12-9-08 - December 9 2008 Chapter 9 Public Mass and Mediated Communication I Public and Mass Communication A Commonalities 1 Both refer to situations in

December 9, 2008 Chapter 9 Public, Mass, and Mediated Communication I. Public and Mass Communication A. Commonalities 1. Both refer to situations in which messages are created and disseminated to a relatively large number of receivers in a setting that is relatively impersonal B. Public communication 1. Examples a. Public Speaking b. Concerts c. Theater d. Public debates 2. Example – Obama campaign stop C. Mass Communication 1. Examples a. Newspaper and magazine articles b. TV and radio programs c. Movies d. Advertising 2. Example – cat watching TV D. Distinguishing Public and Mass Communication 1. What is “public” or “mass” and what is not is often a matter of degree, not kind 2. Both tend to be characterized by: a. Audience – large number of people involved in event; communicator tends to think of them as an audience rather than individuals b. Impersonality - source often does not know all participants personally; difficult to send personalized messages c. Planned, Predictable, and Formal – the communication process is planned, predictable, and/or formalized; the physical setting may be arranged in certain way and may