A Communication Model

How Mass Communication Works!

How Communication Works

Elements of Communication

The Source (Sender) – The person that creates the message The speaker transforms ideas and thoughts into

messages and sends them to a receiver or audience.

The speaker decides what messages are to be sent and how they will be sent.

Encoding – The process of organizing the message, choosing the words and sentence structure and verbalizing the message

Elements of Communication

The Receiver (Audience) – The receiver interprets the message in ways that are unique to that person

Decoding – Process of interpreting the messageAlthough the sender/speaker may intend a

message to carry a specific meaning, the receiver/audiences interprets the message based on their own experiences and attitudes

Elements of Communication

Feedback – The audience’s response to the messageCan be conveyed both verbally and

non-verballyOften indicates whether a speakers

message has been understood

Elements of Communication

The Message – The content of the communication process: thoughts and ideas put into meaningful expressionsContent can be expressed verbally and

non-verbally.Miscommunication can happen when the

audience misinterprets the speaker’s intended message or when the speaker misreads the audience feedback.

Elements of Communication

The Channel – Medium through which the speaker sends a messageLive audience – Channel = air wavesTelephone lines, televisions, computers,

written correspondence Noise – Any interference with the message

Physical sounds, psychological noise (emotions), environmental (room temp., etc.)

How Communication Works

SENDERMESSAGE RECIEVER

GATEKEEPER

ENCODING DECODING

FEEDBACK

Mass Communication Model

The Terms

SENDER: The announcer, station owner, writer, producers, artists, directors, actors, technicians: Those who produce the format, sound, and appearance of the message.

RECIEVER: The audience: Those listening or watching the transmission of the message.

The Terms

MESSAGE: The programming – everything viewers/listeners hear/see.

ENCODING: Taking the ideas and producing a message; the form the message takes.

DECODING: How the audience interprets the message or program.

The Terms

FEEDBACK: How the audience responds; only reaches the gatekeeper.

GATEKEEPER: Controls the flow of the messages; often the station programmer relays to senders.

Differences

With MASS COMM. there are multiple senders involved.

There are also multiple receivers. Encoding is collaborative –

listeners/watchers give mass feedback. Feedback

Goes to the gatekeeper Delayed rather than immediate Distortedly negative

SENDERMESSAGE

RECIEVER

GATEKEEPER

ENCODINGDECODING

FEEDBACK

Mass Communication Model