Comunication

Communication is the exchange of (information, gossip, data, etc.) between two people/things. For this purpose we use a medium through we send and receive information. The field of communication focuses on how people use messages to generate meanings within and across various contexts, cultures, channels, and media. The field promotes the effective and ethical practice of human communication Communication is derived from a word 'commune'. Earliest modes of communication like native languages, pictorials, sounds to latest technology modes like sms, voice mail, digital photos, etc.
Communication Media: In the last century, a revolution in telecommunications has greatly altered communication by providing new media for long distance communication. The first transatlantic two-way radio broadcast occurred on July 25, 1920 and led to common communication via analogue and digital media: Analog telecommunications include traditional Telephony, radio, and TV broadcasts. Digital telecommunications allow for computer-mediated communication, telegraphy, and computer networks. Communications media impact more than the reach of messages. They impact content and customs. As Australia is very advance country in, its communication technology is also at boom in modren era. Depatment of Communication, Information and ars Technology is setteled that provides strategic advice and professional support to the Australian Government on a wide range of significant and rapidly changing policy areas.

Communication Technology

Telecommunication: Telecommunication is the transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of communication. Today this process almost always involves the sending of electromagnetic waves by electronic transmitters but in earlier years it may have involved the use of smoke signals, drums or semaphores. Today, telecommunication is widespread and devices that assist the process such as the television, radio and telephone are common in many parts of the world. There is also a vast array of networks that connect these devices, including computer networks, public telephone networks, radio networks and television networks. Computer communication across the Internet, such as e-mail and instant messaging, is just one of many examples of telecommunicationTelecommunication is the transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of communication. Today this process almost always involves the sending of electromagnetic waves by electronic transmitters but in earlier years it may have involved the use of smoke signals, drums or semaphores. Today, telecommunication is widespread and devices that assist the process such as the television, radio and telephone are common in many parts of the world. There is also a vast array of networks that connect these devices, including computer networks, public telephone networks, radio networks and television networks. Computer communication across the Internet, such as e-mail and instant messaging, is just one of many examples of telecommunication

Telecommunications in Australia began in 1854 with a telegraph line from Melbourne city to Williamstown, publicly funded but privately constructed. By 1856 the length of line in Victoria had grown to 36 miles, with 14,738 messages. 1861 there were 110 telegraph stations across the eastern colonies. The first Australia to New Zealand telegraph link was achieved in 1876. Ten years later there were over 8,000 miles of line in Queensland alone. Brisbane was linked to New Caledonia in 1891. Australia's first telephone service (connecting the Melbourne and South Melbourne offices of Robinson Brothers) was launched in 1879, with the first telephone exchange opened in Melbourne in 1880. A public radiotelephone service between Australia and New Zealand commenced on 25 November 1930. In July 1931 that was linked to the UK-Australia radiotelephone service, which utilized beam wireless stations in Victoria at Ballan and Rockband.

In Australia the 1982 Davidson Enquiry regarding private sector involvement in delivery of existing/proposed telecommunications services recommended ending Telecom Australia's monopoly. In the preceding year Aussat Pty Ltd, another government agency, had been established to operate domestic satellite telecommunication and broadcasting services. It was not until 1985 that Australia's first geostationary communications satellite was operational; by late 1990 it had debts of about $400 million. at the beginning of the 1990s Australia had only a handful of cable sites - generally servicing small geographical areas where aerial transmission was poor. Australian legislation for the introduction of pay-television passed in 1992. Over 1,300 licenses had been issued to pay-tv operators. The telecommunication technology goes on progress and the Australian Communications Authority estimated that the benefits to consumers of telecommunications services from competition in 2000/1 were between $5.5 billion and $12 billion.

Mass Communication: Mass media is a term used to denote, as a class, that section of the media specifically conceived and designed to reach a very large audience (typically at least as large as the whole population of a nation state). It was coined in the 1920s with the advent of nationwide radio networks and of mass-circulation newspapers and magazines. The mass-media audience has been viewed by some commentators as forming a mass society with special characteristics, notably atomization or lack of social connections, which render it especially susceptible to the influence of modern mass-media techniques such as advertising and propaganda

Controls over media ownership in Australia are laid down in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, administered by the Australian Broadcasting Authority. Even with laws in place Australia has a high concentration of media ownership. Ownership of national and the newspapers of each capital city are dominated by two coporations, Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, (which was founded in Adelaide) and John FairFax Holdings.These two coporations along with West Australian Newspapers and the Harris Group work together to create Australian Associated Press which distrubutes the news and then sells it on to other outlets such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Although much of the everyday main stream news is drawn from the Australian Associated Press all the privately owned media outlets still compete with each other for exclusive Pop culture news. Rural and regional media is dominated by Rural Press Limited which is owned also by John Fairfax Holdings, with significant holdings in all states and territories. There are rules governing foreign ownership of Australian media and these rules are being considered for loosening by the current Howard Government.

According to Reporters Without Borders in 2004, Australia is in 41st position on a list of countries ranked by Press Freedom; well behind New Zealand (9th) and United Kingdom (28th). This ranking is primarily due to the limited diversity in media ownership. The problem has even created a show in it self Media Watch (Australian TV series) on a government funded station Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) which is one of two government administered free to air channels the other being Special Broadcasting Service(SBS).