Mass Communications

1. Mass Communications- refers to any technologically based means of communicating between large numbers of people distributed widely over space or time

2. Theories of Mass Communication
- Communication flow is largely one-way, from sender or source to recieve or audience
- Communication is from one or a few to many
- Communication is anonymous
- Audiences are largely passive recipients of the message distributed by the media, with little opportunity for feedback and practically no opportunity for immediate feedback or interaction with each other

3.  The basic functions of mass communications fall into four basic categories
- Surveillance- refers primarily to journalism, which provides information about the process, issues, events, and other developments in society
- Correlation- refers to the ways in which media interpret events and issues and ascribe meaning that help individuals understand their roles within the large society and culture.
- Cultural Transmission- refers to the transference of the dominant culture, as well as its subcultures, from one generation to the next or to imigrant
- Entertainment- is performed in part by all three of the above mentioned activities but also involves the generation of content designed specifically and exclusively to entertain

Digitization

1. Digitization- Transforming both how and when media organizations distribute their content p12

2. Stories told in a digital, online medium can make connections with other types of content much more easily than in any other medium. Moreover, it is increasingly possible to obtain content on demand.

3. Some benifits of digitalization include more timely and convenient access to media. Some say a downside to digitalization may be its killing off of traditional media such as radio or television

Ethics

Dictionary.com defines ethics as the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics.

Ethics in media Basically is concerned with what right and wrong in terms of publishing certain information

Convergence

1. Convergence is known broadly as the coming together of computing, telecommunications, and media in a digital environment.

2. The main types of convergence are Technological, Economic, and Cultural convergence.
-- Technological Convergence refers to the specific types of media, such as print, audio, and video, all converging into a digital media form.
-- Economic Convergence refers to the merging of Internet or telecommunications companies with traditional media companies, such as AOL with Time Warner.
-- Cultural Convergence refers to the shift from a largely passive and silent audience with nearly equal ability to produce and disribute its own content.

3. The changes brought about by convergence have dramatic implications. These implications include
-The content of of communication
-The audience and communications organizations
-The structure of communication organizations
-How communications professionals do their work
-The global audience

How I Maintained the "A" assigned to everyone at the beggining of class

Just as I had expected earlier in this semester, this class is somewhat different from the tradition class at Claflin University. Just as Ms. Brogdon had stated on the first day it was hands on and collaborative. I basically excelled in this class by coming everyday ready to work independently and with others.