A medium in communication refers to the method or channel used to convey a message from a sender to a receiver. It can take various forms, including face-to-face communication, email, social media, written documents, PowerPoint presentations, websites, and more. Some media are richer in terms of the types of communication they support. For example, face-to-face communication supports both verbal and non-verbal communication, whereas email supports only verbal communication. However, the quality of richness does not equate with being a "better" or "worse" communication medium; "better" equates with being the medium most appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context.
There are many types of communication mediums, including speaking, documents, messages, art, broadcast media, social media, physical environment, virtual reality, and mixed reality. Choosing the right communication medium is important to ensure that the message is conveyed effectively and efficiently. When determining which communication channel to use, some criteria to keep in mind include the audience, the importance of the message, the level of confidentiality, and the amount of interactivity required.
