Final answer:
Mass media primarily differs from other forms due to the size of its audience and its ability to disseminate information to a large, general public through various platforms such as TV, radio, and the Internet. It includes both news and entertainment, and while it faces challenges like misinformation, it continues to play a vital role in daily life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mass media differs from other forms of media primarily due to the size of the audience. Unlike other types of media, mass media operate through a sender and a mechanism allowing information to reach a potentially very large audience. This form of media is designed to reach the general public and includes television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet. Broadcast media can include various forms such as local, network, cable, or satellite TV, and technological advances now allow for on-demand and streaming services. Moreover, as mass media encompasses entertainment in addition to news, its role additionally involves watching for corruption, setting national agendas, and promoting the public good.
Historically, mass media began with mechanically reproduced forms of communication like the movable-type printing press and expanded over time with new technologies. Today's complex media landscape has evolved from print journalism to include radio, network television, cable, the Internet, blogs, and social media platforms. While traditional media were practiced by professional journalists and reporters, the proliferation of platforms and the advent of social media have brought about challenges such as misinformation and sensationalism, impacting the credibility of information disseminated. Still, mass media remains an integral part of daily life, delivering abundant information on politics, government, and public policies.