ABSTRACT

This chapter concentrates on the mass media and takes examples from the press, radio and television. It focuses on the institutions, processes and products of mass communication. The chapter considers what it is like to live in our mass-media society, and refers to the influence and effects of the mass media. It discusses advertising, news and visual images. The chapter provides reference to current developments in communication techniques. The main feature of mass communication when compared with other categories is that it does operate on such a large scale. Major issues raised through uses of mass communication are to do with who has the right to say what about whom, who controls the system and who has access to the system. New technology has meant that systems of mass communication can handle more information faster than ever before.