Communication in the 21st Century Chapter 1 Communication in the 21st Century

Chapter Objectives Understand the nature and characteristics of the Communication Age Define communication Identify the various contexts within which communication occurs Describe metaphors used to describe communication Explain the importance of considering the ethics of communication © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

The Communication Age An age in which communication, technology, and media converge and permeate daily life Convergence: The ways in which the many forms of technologically mediated and face-to-face communication overlap and intersect in our daily lives. © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

The Communication Age (cont.) Permeate: Communication, Technology, and Media saturate or infuse our daily lives Digital natives – people for whom digital technologies already existed when they were born Digital immigrants – people for whom digital technologies were adopted and learned later in life © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Benefits of Studying Communication Good communication abilities are associated with physical, emotional, and psychological health and well-being Strong speaking and listening skills are associated with greater health literacy The ability to communicate well is the key to fulfilling your need for a satisfying identity According to employers, communication skills are the most valuable abilities employees can possess © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Benefits of Studying Communication Communication is a primary influence on social and personal relationships An understanding of communication promotes media literacy Communication skills are critical to building healthy and vibrant communities Communication is the foundation of democratic citizenship Communication drives social change and reform © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

What is Communication? Communication is the collaborative process of using messages to create and participate in social reality Communication is a dynamic ongoing process Communication is collaborative requiring the involvement of others Communication involves messages Communication is creative Communication is participatory creating and taking part in social reality © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Contexts of Communication Face-to-face Physically, or bodily, present while speaking directly to one another Mediated Communication or messages that are transmitted through some type of medium Interpersonal communication Communication between people sharing a relationship © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Contexts of Communication (cont.) Small group communication – communication among members of a small group of people working together for a common goal Public communication – situations in which a person delivers a message to an audience Audience is a unified body with a common interest © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Contexts of Communication (cont.) Mass communication – messages transmitted by electronic and print media to large audiences Mass personal Communication- happens when a person uses a mass communication context for interpersonal communication or when a person uses an interpersonal communication context for mass communication, such as social networking posts © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Communication Metaphors Communication as Transmission Source sends a message through a channel to a receiver in an environment © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Communication Metaphors Communication as Interaction Two way process of action Adds feedback and fields of experience to the Communication as Transmission model © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Communication Metaphors Communication as Transaction Participants are simultaneous sender-receivers linked in relationship to one another Exchanged messages impact people by sharing surface information and meaning about the relationship of the participants © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Communication Metaphors Communication as Social Construction Communication shapes and creates shared social reality © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Metaphors Matter Each metaphor builds on the previous ones to go one step further The metaphor you adopt makes a difference in your life People who can understand communication from multiple points of view have higher communication competence (O’Keefe, 1988) © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Communication Competence Communication competence refers to the ability to communicate in a personally effective yet socially appropriate manner © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Communication Ethics Ethics is a code of conduct based on respect for yourself, others, and your surroundings To be ethical, communication should provide empowerment and responsibility Communication ethics adjust depending on which metaphor you adopt © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.

Connecting and Engaging in Communication The process of communication is all about connecting and engaging Connecting is the power of communication to link us to people, groups, social institutions, and cultures Engaging is the act of sharing in the activities of the group Communication activism is the application of connecting and engaging in support of needed social change for individuals, groups, organizations, and communities © 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc.