Handbook of Mass Communication: Theory & Practice

Mass Communication is the term used to describe the academic study of the various means by which individual sand entities relay information through mass media to large segments of the population at the same time. It is usually understood to relate to newspapers and magazine publishing, radio, television and film, as these are used both for disseminating news and for advertising. Mass communication research includes media institutions and processes such as diffusion of information, and media effects such persuasion or manipulation of public opinion. In the United States, for instance, several university journalism departments were remodeled into schools or colleges of mass communication or journalism and mass communication.