​Channels of communication

​Are the routes the information takes to get from sender to recipient.

​Communication can be of three main channels which are:

​1. Formal channels : used for official matters and to pass on important or serious information. This type of information flows up and down the organization such as an official letter from HR about new pay rates.

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​2. Informal channels: Used between people who are in frequent contact. Example: telephone call to colleague to check a customers address.

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​3. Unofficial channels/ Grapevine: Are informal and unplanned. The grapevine is the name for the social network that exists between staff who may chat about work matters, such as small group gossips.

​Communication channels

​Types of communication channels and there examples.

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​ -Oral: Interviews, meeting, conferences, radio, television, telephone.

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​- Written: Letters, memorandum, agenda, notices of meetings, reports, minutes, questionnaires, itineraries, notices, press releases, advertisements.

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​- Electronic: Teleconferencing & Videoconferencing, telecommuting, and telemarketing, using a computer to access the world wide web or emails, telephone, fax, scanning.

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​- Visual: Pictures, charts, graphs, signals, multimedia presentation, body language.

​Turn to chapter on communication in your text book. Together we are going to o through each channel of communication and their examples.