Functions of Mass Communication/Mass Media
Mass communication doesn’t exist for a single purpose. With its evolution, more and
more uses have developed and the role it plays in our lives has increased greatly.
Wright characterizes seven functions of mass communication that offer insight into
its role in our lives.
Surveillance. The first function of mass communication is to serve as the eyes
and ears for those seeking information about the world. The internet,
televisions, and newspapers are the main sources for finding out what’s going
around you. Society relies on mass communication for news and information
about our daily lives, it reports the weather, current issues, the latest celebrity
gossip and even start times for games. Do you remember the Boston Marathon
Bombing that happened in 2013? How did you hear about it? Thanks to the
internet and smart phones instant access to information is at the users
fingertips. News apps have made mass communication surveillance instantly
accessible by sending notifications to smartphones with the latest news.
Correlation. Correlation addresses how the media presents facts that we use
to move through the world. The information received through mass
communication is not objective and without bias. People ironically state “it must
be true if it’s on the internet.” However, we don’t think that in generations past
people must have without a doubt stated it “has to be true” because it was on
the radio. This statement begs the question, how credible are the media? Can
we consume media without questioning motive and agenda? Someone selects,
arranges, interprets, edits, and critiques the information used in the media. If
you ask anyone who works for a major reality TV show if what we see if a fair
representation of what really happens, the person would probably tell you “no.”
Sensationalization. There is an old saying in the news industry “if it bleeds, it
leads,” which highlights the idea of Sensationalization. Sensationalization is
when the media puts forward the most sensational messages to titillate
consumers. Elliot observes, “Media managers think in terms of consumers
rather than citizens. Good journalism sells, but unfortunately, bad journalism
sells as well. And, bad journalism-stories that simply repeat government claims
or that reinforce what the public wants to hear instead of offering independent
reporting -is cheaper and easier to produce” (35).
Entertainment. Media outlets such as People Magazine, TMZ, and
entertainment blogs such as Perez Hilton keep us up to date on the daily
comings and goings of our favorite celebrities. We use technology to watch
sports, go to the movies, play video games, watch YouTube videos, and listen
to iPods on a daily basis. Most mass communication simultaneously entertains
and informs. People often turn to media during our leisure time to provide an
escape from boredom and relief from the predictability of our everyday lives.
We rely on media to take us places we could not afford to go or imagine,
acquaints us with bits of culture, and make us laugh, think or cry.
Entertainment can have the secondary effect of providing companionship
and/or catharsis through the media we consume.
Transmission. Mass media is a vehicle to transmit cultural norms, values,
rules, and habits. Consider how you learned about what’s fashionable in
Mass communication doesn’t exist for a single purpose. With its evolution, more and
more uses have developed and the role it plays in our lives has increased greatly.
Wright characterizes seven functions of mass communication that offer insight into
its role in our lives.
Surveillance. The first function of mass communication is to serve as the eyes
and ears for those seeking information about the world. The internet,
televisions, and newspapers are the main sources for finding out what’s going
around you. Society relies on mass communication for news and information
about our daily lives, it reports the weather, current issues, the latest celebrity
gossip and even start times for games. Do you remember the Boston Marathon
Bombing that happened in 2013? How did you hear about it? Thanks to the
internet and smart phones instant access to information is at the users
fingertips. News apps have made mass communication surveillance instantly
accessible by sending notifications to smartphones with the latest news.
Correlation. Correlation addresses how the media presents facts that we use
to move through the world. The information received through mass
communication is not objective and without bias. People ironically state “it must
be true if it’s on the internet.” However, we don’t think that in generations past
people must have without a doubt stated it “has to be true” because it was on
the radio. This statement begs the question, how credible are the media? Can
we consume media without questioning motive and agenda? Someone selects,
arranges, interprets, edits, and critiques the information used in the media. If
you ask anyone who works for a major reality TV show if what we see if a fair
representation of what really happens, the person would probably tell you “no.”
Sensationalization. There is an old saying in the news industry “if it bleeds, it
leads,” which highlights the idea of Sensationalization. Sensationalization is
when the media puts forward the most sensational messages to titillate
consumers. Elliot observes, “Media managers think in terms of consumers
rather than citizens. Good journalism sells, but unfortunately, bad journalism
sells as well. And, bad journalism-stories that simply repeat government claims
or that reinforce what the public wants to hear instead of offering independent
reporting -is cheaper and easier to produce” (35).
Entertainment. Media outlets such as People Magazine, TMZ, and
entertainment blogs such as Perez Hilton keep us up to date on the daily
comings and goings of our favorite celebrities. We use technology to watch
sports, go to the movies, play video games, watch YouTube videos, and listen
to iPods on a daily basis. Most mass communication simultaneously entertains
and informs. People often turn to media during our leisure time to provide an
escape from boredom and relief from the predictability of our everyday lives.
We rely on media to take us places we could not afford to go or imagine,
acquaints us with bits of culture, and make us laugh, think or cry.
Entertainment can have the secondary effect of providing companionship
and/or catharsis through the media we consume.
Transmission. Mass media is a vehicle to transmit cultural norms, values,
rules, and habits. Consider how you learned about what’s fashionable in
