Study Guide: Mass Communication in Malaysia

Most people generally have a large misconception of what Mass Communication actually is. Some guess that it is merely about the study of communication, while others believe that it is only about broadcast, journalism, and radio. The reality is that mass communication is an expansive field of knowledge that is involved in everyday lives. In one way or another, every individual participates in the world of mass communication several times a day.

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If you have an interest in broadcasting hard-hitting news, creating content for several brands, or perhaps have ideas and messages you want to share through radio or podcast channels, Mass Communication might just be the right course for you!

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Mass Communication

First thing’s first, let’s clarify the meaning of the term. Mass Communication (Mass Comm) is often defined as the process of creating, sending, and receiving messages through media channels all at the same time. It is an incredibly wide field that covers news, branding, entertainment, marketing, public relations, and so on. The channels mass communication often travels through are either in traditional media forms such as newspapers, radio, and television or through online channels such as social media. It is an exciting course of study due to its elasticity and how much it has evolved with the development of technology and new media. Especially since the emergence of social media and its prevalence in our current lives, mass communication has never been more fun. It is an essentially creative way messages are communicated through the world.

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Within the field of of Mass Communication, there are several fields in which you can choose to specialise your career in.

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• Advertising: This is often related to marketing, but it primarily focuses on the promotion and selling of the products. Advertisement is everywhere. Either at home when you want to watch a video online, or when you go out and find billboards and electronic screens.

• Broadcasting: This specialisation mainly relates to the distribution of audio-visual content to mass audiences. Examples of broadcast are televised news, radio stations, or anytime you choose to read a news article online.

• Journalism: This involves the collection, preparation, and distribution of news materials. This can either be presented through traditional forums or online. Journalism may involve hard news, entertainment, feature articles, or advice columns. 

• Marketing: Marketing is often described as creating value for the customers. In the world of marketing, you would need to capture your customers’ attention and persuade them to choose your products or services over others. One way in which marketing affects you are the reason why you chose the electronic devices you are using today.

• Public Relations (PR): PR refers to how a company/organization maintains a positive image with the public. This is done through scheduling public appearances, organizing press releases, and managing the bad press.