WEEK ONE AND TWO LECTURE NOTES

OVERVIEW OF THE MASS MEDIA

What is Mass media?

Mass media refers to the various medium of communicating to a large heterogeneous audience.

It is a term used to represent a section of the media specifically designed to reach a very large audience such as the population of a nation, a continent, or a state.

Today the mass media is not limited to TV and radio but it now includes internet which is global. These internet media includes message boards, pod casts, video sharing, webinars, blogs, etc.

The mass media can be categorized into Electronic and print media.

Ø Electronic media: Radio, TV, internet, satellite.

Ø Print media: Newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, etc.

Why are we looking at the mass media in this course?

If we must write for these media of communication

Then we need to know each of these media of communication.

	HOW TO WRITE AN OVERVIEW An overview gives a brief but detailed information on a subject. Introduction, short summary, description. (this requires an outline) if your outline is food, your paper should be easy to write.

Importance of Writing / Writing for the mass media

(1) It helps convey information in details.

(2) It enables / promotes information archiving.

(3) A well written piece conveys meaning to the readers. Its expresses the writer to the reader.

(4) Because communication is crucial to today’s society.

(5) It is a means to better grades and greater academic achievement.

(6) Writing is the basic foundation on which your intellect, work, learning will be judged in the university, in your workplace and the society at large.

(7) Writing helps others give you feedback.

(8) Writing requires that you anticipate your readers’ needs. Being able to do so, shows your intellectual flexibility and maturity.

Characteristics of media writing

“But I know how to write, why must I take this course?”

– A Typical 100L student

This course is different from all other writing lessons that you have had in the following ways:

(1) We emphasize information ; The major purpose for writing for the mass media is to present information.

(2) Secondly, it is to teach you how to write in a professional environment i.e. to help you understand what the demands of professionalism are and then help you meet them.

(3) Writing in the media environment means writing for a mass audience i.e. chances are that people will hear, see, read what you have written. Now understanding the audience is a by part of learning to write for the mass media.

(4) Is the Concept of Modesty; A good writing puts the writer in the background and emphasizes instead the content of the writing. The audience does not care what you feel or think about what you are writing. They are interested in information which must be accurate, precise, efficient, complete.

Accuracy: Your information must be accurate. Misinformation / Lies are strongly prohibited. The audience will flee from any medium that communicates lies.

Efficiency: Refers to communicating a whole deal of information in the fewest possible words without losing the intended meaning. This may be difficult to achieve if the writer uses his first draft; does not edit his writing.

Precision: Use words for precisely what you want to convey. You must good with grammar and practice it to become a precise writer.