"Mass Communication is the imparting or exchanging of information on a large scale to a wide range of people." Oxford English Dictionary
In the age of technology, mass communication has become integral to the operation of a business or organization. It can inform clients of upcoming promotions or events, can communicate information, or can cross-promote other aspects of the company's profile.
The ability to communicate to a large group of people clearly and effectively takes skill and practice.
Mass communication is also a representation of the company's ideals. It should be taken seriously as it could hurt business, lose clients or even funding if there is a misstep.
Many times, smaller organizations rely on junior team members to deal with mass communication because they are viewed as more 'tech savvy'.
As with personal business communication, mass communication should be professional and thoughtful.
The following should be considered before releasing information:
Is the information important? Relevant? Timely? Verified?
Is the information shared professionally? Is the message clear?
Does it adhere to the beliefs and values of the organization?
"The two words information and communication are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through." - Sydney Harris
In 2013, Lululemon sparked controversy when founder Chip Wilson commented that yoga pants "...don’t work for certain women’s bodies" (The Cut).
As a result of this controversy, he used mass communication to post a YouTube apology because his comments upset some people.
He was using mass communication to attempt to re-gain the trust and support of their customers and rectify the situation that may have lost Lululemon some customers.
1) Why do you think the founder of Lululemon used Mass Media to communicate his apology?
2) What would be some of the advantages of releasing his apology on YouTube?
3) What would be some of the disadvantages of choosing this form of mass media to issue an apology?
4) What do you think he and his company were hoping to gain as a result of this apology?
5) Do you think this apology worked to correct comments he made previously? Why or Why not?
In this video, Amanda Mull from The Atlantic News Magazine, discusses how Mass Media can influence people with Health Fads that do not stand up to rigorous science.
Have you ever witnessed claims on mass media that you suspected were false?
Have you ever taken the time to fact-check these claims to see if they were accurate or inaccurate?
How could a business find itself in legal trouble if it made a false claim about a product or used social media to spread false information?