Communications

Parable of the Sower The New Testament, in Matthew’s Gospel, records the Parable of the Sower. There was a sower who went out to sow. When he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside and were eaten by the birds; some fell on shallow, stony ground. Because the soil was not deep, they sprouted the fastest, but when the sun came out and shone, because they had no roots, they withered. Some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them; and some fell on good soil, producing fruit—some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold. Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. ...

Review of Basic Theories in Communication Studies 1. Agenda-Setting Theory Proponents: Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw Core Idea: Media influences the public’s ranking of issue importance by selecting and emphasizing certain topics. Explanation: What the media reports, the public tends to focus on. For example, if the media constantly reports on climate change, people may perceive climate change as one of the most important current issues. 2. Spiral of Silence Theory Proponents: Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann Core Idea: People fear being isolated for expressing minority views, so they choose to remain silent, causing the mainstream views to become stronger. Explanation: In a social setting, if someone supports an unpopular policy, they might choose not to express their opinion due to fear of being ridiculed or excluded. ...