The Media - Successful Cross-Cultural Communication
Ways of Channeling Communication: The Media
Every message is “encoded” and “decoded” around seven main areas of human experience. Let’s look at “The Media” which is how communication is channeled or is carried between the transmitter and the receiver.
A medium of communication is “the means by which messages in the forms of verbal and non-verbal codes are conveyed to respondents.”
Simple media are things like diagrams, models, mimes, conversation, speeches, gestures, etc.
Syndetic media refer to books, films, radio, video, TV, drama, the Internet, etc. because these require “multiple communication skills and combine simple media, usually with the objective of effectively conveying a message to a wider audience.”
Cross-Cultural communicators must divest themselves of the notion that reception of the information is the same everywhere irrespective of the medium used to relay the message. The medium does affect perception of the message and must be chosen carefully.
Technological tools (hardware) for conveying the message are not neutral. They also affect the way the message is received.
Feel free to comment on this post with any points / counter-points, questions, or illustrations.