Centuries back, it took enormous time to start talking to each other and understand. But what if both spoke a different language? How will they establish a mode to “communicate”? Here the word communication means to say and get a response in return. Without communication, a perfect network between two or more parties will not establish.
Mass Communication vs Visual Communication
The main difference between mass communication and Visual communication is that mass communication is about media, public relations, and much more. But it is more like marketing communications. On the other hand, visual communication occurs basically through posts, photos, and for a visual communicator, a man needs to know the usage of software like Photoshop, Adobe ecosystems.
Mass communication is a mode to transfer a piece of knowledge from mass media to a vast population. It’s a mode through which the exchange of information takes place. It could be any platform or any other technology like advertisements, news channels, YouTube, and many more.
Visual communication is a creative part where a person needs to transfer knowledge to a more significant society segment through posts, illustration, etc. This mode isn’t just limited to just posts and posters. For a team to impart information visually, they need to know the tactics and usage of tools and various software.
Comparison Table Between Mass Communication and Visual Communication
| Parameters of Comparison | Mass Communication | Visual Communication |
| Definition | It’s a mode of exchange of information through mass media. | This exchange is through various designs, posts, photos, and much more. |
| Tools | It requires a connection with satellites to display knowledge. | It needs learning of software like Adobe Photoshop, Canva, ecosystem. |
| Course | Mostly, it needs a degree of journalism and mass communication. | The degree isn’t much needed, but yes, a person should know graphic design. |
| Speed of transfer | Mass media transfers a piece of knowledge much faster as it displays videos or captured photos. | This is a bit slow because it takes time to reach a greater audience. |
| Creativity | It doesn’t need much creativity because it spreads information faster. | It is time taking to it is a creative thing and attracts and influences the audience. |
What is Mass Communication?
Mass communication is a medium of transferring knowledge, information, or even data through mass media, which reach a greater audience faster in nature. Some mass media technology requires connections with satellites like television, radio, social networking.
It circulates knowledge among the population of a country, or it could be across the globe. Some examples of mass communication are magazines, the Internet, films. Mass media is something that has become a need for anyone to remain updated every minute.
Mass media covers various topics like most ongoing heated discussions in politics, challenges faced by people of a country, development news, Bollywood stars, interviews, Olympics, agricultural sectors, medicine sector and much more. It’s not limited to a single niche. Mass media covers almost every niche.
Mass media has also become crucial for even share markets and investors in stock markets. A news report becomes vital for an investor to analyse a company to buy or sell stocks to book profits or stop themselves from loss.
What is Visual Communication?
Visual communication is a mode of knowledge transfer through illustrations, posts, graphics, typography, signs, and many more. In general, a person needs to know the implementation part of these tools and software to transfer a quality piece of information.
Many tools are available in the market to facilitate graphic designers to engage with the audience better. Some tools and software are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe motions graphics, Canva, Microsoft word, PowerPoint slides and much more.
Besides, it’s a bit slow transfer because it needs a piece to be fully developed and made. It’s not something that’s written or designed casually. To organise a post and engage with a greater audience, a Graphic designer needs to be skilled in software and creativity. It’s an image thing which attracts. It drives people’s attention and time, so it will spread like wildfire if it could be made valuable.
It draws and makes perceptions of the audience the way you design and impart knowledge. It could be from anywhere – social media posts, chalkboards, whiteboards, videos, small graphical videos, computer-assisted presentations. It’s diverse in nature as well and doesn’t confine to a single mode of exchange.
Main Differences Between Mass Communication and Visual Communication
- Through mass media, the exchange takes place through interfaces. It displays information and influences the audience, whereas, through visual effects, information is imparted by designing posts, posters, illustrations, etc.
- For mass communication, a team must have a degree and good knowledge about mass communication, whereas a person to connect visually doesn’t need to have a degree.
- Mass media is believed to be faster in nature than Visual communication methods.
- Visual mode needs creativity to drive attention and influence a group, but mass media doesn’t need much creativity.
- An expert in Visual communication is good at working with tools and software like Adobe flash and its ecosystem. In contrast, the mass media team doesn’t need this software to work and facilitate.
Conclusion
What remains essential is passing the latest news and information. Be it mass media or visual media. However, both stand equally crucial in their respective fields. Mass media transfers the newest news information quickly but doesn’t know about creativity. Whereas visual communication needs creativity but is a bit slow in nature.
Both have their own set of pros and cons and contribute towards the betterment of society. From updating the people to bringing out their opinions, we have covered a long way. Mass communication and Visual communication are boons for society and anyone across the world.
References
- https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1962-00995-000
- https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.9783/9781512809282/html