What Is This Book About?

This online textbook has two goals:

1.    To help readers find information in places, mostly online, where they usually don’t look;

2.    To help readers evaluate the credibility of the information they find.

Who Is This Book For?

Although we wrote this textbook for a required college-level journalism course, anyone who navigates information on the Internet can benefit from the concepts and skills presented here.

The primary audience for this book starts with students in Journalism 302: Infomania, a course we teach at the University of Kansas. When they take this class, these students usually are in their second or third semesters in the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications. They have varied career aspirations. A few of them want to be “traditional” journalists, writing for online news sites, magazines, or newspapers. Some of them want to be broadcast journalists. Many of them want to work in strategic communications, which encompasses public relations, advertising, marketing, and related fields.

Why Did We Write This Book?

[...] To teach information literacy and journalism practice, we needed a textbook that would deconstruct the process of judging the credibility or authority of sources, and that would align with the professional standards of journalism. As we searched for textbooks and other instructional materials, however, we concluded that there wasn’t anything on the market that met our students’ needs and the goals of this class.

This textbook, therefore, is the result of a collaboration between journalism and library faculty. It is an illustration of what happens when concepts developed in library science and instruction get applied to a specific field, in this case, journalism education. Our overarching intent in writing this book was to help undergraduate journalists develop the skills and a skeptical stance for accessing, evaluating, and using information, and in the process, to build their own authority as credible communication practitioners. 

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In this open access textbook students learn how to effectively communicate in business, with an emphasis on the use of these skills as a manager. The course introduces important elements of successful communication, providing examples of effective communication and providing students opportunities to practice the same. The course covers the essentials of communication including professional writing, visual aids, presentations, speeches, phone and online communication, and both getting hired and finding new hires. 

Table of Contents (summary):

Module 1: Communicating in Business

• Effective Communication in Business

• Methods of Communication

• Ethics in Business Communication

• Staying Connected

Module 2: Writing in Business

• Writing the Right Message

• Word Choice and Tone

• The Three-Part Writing Process

• Word Processing Software

Module 3: Written Communication

• Changing Communication Channels

• Internal Emails and Memos

• Other Internal Communications

• External Communication

• Using the Right Communication Channel

Module 4: Research

• Conducting Research

• Internal Data

• Finding Secondary Sources

• Source Analysis

• Writing Ethically

Module 5: Visual Media

• Media and Your Message

• Images

• Charts, Diagrams, and Graphic Organizers

• Contemporary Visual Aids

• Accessible Visual Aids

• Using Visuals

Module 6: Reports

• Business Reports

• Informal Reports

• Formal Reports

Module 7: Public Speaking

• Effective Public Speaking

• Delivery Techniques

• Audience Engagement

• Speech Tips and Techniques

Module 8: Developing and Delivering Business Presentations

• Visual Aids

• Using Microsoft PowerPoint

• Using Google Slides

• Making a Presentation for a Meeting

Module 9: Communicating Through Technology

• Communication Tools

• Scheduling a Meeting

• Scheduling Remote Meetings

• Audio Conferences

• Video Conferences

• Web Sharing

Module 10: Social Media

• Common Social Media Platforms

• Additional Social Media Platforms

• Selling Your Products

• Building Your Brand

Module 11: Communicating Different Messages

• Informative Business Messages

• Team-Focused Messages

• Professional Criticism

• Responding to Criticism

Module 12: Collaboration In And Across Teams

• Team Communication in the Workplace

• Collaborative Projects

• Workplace Etiquette

Module 13: Social Diversity in the Workplace

• Diversity in the Workplace

• Intercultural Communication

• Working across Genders

• Working across Abilities

• Working across Generations

• Combating Bias

Module 14: Finding a Job

• Professional Skill Building

• Networking

• Résumés and Cover Letters

• Interviewing

Module 15: Recruiting and Selecting New Employees

• Finding Qualified Job Applicants

• Interviewing

• Selecting a Candidate

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This open access textbook provides a comprehensive, integrated approach to the study and application of written and oral business communication to serve both student and professor. 

Table of Contents:

• Ch. 1: Effective Business Communication

• Ch. 2: Delivering Your Message

• Ch. 3: Understanding Your Audience

• Ch. 4: Effective Business Writing

• Ch. 5: Writing Preparation

• Ch. 6: Writing

• Ch. 7: Revising and Presenting Your Writing

• Ch. 8: Feedback in the Writing Process

• Ch. 9: Business Writing in Action

• Ch. 10: Developing Business Presentations

• Ch. 11: Nonverbal Delivery

• Ch. 12: Organization and Outlines

• Ch. 13: Presentations to Inform

• Ch. 14: Presentations to Persuade

• Ch. 15: Business Presentations in Action

• Ch. 16: Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Business Communication

• Ch. 17: Negative News and Crisis Communication

• Ch. 18: Intercultural and International Business Communication

• Ch. 19: Group Communication, Teamwork, and Leadership

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Contents: 

Licensing

1: Introduction to Communication Studies

1.1: Communication - History and Forms

1.2: The Communication Process

1.3: Communication Principles

1.4: Communication Competence

2: Communication and Perception

2.1: Perception Process

2.2: Perceiving Others

2.3: Perceiving and Presenting Self

2.4: Improving Perception

3: Verbal Communication

3.1: Language and Meaning

3.2: Functions of Language

3.3: Using Words Well

3.4: Language, Society, and Culture

4: Nonverbal Communication

4.1: Principles and Functions of Nonverbal Communication

4.2: Types of Nonverbal Communication

4.3: Nonverbal Communication Competence

4.4: Nonverbal Communication in Context

5: Listening

5.1: Understanding How and Why We Listen

5.2: Barriers to Effective Listening

5.3: Improving Listening Competence

5.4: Listenable Messages and Effective Feedback

6: Interpersonal Communication Processes

6.1: Principles of Interpersonal Communication

6.2: Conflict and Interpersonal Communication

6.3: Emotions and Interpersonal Communication

6.4: Self-Disclosure and Interpersonal Communication

7: Communication in Relationships

7.1: Foundations of Relationships

7.2: Communication and Friends

7.3: Communication and Families

7.4: Romantic Relationships

7.5: Relationships at Work

7.6: The Dark Side of Relationships

8: Culture and Communication

8.1: Foundations of Culture and Identity

8.2: Exploring Specific Cultural Identities

8.3: Intercultural Communication

8.4: Intercultural Communication Competence

9: Preparing a Speech

9.1: Selecting and Narrowing a Topic

9.2: Researching and Supporting Your Speech

9.3: Organizing

9.4: Outlining

10: Delivering a Speech

10.1: Managing Public Speaking Anxiety

10.2: Delivery Methods and Practice Sessions

10.3: Vocal Delivery

10.4: Physical Delivery

11: Informative and Persuasive Speaking

11.1: Informative Speeches

11.2: Persuasive Speaking

11.3: Persuasive Reasoning and Fallacies

11.4: Persuasive Strategies

12: Public Speaking in Various Contexts

12.1: Speaking in Personal and Civic Contexts

12.2: Speaking in Academic Settings

12.3: Speaking in Business Settings

12.4: Speaking via Electronic Media

13: Small Group Communication

13.1: Understanding Small Groups

13.2: Small Group Development

13.3: Small Group Dynamics

14: Leadership, Roles, and Problem Solving in Groups

14.1: Leadership and Small Group Communication

14.2: Group Member Roles

14.3: Problem Solving and Decision Making in Groups

15: Media, Technology, and Communication

15.1: Technological Advances- From the Printing Press to the iPhone

15.2: Functions and Theories of Mass Communication

15.3: Mass Communication and Ethics

16: New Media and Communication

16.1: New Media Technologies

16.2: New Media and Society

16.3: New Media, the Self, and Relationships

Index

Glossary

Detailed Licensing

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This is a modular open textbook designed for entrepreneurial journalism, media innovation, and related courses.

For students enrolled in a journalism or communications course, there is—bar none—no better place to embrace and refine nearly every skill you will need to know than learning about media entrepreneurship and innovation.

In the course of envisioning, prototyping and launching, you will integrate multimedia production, social media distribution, design thinking, data collection and analysis, and audience engagement strategies.

As added benefits, you will develop business skills, begin to understand how to develop a product, how to discover customers, and how to manage all these activities so that you can deliver a new entrepreneurial startup. Or you may go the intrapreneurial route and spearhead a new venture inside your existing media organization.

Face it: You will be stepping into a world where media entrepreneurship is at an all-time high.

It’s clear that media entrepreneurs are articulating some new value propositions for their audiences. Nowadays, entirely new breeds of journalism are emerging from the imaginations of news entrepreneurs: mission-driven journalism, restorative narratives, soft-advocacy journalism, solutions journalism and activist journalism.  Moreover, new media ventures are reaching out and engaging audiences in fresh, new ways, often building robust civic communications ecosystems.

In learning about media innovation, you will be part of the creative process and a contributor to these new trends.  

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 Media, Society, Culture, and You is an approachable introductory Mass Communication text that covers major mass communication terms and concepts including "digital culture." It discusses various media platforms and how they are evolving as Information and Communication Technologies change.

The book grew out of an experiment in developing and employing open educational resources (OER) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Professors from various disciplines were encouraged to find or develop texts to replace or supplement course materials. Because the field of mass communication changes so rapidly, the author of this text decided to “go all in” on OER materials and develop, write, and edit the first version of this electronic textbook with plans to update it at least once per year.

The book has been peer-reviewed by 6 subject experts and is now available for adoption or adaptation. If you plan to adopt or adapt this open textbook, please let us know by filling out our adoption form.

Table of contents:

1. Media, Society, Culture and You

2. Digital Culture and Social Media

3. Media Literacy and Media Studies Research

4. Film and Bricolage

5. Television through Time

6. Music Recording, "Sharing" and the Information Economy

7. Radio Broadcasting, Podcasting and "Superbug Media"

8. Digital Gaming

9. Newspapers and Digital News

10. Advertising, Public Relations and Propaganda

•  Glossary

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This volume examines the phenomenon of fake news by bringing together leading experts from different fields within psychology and related areas, and explores what has become a prominent feature of public discourse since the first Brexit referendum and the 2016 US election campaign.

Dealing with misinformation is important in many areas of daily life, including politics, the marketplace, health communication, journalism, education, and science. In a general climate where facts and misinformation blur, and are intentionally blurred, this book asks what determines whether people accept and share (mis)information, and what can be done to counter misinformation? All three of these aspects need to be understood in the context of online social networks, which have fundamentally changed the way information is produced, consumed, and transmitted. The contributions within this volume summarize the most up-to-date empirical findings, theories, and applications and discuss cutting-edge ideas and future directions of interventions to counter fake news.

Also providing guidance on how to handle misinformation in an age of “alternative facts”, this is a fascinating and vital reading for students and academics in psychology, communication, and political science and for professionals including policy makers and journalists.

Contents:

Ch. 1 -  What is New and True 1 about Fake News?

Part I -  The journey and aftermath of (false) information in networks

• Ch. 2 -  How Bad is the Fake News Problem?: The role of baseline information in public perceptions

• Ch. 3 -  Truth and the Dynamics of News Diffusion on Twitter

• Ch. 4 -  Retracted Articles – the Scientific Version of Fake News

Part II -  Cognitive processes in accepting, sharing, and correcting misinformation

• Ch. 5 -  When (Fake) News Feels True: Intuitions of truth and the acceptance and correction of misinformation

• Ch. 6 -  Truthiness: How non-probative photos shape belief

• Ch. 7 -  Can that be True or is it Just Fake News?: New perspectives on the negativity bias in judgments of truth

• Ch. 8 -  False Beliefs: Byproducts of an adaptive knowledge base?

• Ch. 9 -  Psychological Inoculation Against Fake News

Part III -  Motivational processes in accepting, sharing, and correcting misinformation

• Ch. 10 -  Your Fake News, Our Facts: Identity-based motivation shapes what we believe, share, and accept

• Ch. 11 -  Conspiracy Beliefs: Knowledge, ego defense, and social integration in the processing of fake news

• Ch. 12 -  Fake News Attributions as a Source of Nonspecific Structure

Reviews:

"Fake news is a serious problem for politics, for science, for journalism, for consumers, and, really, for all of us. We now live in a world where fact and fiction are intentionally blurred by people who hope to deceive us. In this tremendous collection, four scientists have gathered together some of the finest minds to help us understand the problem, and to guide our thinking about what can be done about it. The Psychology of Fake News is an important and inspirational contribution to one of society’s most vexing problems." – Elizabeth F Loftus, Distinguished Professor, University of California, Irvine, USA

"This volume provides a great entry point into the vast and growing psychological literature on one of the defining problems of the early 21st century – fake news and its dissemination. The chapters by leading scientists first focus on how (false) information spreads online and then examine the cognitive processes involved in accepting and sharing (false) information. The volume concludes by reviewing some of the available countermeasures. Anyone new to this area will find much here to satisfy their curiosity." – Stephan Lewandowsky, Cognitive Science, University of Bristol, UK

"This is an interesting, innovative and important book on a very significant social issue. Fake news has been the focus of intense public debate in recent years, but a proper scientific analysis of this phenomenon has been sorely lacking. Contributors to this excellent volume are world-class researchers who offer a detailed analysis of the psychological processes involved in the production, dissemination, interpretation, sharing, and acceptance of fake news. This book should be essential reading to anyone interested in public affairs, and especially to students, researchers, and applied professionals in the social sciences." – Joseph P Forgas, Scientia Professor, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

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“Public sector communication in Southern Africa cannot be understood outside the factors shaped by the region’s historical context, political transitions and, subsequently, the need for transparent and inclusive governance.”

In the past decade, digital communication technologies have surged due to the fourth industrial revolution, reshaping communication dynamics with more interactive engagement and rapid feedback. These advancements in the public sector have connected stakeholders to previously inaccessible state branches in South Africa and beyond. Public sector leaders now use digital tools to bolster their brands and demonstrate servant leadership by enhancing service delivery through improved access.

This book brings together diverse scholars who contribute insights that analyse the latest theories and practices in the realm of public sector communication in the digital age. It encompasses theory-driven analyses, applied methodologies, and case studies that capture the current realities in public sector digital communication in Southern Africa. 

Table of Contents:

Introduction: Public Sector Communication in the Digital Age: Public Sector Communication in the Digital Age

Mandla J. Radebe

1. Ethics and Government Communication

Themba Maseko

2. Facebook Communication by South Africa’s Eight Metros

Lakela Kaunda , Ricky M Mukonza

3. Strategic Communication in Local Government Collective Bargaining

     : Proposing Solutions to Challenges

Pay Shabangu

4. Influencing Voter Turnout

    : Analysing the IEC’s Stakeholder Communication Strategy in the 2021 Local Government Elections

Karabo Sitto-Kaunda

5. Public Sector Communications and Institutionalised Bureaucracy

ML Dingalo

6. The Public Sector Communication of Development Programmes for Small Businesses

         : An Implementation Challenge in South Africa

Maphelo Malgas , Andiswa Mrasi

7. Public Health Communication in South Africa: Concepts, Challenges and Contemporary Issues

Elizabeth Lubinga

8. Analysing Public Policies and Communication Strategies in Zimbabwe’s Eye Healthcare Industry

Vincent Tshuma, Sibongile Mpofu

9. Citizen Engagement and Power Asymmetry in Class Divided Societies

    : Some Reflections on South Africa

Mandla J. Radebe

10. Exploring Government Transparency as a Path to Open Government

Anna Oksiutycz-Munyawiri

Conclusion: Contextualising the Complexities of Public Sector Communication

Karabo Sitto-Kaunda

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Good writing skills are important in today’s competitive work environment. This is especially the case for communication-related professions such as public relations, brand communication, journalism, and marketing. Writing for Strategic Communication Industries emphasizes practical application of academic inquiry to help readers improve their writing skills. 

This book gives readers:

• Straightforward chapters that use real-world examples to illustrate key points.

• Discussion of different writing styles and techniques.

• Examples of communication materials such as press releases, creative briefs, feature articles, and more.

• Embedded videos of insights from communication professionals.

• Tips on pitching to the media.

• A collection of popular sources for further explanation.

Table of Contents:

About the Author

Acknowledgments

I. Chapter 1: Defining Strategic Communication

• 1. What is strategic communication?

• 2. Five tenets of strategic communication

• 3. Skills needed in the strategic communication profession

• 4. Jobs in strategic communication

• 5. References

II. Chapter 2: Media Writing--Conventions, Culture, and Style

• 6. The role of media in American society

• 7. Media culture and work environment

• 8. The role of writing in strategic communication

• 9. Media writing skills and characteristics

• 10. References

III. Chapter 3: Strategic Communication Ethics

• 11. Ethics case study

• 12. Code of ethics

• 13. Defamation

• 14. Conflict of interest

• 15. Plagiarism

• 16. Lack of transparency

• 17. Misleading advertisements

• 18. Corporate social responsibility

• 19. References

IV. Chapter 4: News Value

• 20. News value and the strategic communication professional

• 21. News value types (Part 1)

• 22. News value types (Part 2)

• 23. References

V. Chapter 6: Feature Writing

• 24. The purpose of feature writing

• 25. Feature writing versus traditional news writing

• 26. Feature leads

• 27. Feature article organization

• 28. Feature writing devices

• 29. References

VI. Chapter 5: News Writing Basics

• 30. News story objective

• 31. Types of news stories

• 32. Summary lead

• 33. Headlines

• 34. Inverted pyramid style

• 35. Attribution

• 36. Body of the article

• 37. References

VII. Chapter 7: Public Relations Industry

• 38. What is public relations?

• 39. Four models of public relations

• 40. Why do companies need public relations?

• 41. Public relations versus marketing versus advertising

• 42. General roles in public relations

• 43. References

VIII. Chapter 8: Media Relations

• 44. What are media relations?

• 45. Working with journalists

• 46. Pitching to the media

• 47. References

IX. Chapter 9: Public Relations Writing

• 48. The role of writing in public relations

• 49. News writing versus public relations writing

• 50. The press release

• 51. Writing the press release

• 52. Press release structure and format

• 53. Press kit materials

• 54. References

X. Chapter 10: Social Media--Uses and Messaging

• 55. What are social media?

• 56. Factors to consider before posting

• 57. The impact of social media in strategic communication industries

• 58. Social media characteristics

• 59. Creating social media messages

• 60. References

XI. Chapter 11: Advertising Industry

• 61. The role of advertising in society

• 62. Job responsibilities in advertising

• 63. Advertising campaign model: Social marketing

• 64. Creative brief

• 65. Copywriting

• 66. References

XII. Chapter 12: Creating a Writing Portfolio

• 67. Why create a writing portfolio?

• 68. Other important points about the writing portfolio

• 69. Online versus hardcopy portfolios

• 70. Writing portfolio content

• 71. References

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