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Introduction to Mass Media. AGED 3142. Mass Communications and PR. Mass Communications The production or transmission of messages that are received and consumed by large audiences. Public Relations
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Introduction to Mass Media AGED 3142
Mass Communications and PR • Mass Communications • The production or transmission of messages that are received and consumed by large audiences. • Public Relations • Communication that attempts to establish positive relations between an organization and its various publics, usually through mass communications and image-building techniques
Mass Comm Channels • Mass communication channels include: Books Magazines Newspapers Radio Television Movies Videos Web sites Mass mailings Mass E-mail Billboards Posters Plus many others ...
The Functions of Mass Communication • Persuading • The act of manipulating information in order to produce change in others • Meeting consumer demand • Consumers demand information and entertainment • When demand is high, information and entertainment are worth a lot of money
Functions, cont’d. • Providing Facts/Informing • Responsible uses of mass media include providing people with objective, fact-based information upon which they can base decisions
How Mass Media Communications are Unique • Channels • Mass communication channels are broader, capable of carrying more information to more people • Most mass communication channels have limited ability for feedback • Reach • Mass communication media deliver messages to relatively large numbers of people
Unique, cont’d. • Feedback • Often not immediate • Usually collected through scientific surveys, which are not always accurate or complete • Format and Content • Messages are sometimes targeted toward non-specific audiences, to an extent
Conventions of Using Mass Media • News releases • Information (which must be newsworthy) you want magazines and newspapers to print or radio and television news broadcasters to read • Releases are targeted to organizations that are most likely to use the information • Information from releases might be run “as-is” or might be edited
Conventions, cont’d. • Advertising • Public interest advertising • PSAs are free, but placement is at the media organization’s discretion • Public image advertising • A series of ads to generally build public image can be expensive but effective • Advocacy advertising • Straightforward presentation of a definite point of view (an editorial-like ad); usually done with a celebrity
Conventions, cont’d. • Several means exist for getting PR material aired on radio and television • News releases • Video/audio news releases (VNRs/ANRs) • Arranged feature stories • Tapes of actual events that could be used in a news story (called actualities) • Interviews and talk shows (radio and TV) • Advertising/PSAs
Conventions, cont’d. • PR and Advertising Agencies • Most organizations hire PR, advertising, or communications consulting firms to help them get a clear message communicated through the media • These firms can be expensive, but they must be competitive because they usually bid against each other for your business
Planning a Campaign • Realize that campaigns involve controlled and uncontrolled information • Controlled – house-produced publications, paid print and broadcast material, personal communications • Uncontrolled – news releases and reports
Planning, cont’d. • Each communication effort and each medium chosen must be planned with a specific audience and purpose in mind • Ultimately, each medium has its strengths and weaknesses; these must be considered carefully according to audience and purpose