A selective call receiver includes a code memory storing a plurality of graphic image units and graphic image unit codes, and a plurality of pieces of character data and character data codes. Code information is extracted from a message having a predetermined format. The code information includes a graphic image unit code and a character data code. Based on the code information, a graphic image unit corresponding to the graphic image unit code and a piece of character data corresponding to the character data code are read from the code memory, and then the message with the graphic image unit and the piece of character data is displayed on the display.