Types of Communication-4 Chapter 3

Mass-Line Communication and Mass Communication

There are different types of Communication. These are often categorised differently by different scholars. We will discuss different types of Communication in this blog. Since this chapter is a long one, I have split it into different volumes to help students. This will be a series called Types of Communication-1,2,3,4,5,6

1. Verbal Communication and Non- Verbal Communication
2. Inter-personal Communication and Intra-personal Communication
3. Small Group Communication and Public Communication
4. Mass-Line Communication and Mass Communication
5. Formal Communication and Informal Communication

We have already discussed :

1. 'Verbal Communication and Non- Verbal Communication' in my post titled Types of Communication-1 Chapter 3
2.  'Inter-personal Communication and Intra-personal Communication' in my post titled Types of Communication -2 Chapter 3
3. 'Small Group Communication and Public Communication' in my post titled Types of Communication -3 Chapter 3

We now look at 'Mass-Line' communication followed by Mass Communication.

Mass-Line Communication

The term Mass-Line Communication is attributed to Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party. It is a political, leadership method that involved communication with the masses which was non- manipulative and mindful of their needs and knowledge. It includes communication that consulted the masses themselves. It is a 'bottom-up' type of Communication rather that the 'top-down' approach. 

Encyclopedia of Anti-Revisionism On-Line states two important statements of Chairman Mao, which can be used to describe the Mass line Communication. It says, that Chairman Mao pointed out: “The masses in any given place are generally composed of three parts, the relatively active, the intermediate and the relatively backward. The leaders must therefore be skilled in uniting the small number of active elements around the leadership and must rely on them to raise the level of the intermediate elements and to win over the backward elements.”

We, thus note that in Mass Line communication, the leaders do not dominate and over power the masses, rather, rely on the masses themselves to deal with the issues concerning them. In a communication like this, the masses were to inspired and energized to stand for their rights. It was a similar technique that was observed in the life of Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle in India.

Chairman Mao also wrote that “In all the practical work of our Party, all correct leadership is necessarily ’from the masses, to the masses,’ This means: take the ideas of the masses (scattered and unsystematic ideas) and concentrate them (through study rum them into concentrated and systematic ideas), then go to the masses and propagate and explain these ideas until the masses embrace them as their own, hold fast to them and translate them into action, and test the correctness of these ideas in such action.” (Encyclopedia of Anti-Revisionism On-Line)

In India, Gandhiji led to a massive revolution through movements like the Satyagraha and the Dandi March. Thousands of Indians rallied with him. 

In her book, 'Dynamics Of Mass Communication Theory And Practice', Uma Narula, writes on the concept of Mass Line Communication. She says, "Mass Line Concept of Communication is identified with non- elitist leadership. Gandhi (India) suggested bottom- up Communication between the people and the development functionaries. This concept of communication presupposes

(i) People’s Participation and leadership in community activities and development

(ii) Opinion leadership as significant communication links between people and the concerned, and development functionaries."


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Mass Communication

Mass communication is a term that is basically used to define communication that occurs through the use of  Media or Technology-Mediated Channels to a large number of Recipients. In simple words, the transfer of information or messages is thus done mechanically or through any electronic medium. 

In most instances “The sender often is a person in some large media organization, the messages are public, and the audience tends to be large and varied” (Berger 121). However, with new media coming in messages today, the sender can also be a single individual whose post or file or information could reach out to a large number of recipients through social networking forums. 

Thus Mass communication uses Mass media like Print technology (newspapers, books and Magazines), Television, Radio, Internet, Digital technology, etc. 

P.S: The Books and Online materials have been mentioned for the convenience of the students. You may read them online, or read the books available on the mentioned authors from your library for further study or buy the same online.