Mass Communication Research

Communicating with large audiences takes a distinct set of skills and a working knowledge of how advertising campaigns, media cycles and the other factors can change the way that people relay, receive and understand messages. Mass communication is an incredibly relevant and important subsection of communication studies. The study of mass media is particularly important with the growing availability of Internet-ready computers and cell phones. Mass communication encompasses all forms of communication that rely on large-scale media, and as these communication techniques evolve, it is important to stay informed about new mass communication trends and concepts. In this section of our blog, we will look at the latest mass communication research, including studies, experiments, scientific surveys, theories and critical analyses.

Viral TNT Ad Is Hilarious and Insightful [Video]

April 17, 2012 coms 0

Ever wonder how television drama actually compares to real life? Now you can find out. TNT, whose slogan reads, “Your Daily Dose of Drama,” gives us a taste of what it takes to make highly entertaining television through their new ad/viral video.

New Tool Shows Youth Overexposure To Alcohol-Related Advertising

April 12, 2012 coms 0

A new online tool draws attention to how young people are exposed to radio ads for wine, beer and hard liquor. The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth developed the tool at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health by tracking and analyzing the consistency of alcohol-related ads in 75 radio markets in 2009.

The Key to Happiness is Tragedy? [Study]

April 3, 2012 coms 0

Human existence being what it is, it would seem logical that people would seek out happy stories to help them escape from life’s harsh realities. Yet people who experience the everyday tragedies, disappointments and losses that all human beings experience actively seek out movies, television shows and books that depict tragedy. It now appears that the reason people take pleasure in watching tragedies is that tragedies actually make them feel happier.

What Makes Great Infographics Great

April 2, 2012 coms 0

Today’s culture is obsessed with data. We love approval ratings of presidents, how the public feels about prescription drugs, and the ratings of our favorite TV shows. So it’s no wonder that infographics have been all the rage online. But just like anything, there’s good and there’s bad infographics. Bad infographics don’t go viral. Great ones do. Here are some tips for creating and designing brilliant, wonderful, great infographics.

Confirmation Bias Is False, Says Study

February 10, 2012 coms 0

A study suggests the thought that political partisans only immerse themselves in media which reinforce their beliefs may be unfounded. They discovered that even the most partisan readers visit mainstream news sites, as well as partisan sites that express views that oppose their own.

Exposure to Mass Media Improves Diet [Study]

February 1, 2012 coms 1

Television’s bad influence on viewers’ eating habits has long been a source of concern for health experts and parents. However, a new study by researchers in Italy shows that the more exposure to newspapers, television and the Internet people have, the healthier they eat. The study found that the more participants used television, newspapers and the Internet as a source of information, the more closely they adhered to a traditional Mediterranean diet.

Like seriously, give me what I want.

The Age of Self-Importance

January 20, 2012 coms 1

Generation Y members — also known as Generation Me, millennials, and echoboomers — were born between 1982 and 2002, and are seen by many as over self-entitled whiners who believe they deserve at least a B for showing up to class, and a trophy for simply participating in events. Hara Estroff Marano, editor of Psychology Today, calls them “a nation of wimps.”

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Sexist, Sexy Heroes Invade Comic Book Pages [Study]

December 22, 2011 coms 0

Many of the products aimed at holiday shoppers this year are inspired by popular comic books. Most of these items, including toys, games, accessories and clothing, feature superheroes with names that parents will recognize from their own childhoods. According to new research from the University of Cambridge, however, these familiar characters may bear little resemblance to the wholesome heroes whose adventures filled the comic books of a generation ago.