Theories of Communication

MMC110Instructed by Hillarie

Zimmermann

Today’s ClassToday’s Class

• Lab Details• Course Description• Course Blog• Activity - Introductions• Chapter 1 - Review• Activity – Post a comment on the blog• Review homework

• Lab Details• Course Description• Course Blog• Activity - Introductions• Chapter 1 - Review• Activity – Post a comment on the blog• Review homework

A bit about me ….A bit about me ….

Lab DetailsLab Details

•Power button is on the back of the computer – left hand side•Dual boot screen – “Boot-camp”•Choose your preference (PC or Mac)•Single click•Turn on your instructor screen by pushing directly up•Choose: “Student” - Password: create

Course DescriptionCourse Description

• Introductory course to the theory behind mass media communication

• Exploration of successful communication strategies• Development of a theoretical foundation needed to

understand mass media communication• Topics covered will include

• analysis and brief history of Canadian print, radio, sound recording, internet, film, television, and news media

• knowing and targeting an audience• Advertising• public relations• media responsibility• the effects of mass media communication

• Introductory course to the theory behind mass media communication

• Exploration of successful communication strategies• Development of a theoretical foundation needed to

understand mass media communication• Topics covered will include

• analysis and brief history of Canadian print, radio, sound recording, internet, film, television, and news media

• knowing and targeting an audience• Advertising• public relations• media responsibility• the effects of mass media communication

Course RequirementsCourse Requirements

• Attendance• Assignments• Essay and Presentation• Demonstrated Student

Leadership

• Attendance• Assignments• Essay and Presentation• Demonstrated Student

Leadership

EvaluationEvaluation

Deliverables % of Final Mark

Assignments 50%

Essay and Presentation 30%

Demonstrated Leadership 20%

Required Materials for the Course

Required Materials for the Course

1. Vivian, John and Peter Maurin. The Media of Mass Communication

2. A set of headphones that connect to the computers in class.

3. A functioning email account that you can access at the college and/or a USB flash drive for storage.

1. Vivian, John and Peter Maurin. The Media of Mass Communication

2. A set of headphones that connect to the computers in class.

3. A functioning email account that you can access at the college and/or a USB flash drive for storage.

Course BlogCourse Blog

• Weekly Comments• Homework• Class presentation• Hot Com Links• Assignments• Grades

• Weekly Comments• Homework• Class presentation• Hot Com Links• Assignments• Grades

mmc110.wordpress.com

Activity - IntroductionsActivity - Introductions

• Theory Matching Activity• Name• Where you are from• What you’ve been doing• Why you are taking this course• Something we can’t guess by

looking at you

• Theory Matching Activity• Name• Where you are from• What you’ve been doing• Why you are taking this course• Something we can’t guess by

looking at you

The mass media convey mass

messages to mass audiences through the

process of communication.

Chapter 1 - ReviewKey Point

Chapter 1 - ReviewKey Point

mass audiences: recipients of mass messagesmass media: vehicles that carry messagesmass message: what is communicatedmass communication: many recipients; not face to face; a process

DefinitionsDefinitions

Media TheoryMedia Theory

• Models/Theory can help our understanding of communication processes

• Toronto or Canadian School• Marshall McLuhan: The Medium is the Message• Harold Innis: Time and Space

• Models/Theory can help our understanding of communication processes

• Toronto or Canadian School• Marshall McLuhan: The Medium is the Message• Harold Innis: Time and Space

Marshall McLuhanMarshall McLuhanThe Medium is the Message

What do you think this means?

Harold InnisHarold Innis

• Time and Space• Communication model based on a bias in

communication• Main hypothesis: the type of social

organization in a society was signified by the types of media that each used to communicate information

• Time and Space• Communication model based on a bias in

communication• Main hypothesis: the type of social

organization in a society was signified by the types of media that each used to communicate information

Other Media ModelsOther Media Models

• Entertainment and Information• Elitist versus Populist

• Entertainment and Information• Elitist versus Populist

Importance of Mass MediaImportance of Mass Media

• Pervasiveness• Information Source• Entertainment Source• Persuasion Forum

• Pervasiveness• Information Source• Entertainment Source• Persuasion Forum

Primary Mass MediaPrimary Mass Media

• Print TechnologyBooks, magazines, newspapers

• Chemical Technology Movies, video

• Electronic Technology Television, radio, web

• Print TechnologyBooks, magazines, newspapers

• Chemical Technology Movies, video

• Electronic Technology Television, radio, web

Media ConglomerationMedia ConglomerationMedia ownership consolidation

• Concentration of ownership• Convergence

Convergence in Canada• CTVglobemedia - CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multimedia

company with ownership of CTV, Canada’s No. 1 television network, and The Globe and Mail, Canada’s No. 1 national newspaper. CTV Inc. owns and operates 27 conventional stations across the country, with interests in 30 specialty channels, including Canada’s No. 1 specialty channel, TSN. CTVglobemedia also owns the CHUM Radio Division, which operates 34 radio stations throughout Canada, including CHUM FM, Canada’s No. 1 FM station.

• CanWest Global• Quebecor• Rogers Media• Corus Entertainment

Media ownership consolidation• Concentration of ownership• Convergence

Convergence in Canada• CTVglobemedia - CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multimedia

company with ownership of CTV, Canada’s No. 1 television network, and The Globe and Mail, Canada’s No. 1 national newspaper. CTV Inc. owns and operates 27 conventional stations across the country, with interests in 30 specialty channels, including Canada’s No. 1 specialty channel, TSN. CTVglobemedia also owns the CHUM Radio Division, which operates 34 radio stations throughout Canada, including CHUM FM, Canada’s No. 1 FM station.

• CanWest Global• Quebecor• Rogers Media• Corus Entertainment

Final PointsFinal Points

• Models/Theory are a useful way to understand mass media.

• There are various types of mass media.• Mass media are vehicles of information,

entertainment, persuasion and social cohesion.

• Models/Theory are a useful way to understand mass media.

• There are various types of mass media.• Mass media are vehicles of information,

entertainment, persuasion and social cohesion.

Activity – Blog commentActivity – Blog comment

• Take some time to leave a comment on “Week 1” on the Blog.

• Under Week 1 watch the grand prize winner for television advertisements – 2010 Clio Awards

• Leave a comment• Ask me if you have any problems/questions.

• Take some time to leave a comment on “Week 1” on the Blog.

• Under Week 1 watch the grand prize winner for television advertisements – 2010 Clio Awards

• Leave a comment• Ask me if you have any problems/questions.

HomeworkHomework

• Read Chapter 1 if you have not already done so

• Pre-read Chapter 13 for next class• Comment on weeks 1 & 2 on blog (comment

on Week 1 in class before you leave)• Remember you will always be commenting on the

upcoming week

• Read Chapter 1 if you have not already done so

• Pre-read Chapter 13 for next class• Comment on weeks 1 & 2 on blog (comment

on Week 1 in class before you leave)• Remember you will always be commenting on the

upcoming week