A Thought That Came to Mind

I know this may sound strange but I do some of my best thinking while I am on the bus. I was thinking the other day, while bundled up from head to toe because of the extremely cold weather. After I read the first chapter of Looking Out, Looking In, I thought that is sounded really familiar. Like something I just learned not that long ago.

I thought a little more about it, on the bus heading to Downtown St. Paul, and it clicked to me, "The first chapter of the book is somewhat similar to Introduction to Mass Communications: Media Literacy and Culture." I took a Intro to Mass Communications class last semester at Minneapolis Community & Technical College.

Even though mass communications (defined as "the process of creating shared meaning between mass media and their audiences") focuses more on media and the different types of media (journalism, public relations, advertising, ect), interpersonal communications (defined as communication between two individuals) can relate to it. Even though in Looking Out, Looking In, the model on page 9 is called the "linear communication model". In Intro to Mass Communications, the exact same model is displayed, but is called the "Osgood and Schramm's Model of Communication".

When dealing with mass communications, you are also dealing with interpersonal communications. A news reporter needs good interpersonal skills in order to deliver the story. He/she needs to talk to witnesses of a breaking news story. Witnesses have to tell their story to the reporter or police officer.

Everyday people deal with people in some way, shape or form. Public service employees need to communicate with customer's questions about their service. People who work as stock brokers need to communication with their clients on how Wall Street is doing that day.

As stated in the course text, James Flanigan said "Communication skills will fetch premium pay. The person who talks on the phone to mutual fund investors will have to be even more knowledgeable, efficient, and personable than the bank teller of old. Competition for such jobs won't be based on pay alone but on skills." Basically, what this means, if you have no communication skills, you'll have a hard time getting that promotion.

Through out the semester, I am going to compare my notes from mass communications and interpersonal communications since I am going into the mass communications field after I am all said and done with college. I know there are many more ways to compare mass communications and interpersonal communications but I just wanted to give you my thoughts as I was shivering on a cold morning waiting for the bus!!!!