Introduction In this age of advanced communication technology, mass media are an important resource if public health educators are

to reach large numbers of people, our society is far too complex and massive to rely solely on one-to-one or small group communication techniques that health educators have traditionally used. Ideally, however, when using mass media, the health educator should attempt to be in touch with each message recipient, projecting as if it were a one-to-one or small group situation. It is not easy to communicate to large and diversified audiences in a way that will convey the intended meaning and achieve the desired results for the greatest number of message recipients. Communication in the health professions should be regarded as a process by which an attempt is made that may ultimately affect behavior. Health education may be defined as any combination of learning opportunities designed of facilitates voluntary adaptations of behavior conducive to good health, Since it is imperative that communication in health education creates meaning for those for whom it is intended, health educators in the community setting must understand, analyze, and apply mass communication theory and skills, With the creation of meaning, the message being sent from the source (health educator) the receiver (Public for whom the message is intended) takes on an added and crucial relevance which is a necessary part of the educational process. A health educator should at least be familiar with the subtleties and nuances of each medium to take advantage of the numerous sources of mass communication, A mass medium may be defined as any means, agency, or instrument which communicates ideas, attitudes, impressions, or images to large numbers of people, Media, therefore, include not only the electronic and print forms traditionally classified as media (radio, television, film, newspaper, books, etc.), but a wide range of non-traditional forms. . . . 2 These less traditional forms may include posters, flyers, pamphlets, comic books, music, public loudspeaker systems, billboards, mail, and others.