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Communication Literacy: An Introduction to Communication Studies (Newsom and Montenegro)

  • Page ID
    246983
    • Victoria Newsom and Desiree Ann Montenegro
    • Olympic College and Cerritos College

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    In this OER textbook, you will be exposed to a variety of communication processes and modes, grouped into the fields of study we investigate in academe. We use this approach in the broad field of Communication Studies because it is a means of managing the complexity and expanse of communication. In today's world, it's difficult or even nearly impossible to function without some level of communication literacy. That term, communication literacy, refers to the ability of an individual to not only convey their ideas, information, and messages to others, but also to be able to interpret and understand the ideas, information, and messages that they receive. The processes involved in communicating, or transferring messages and ideas between people, are far more intricate than many people recognize. In today's world, these processes include a variety of forms and styles, such as interpersonal, digital, public, media, intercultural, transnational, gendered, racial, group, and organizational communication, to name a few. We refer to people who have the ability to communicate effectively in one or more of these modes as having communication competency, which requires a high level of "communication literacy" and knowledge of how communication actually works.


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