NM1101E
Communications, New Media and Society
Week 1 Introduction to Communication and
New Media
Dr. Soh Kai Ruo | cnmkrs@[Link]
Hello! I’m Dr. Soh Kai Ruo
• Course Coordinator and Lecturer for
NM1101E
• Research area: Cultural Diplomacy, Film
Production, Media and Cultural Studies,
Communicating for Social Change
• Professional: Marketing and
Communications in various arts and non-
profit organisations
Meet the Teaching Team!
Dr. Bertha Chin Dr. Soh Kai Ruo
Ms. Farah Bawany
Ms. Amy Soh
Ms. Chen Hui Lin Dr. Baey Shi Chen
Ms. Aditi Singh
Teaching Team introductions and tutorials
[Link]
Today’s Agenda
1. What is Communication and New Media?
2. Introduction to Communication Studies
3. Briefing on Course Structure and Assignments
We all have a lifetime of experience in
communication
Let’s start with something simple
“communication as the process of generating meaning by sending and
receiving verbal and nonverbal symbols and signs that are influenced
by multiple contexts.”
(University of Minnesota 2016, p. 2)
Communication
An Object
• Content / message (examples: a conversation, advertisement,
music video, lecture slides, TikTok video etc…)
A Process
• Social interaction, anchored in shared meaning, between people
• Transmission of content/message
language
common
A process of interaction through signals/messages
medium
Media Plughgular
Object (Media Object)
• The technology (example: phone, laptop,
television etc…)
• Content (example: Social media, apps, music
video, film, television show etc…)
process is
diff in cinvene athome
Process
legphonecall msg
• Mediation between people
• Mediating between people and things
• As something between (example: screen, a
word/words, an image)
film
eg
phone
niet
pithm
Elements Content
Diffgropsofpeople based
on diffcultures society
Society understand é same msg differently theymay have
knowledge exp interacts to inheritand é
An Object doff reef
• A population or group of people. Often organised around a different
thereguy
to
particular place (such as a nation-state), or culture (diasporic group
or even fan group)
Process
• How “society” is formed through social interaction between people
in relation to the world around them
Society is a way of thinking about people who are a culture and
practices
Media, Communication and Society
Overlapping and interconnected terms
• Communication required media
messages move between people; and people and things
• Media is a form of communication
media content communicates messages
• Society shapes and is also shaped by both media and
communication
who communicates a media message is important
how it is understood by people may have differential effects
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Why did you go on it?
Communication and Media
Shape our everyday lives, from work to play
Food for thought
How does the media influence our decision and the way we
communicate?
• How does having online exams or Zoom lectures affect the way you
study?
• What new jobs are created because of media innovations? Will
some jobs disappear?
• How do we communicate our “brand” on LinkedIn as we build our
professional profile?
• How much time do we spend on our screen and devices?
• How has technology impact the way we communicate and socialise
• How much information do we receive through media? How do we
identify what’s reliable?
So… what is communication studies?
Communication Studies
• Area of academic study
• Arguably traced back to Classical Greece and philosophers like
Aristotle
proof
• More recent understanding of communication
interacts btw
pplthin signals usgs
was institutionalised
in universities in the 20th century
• Parallel to the rise of advertising and news media
• There are sub-groups created but can be organised into two
overlapping group
Those we study how to communicate and apply it to persuade populations
(communication management and interactive media design)
Those who study how communications work to understand the effects and
to critique such persuasion (Media effects, Media and cultural studies)
1450–1850 1990-present
‘Print era’ (1450-1850): communication ‘Internet era’ (1990-present):
technologies such as the printing press expansion of digital and personal
saw widespread literacy media
‘Audiovisual era’ (1850-1990): saw the
invention of radio, telegraph, telephone and
television
1850–1990
meanings
creating
connectg 1ppl
Communication and Media
Communication (as “rhetoric” or
“the art of speech”) is key to
participating in democracy
as human
civilisats exists [Link] exists
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Introduction to the Model of
Communications
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banston
Most of
Transmission Model
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Shannon, C. E. & W. Weaver. (1949). The Mathematical Theory of
Communication. Urbana, IL: The University of Illinois Press.
Transmission Model
An example: The Workplace
• Boss calls you on WhatsApp and say, “please come to a meeting”
and then the line went dead
• Suddenly there’s no Wi-Fi and data after the call got cut off
(transmission error)
• You get confused (and maybe worried) because no details are given.
Transmission Model
An example: The Workplace
• Sender: Boss
• Encoder (Transmitter): WhatsApp (it encodes the message [call]
sent by your boss)
• Channel: WiFi and data
• Noise: Wifi and data got cut off (transmission error)
• Decoder (Reception): WhatsApp (it decodes the message [call]
sent by your boss for you to receive)
• Receiver: You
Due to “noise” caused by the transmission error, you are not able to
understand your boss’s message [call]
Transmission Model
• One-way flow of communication. Only to sender -> receiver
• Lacks consideration of non-verbal communication
• Lacks account of multiple, competing sources of information
(noise!)
Interaction Model
Schramm, W. & D. F. Roberts. (1971). The Process
& Effects of Mass Communication. Urbana, IL:
The University of Illinois Press.
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Interaction Model
• Inclusive of some context for the
message being communicated
• Allows for feedback outside the
sender and receiver
BUT
• Lacks a strong account of the impact
of more nuanced social positions
Power dynamics
Transaction Model
Barnlund, D. C. (1970). ‘A Transactional Model of Communication’. Foundations of Communication
Theory. K. K. Sereno & D. Mortenson. Eds. New York, NY: Harper & Row. 83-92.
Transaction Model
• Social context: norms that guide communication (stated or unstated)
• Relational context: the interpersonal history/encounters you’ve had
with a person
• Cultural context: different aspects of identities often bracket and
influence our communication
Looks
at how we www towedeRS to
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Briefing on Course Structure and
Assignments
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What is required of you
• Attend the live lectures or watch the recordings
• Go through the required readings
• Attend your tutorials
University study requires independent learning and resilience
Before you drop us an email, ask yourself:
• Have I checked Canvas?
• Did I go to the lecture and/or read through the lecture slides
• Is the information already available to me?
Quick Guide to Canvas
Detail Canvas Navigation (Where to find it)
Weekly Online Lectures Zoom
Assignments Assignments
Weekly Topics, Lecture and
Modules
Tutorial Information
Weekly Readings Course Readings or Modules
Announcements Announcements or Your Email Inbox
Course Syllabus and
Syllabus
Schedule
Lecture Recordings Zoom -> Cloud Recordings
• Readings
• Information about
the week’s topic
• What you need to
complete for the
week
What to expect in lectures?
• Conceptual materials
• Applications and interactive activities based on theoretical
frameworks and case studies
• Q&A about content
How do I do well?
• Attend the live lectures, listen and contribute
• Ask questions during the live lectures / on Canvas if you need
clarification
What to expect in tutorials?
The tutors are NOT here to answer any questions about the
lectures and its content.
The tutors and tutorials are designed to expand your knowledge to
help you to independently apply what you’ve learnt into your
assignments.
It is your responsibility to attend the lecture / watch the recording,
complete the required readings and assigned activities.
What to expect in tutorials?
1. Quiz discussion
2. Case study application
3. Group discussion for Group Project
(help you meet your milestones)
Tutorials run fortnightly
Tutorials will begin in: for 2 hours
• Week 3 for TD tutorials Attendance is marked
• Week 4 for TE tutorials and your participation
counts
Assignments
[Link]
1. Participation - Individual (10%)
• Lecture and Tutorial participation
2. Essay – Individual (20%)
3. Milestone Checkpoints – Group (5%)
4. Group Report – Group (25%)
5. Peer Evaluation - Individual (10%)
6. Final Exam - Individual (30%)
Participation (10%)
[Link]
Ongoing
• You’re not marked based on how many “correct” answers you got, but the
effort you put into this course
Lectures
• Attend live lectures/watch the recordings
• Participate in the lecture activities within the deadline (see Canvas)
Tutorials
• Participate in tutorial activities and not just “fluffing” your answers / talking
without thought but providing critical contributions demonstrating you’ve
completed the tasks required
• Being respectful and contributing to a safe space for discussions
Task to Complete this Week
• Complete the reading for this week.
• Sign up for a tutorial.
• Share your thoughts with us in this quick
survey (no more than 2 minutes)
• Please ensure that you've signed into your
NUS student account before taking the
survey
Questions?
Additional sources that you might
useful:
Barnlund, D. C. (1970). ‘A Transactional Model of Communication’. Foundations of Communication Theory.
K. K. Sereno & D. Mortenson. Eds. New York, NY: Harper & Row. 83-92.
Chandler, D. & R. Munday. (2020). A Dictionary of Media and Communication. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford UP.
Schramm, W. & D. F. Roberts. (1971). The Process & Effects of Mass Communication. Urbana, IL: The
University of Illinois Press.
Shannon, C. E. & W. Weaver. (1949). The Mathematical Theory of Communication. Urbana, IL: The
University of Illinois Press.
