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FCAD International Office - Visit from Michael Ejstrup, Danish School of Media & Journalism

By Martin Chochinov, FCAD Exchange Office, Faculty of Communication + Design

Date and time

Wed, May 13, 2015 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

Location

Marshall McLuhan Seminar Room RCC 202

TBA

Description

FCAD International Visiting Scholar Lecture

"Media Language – Clear or Obscure"

by Michael Ejstrup
Danish School of Media & Journalism


Date: Wednesday, May 13th, 2015
Location: Marshall McLuhan Seminar Room RCC 202
Time: 11:00 - 12:00

Michael Ejstrup, Head of Research in Journalistic Language at the Danish School of Media & Journalism (DSMJ) is planning on visiting Ryerson on May 13th, 2015.

As part of his visit to Ryerson and the Faculty of Communication + Design, Michael will be presenting a talk on his recent paper, "Media Language – Clear or Obscure".

Abstract— Be clear, not obscure. One of the four maxims for optimal communication is that it is essential to develop proficiency in being concise and clear. The question is whether this is really a good idea in all contexts. There is some evidence to the contrary. Undoubtedly, we have many contexts where it is important for mutual understanding that we be clear and concise. This is true of instructions for electronic equipment and for household appliances. Here, linguistic brevity and clarity may be preferable, but not in other cases. Culture, globalization, and the recognition of ever faster growth in diversity, means that media need to be very cognizant of the stringency with which they handle the advice to be linguistically clear and concise. The need to pay great attention to situational awareness is highly visible and intrusive. Attention to situational awareness seems to be crucial for the survival of free speech.

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