Media and Information in Communication

Role of Media and Information in Effective Communication

• Global connectivity enables communication across vast distances, fostering connections regardless of location or background.
• Social media facilitates instant communication, eliminating delays in message delivery.
• Public opinion can be influenced due to the media's extensive reach and perceived credibility, shaping societal perceptions.
• Communication is a process of sharing ideas, comprising verbal and non-verbal methods.

Types of Communication

• Non-verbal Communication: Conveys meaning through behavior and actions.
• Verbal Communication: Involves spoken (oral) and written forms for delivering messages.

Importance of Media

• Media is essential for democracy, providing a platform for public awareness on social, political, and economic issues.
• Acts as a societal watchdog by exposing issues and holding the government accountable.

Types of Media

• Print Media: Traditional formats including newspapers, magazines, and books, characterized by portability without requiring technology for content transfer.
• Broadcast Media: Utilizes airwaves for transmission, encompassing radio and television.
• New Media: Digital platforms that allow interactive content, two-way communication, and easy access to information.

Literacy Definitions

• Literacy: Basic ability to read and write.
• Media Literacy: Skills to access, analyze, evaluate, and communicate information in various formats.
• Information Literacy: Ability to recognize, locate, evaluate, and effectively use needed information.
• Technology Literacy: Capacity for continuous learning in the 21st-century global workplace.

Influence of Media on Communication

• Positive Effects: Enhances connections, speeds up communication, reduces barriers, broadens knowledge, creates online job opportunities.
• Negative Effects: Can manipulate opinions, spread misinformation, be a platform for cyberbullying, and impinge on effective communication.

Ethical Guidelines for Information Use

• Differentiate between facts (verifiable information) and opinions (subjective judgments based on facts).
• Credit original creators to respect intellectual property and avoid plagiarism—unauthorized use of another’s work.
• Validate information authenticity, ensuring credible sources are used.
• Respect privacy, considering the permanence of digital footprints.

Evolution of Media

• Prehistoric Age: Communication via cave paintings, body language, and rudimentary forms of information storage.
• Industrial Age: Innovations in printing technology revolutionized information dissemination, including the emergence of photograph integration in print.
• Electronic Age: Introduction of telecommunication technologies like the telegraph, telephone, and radio transformed communication.
• Information Age: The internet evolved from ARPAnet, enabling global interconnectedness and access to vast information through the World Wide Web.

Sources of Media and Information

• Indigenous Knowledge: Local, oral traditions characterized by face-to-face information exchange.
• Libraries: Stores of reference materials for public use, enhancing access to information.
• Internet: A vast but unregulated source of information requiring careful evaluation by users to ensure accuracy and credibility.

Media Codes and Conventions

• Symbolic Codes: Social meanings understood within contexts, such as interpreting color significances.
• Technical Codes: Specific to media forms, involving elements like camerawork and audio.
• Written Codes: Formal language used in media texts, crucial for narrative development and thematic expression.

Media Genre

• Genres classify media into categories with conventions regarding content and presentation style, aiding audience understanding.

This quiz focuses on the role of media and information in effective communication. It explores how various media platforms connect individuals globally and enhance interpersonal communication. Use it as a guide and review for your midterm exam.