platformsElevated flat surfaces
algorithms · influencers · content creation · multimedia · online · engagement · clicks · shares · memes · blogging
disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
indoctrination · censorship · psyops · agitprop · bias · persuasion · messaging · narrative control · state media · leaflets
reporting
Conveying documented information
- newsroomMedia gathering hub
- correspondentJournalist covering distant events
- headlineNews article title
editorial · investigative · byline · dateline · columnist · lede · photojournalism · beat · press corps · scoop
reach
Extend to touch
- demographicsStatistical population characteristics
- viewershipCollective television audience
- ratingsEvaluative scores assigned
circulation · readership · listenership · public opinion · feedback · surveys · focus groups · market segmentation · engagement · impressions
campaign
Organized effort toward goal
- commercialsPaid promotional broadcasts
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
- billboardsLarge outdoor advertisements
sponsorship · jingles · targeting · promotions · endorsements · infomercials · copywriting · taglines · product placement · demographics
- mass culturepop culture, popular culture, mass media, entertainment, television
- spreading ideasspreading, teaching, sharing, promoting, broadcasting
- journalismreporters, interview, editors, student editors, school paper
- literacy topicsliteracy, literacy rate, literacy education, reading, writing skills
- media languageheadlines, captions, subtitles, soundbites, taglines
- printing historyprinting press, Gutenberg, typographers, Gutenberg press, block printing
mass communicationpersonal correspondence
Direct written communication between individuals
private messaging · whisper · confidential communication · direct message · private correspondence
mass communicationdialogue
Spoken exchange between parties
two-way communication · conversation · back-and-forth · discussion · Socratic dialogue
massive, masses, communicate, communication, commune, communal, communications, communicative, communicated