Communication between individuals or groups in today's world takes place in a variety of ways, each of which involves a particular medium. Many of our habit patterns and our general way of life are strongly affected by the communications media to which we are exposed to or choose to use.
The well-known mass communications media include radio, television, telephone, motion pictures, correspondence (mail), newspapers, and large circulation magazines. With the exceptions of the telephone and mail, these media are largely one-way communications systems from which the general public, may receive information but cannot readily communicate back in the same medium.