A mass media network is the current awareness or informing people about the current events and activities of human beings and also about every significant natural phenomenon and others of public interest on a large scale. It covers practically all topics imaginable, with an emphasis on a large audience, regardless of their education and experience. The term “media” in this context refers to a variety of channels, including print and non-print, via which users can access news and information in addition to the physical forms of communication that are used to deliver it.
Mass Media Networks predominantly comprise the following:
- Print media
- Primarily daily newspapers
- Popular periodicals and others
- Radio Broadcasting
- Television
- Audio-visuals, CDs, DVDs, etc, and
- Motion Films
The three significant roles of mass media networks in development are: (i) to inform (ii) to instruct and (iii) to participate.
(i) To Inform: Proper social, political, and economic impact is the primary factor in the growth of a society. Both national and international information should be included in this. People need to be aware of the issues or details that impede development.
(ii) To Explain: Mass literacy is a necessary condition for progress. This is made feasible by teaching the populace fundamental skills. The media in general is crucial in this. People can be informed and educated through the media. People can raise their standard of living by learning these fundamental skills.
(iii) To Participate: The country’s total development depends on the voluntary and consistent participation of its citizens. A liberal society is capable of allowing such engagement. Through conversation, discussion, and debate, this awareness is made possible. People can learn about current concerns, take part in developmental programmes, and improve society’s level of living by participating in discussions and debates.
Characteristics of Mass Media Networks
Because of the advancements made over time, mass communication now has a far greater impact. Therefore, it’s imperative to understand the primary characteristics of mass media networks, which are as follows:
- Can appeal to a broad target audience
- One major characteristic of mass media is that the traffic flows in only one direction that is, from the material source to the consumers.
- Mass media also influences society and shapes their opinion on larger issues
- Can be distributed through a variety of media, including TV, the internet, radio, and newspapers
- Heterogenous audience as mass media networks reaches a wide spectrum of audience.
The Importance of Mass Media Networks in Our Society
They Determine Our Place in the World
Mass media networks have a significant impact on society. Such networks are a source of information for the audience to assess what’s going on. Mass media plays a critical role in revealing various social problems and stigmas in society for which numerous remedies might be inferred.
The vital component of mass media is to influence people’s life by shaping their standard of living and perspective on society. In turn, each member of society indicates the future changes that are coming and mass media influences the public in a way that sparks various social movements and changes.
Encourage Massive Changes
Without a doubt, mass media networks cover all of the changes that occur for the general public. Such networks affect many aspects of human life, which can include voting a certain way, individual views and beliefs, or skewing a person’s knowledge of a specific topic due to being provided false information. The audience these days has the capacity to choose the information they need to know and ignore the rest.
The impact of mass media can be observed through the population’s behaviour including interacting with other users, forming opinions, and establishing trends.
Contribution to Knowledge
Mass media networks have educated people on a vast array of issues due to their immense power. This helps children and teenagers become more familiar with a variety of knowledge sources and cultivates their desire to study new things. Teachers should assist their students in conducting a thorough analysis of the information sources they use. This will enable them to distinguish between the good, average, and poor quality of the data they get. It is important to remember that a child’s current passion may serve as an inspiration for their future career.
Being aware of the Reality
We receive news about events in the nation and around the world from a variety of sources. With the help of this information, we are better able to stay in touch with reality, comprehend the world around us, and of course, apprehend the crux of the situation. We establish our own thoughts on various subjects and ideas by digesting the information we are given. What matters is how quietly our viewpoints and attitudes mature while honouring people who hold opposing views.
The Right to Seek Truth
Democracy is so far the fairest system of government that exists today. It enables the people to choose their leaders and then exercise control over what they do on a public level. Mass media networks are essential to this procedure. Journalists should make an effort to portray politicians honestly and accurately. Good decision-making depends on people having reliable, accurate facts put in a meaningful context. So that every citizen of the populace could asses what’s appropriately suitable for them.
Improving Critical Thinking
Mass media networks are crucial to education because it fosters in kids and teenagers a sense of critical thinking. We have a wide range of options to pick from on radio, television, and the internet. It should be emphasised that communication methods frequently establish inherited patterns. They persuade each person to select one over the other. Because of this, it’s crucial that parents and instructors help kids and teenagers develop strong personalities and to make wise decisions. In this way, they make decisions based on their personal convictions and not any other persuasion.
Conclusion
Utilizing mass media networks, corporations can transmit specific messages to the public. We receive a tonne of information daily on a wide range of subjects through mass media networks. In order to prevent our thinking from being skewed in favour of the interests of other people, it is our responsibility to constructively critique the information we receive. This education starts in childhood and continues throughout adulthood.
‘THE EMISSARY’ is a global mass media network exclusively operated by perspicacious teenagers. In recent years all of us have witnessed the strong influence of mass media networks in our lives and therefore, ‘The Emissary’ stands to provide a space for teenagers with a global facet of every aspect through wide-ranging opportunities that provide them with imperative exposure to people with common interests to enrich them with highly beneficial experiences.