Social Communication
Social Communication is a field of study that mainly explores the ways information can be perceived, transmitted and understood, and the impact those ways will have on a society. Thus, the study of Social Communication is more politically and socially involved than the study of Communication, even though it holds the former in great regard.
Several Communication-related graduation courses in Brazilian universities, for instance, are named Social Communication (or, even better, Comunicação Social). These graduation courses involve the study of broadcasting, Journalism, Telecommunication, Publicity, television, radio and Public relations, among others. Furthermore, these courses encourage the study of subjects of other areas- such as Art and Mathematics.
The term Social Communication, apart from its more general use, was adopted by Vatican Council II in its decree Inter Mirifica in 1962, and has become the preferred term within documentation of the Roman Catholic Church for reference to Media, especially Mass Media. It has the advantage, as a term, of wider connotation – all communication is social but not all communication is 'mass'! In effect, though, the two terms are used synonymously.
The late Pope John Paul II vigorously promoted Social Communication not only in person but through messages given on World Communication Day and through supporting the Pontifical Council for Social Communication.
Links for a few Social Communication courses, and related topics, are given below.