Describes the use of content analysis by a journalism class in studying television news. Indicates that the method is flexible, generates familiarity with quantitative approaches to the analysis of broadcast journalism, can result in increased awareness of the complexity of the broadcast news medium, and increases student motivation. (TJ)

Discusses a study of "Channel One," a commercial television news program for high school students. Discusses supporters' and critics' reactions to the service. Reports that most Channel One commercials are aimed at teens and feature teen characters and pleasure/attractiveness themes. Suggests using the commercials as the focus of…

Noting that daytime television serials have been used to teach a variety of subjects, including writing and language skills, this paper reviews literature on the nature of soap operas so that instructors can use them more effectively. Following an introduction citing studies on the educational uses of soap operas, the paper explores the following…

C-SPAN (Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network) can be used for communications oriented research. A research project on reactions in the United States to the Chinese pro-democracy movement shows the use of C-SPAN as a representative forum. Primary funding for the project was obtained through grants from C-SPAN. Twenty-one C-SPAN programs since…

Television programming has a huge impact on the lives of children. This lesson focuses on the stereotypical and racial messages that are portrayed through television programming with a focus on situational comedies. During the four 45-minute lessons, grade 6-8 students will: analyze portrayals of different groups of people in the media;…

Presents four brief articles which describe (1) ideas for teaching vocabulary through cooperative learning; (2) ways to include discussion in sustained silent reading; (3) an artistic prewriting activity; and (4) the effects of background television viewing on studying. (RS)

Designed for media specialists and educators, this issue contains four articles focusing on children and television. The lead article outlines major Australian views on television, analyzing how these concepts determine that country's use of the medium. The second article reviews international developments in children's television highlighted at…

Designed for media specialists and educators, the four articles in this issue focus on television's effects on children. Following a brief editorial reviewing current directions of research in this area, the first article compares the American pre-school educational television program "Sesame Street" with its Australian counterpart.…

This volume includes the tests, questionnaires, letters, manuals, findings, and analyses associated with the field evaluation of "ThinkAbout," a series of 60 15-minute programs organized in 13 clusters and designed to strengthen the reasoning skills of fifth and sixth graders, and to review and reinforce language arts, mathematics, and…

This collection of papers is from the first national conference of academicians, teachers, school administrators, parents, television industry specialists, and government agency personnel interested in children and television. The 23 papers are presented under the following topics: (1) development of receivership skills (skills required for the…

Providing information and activities designed to dispel sex role socialization, myths, and stereotypes as bases for prejudiced views, this teaching guide focuses on the American woman's image and diverse roles in our society. It is part of the Louisville Area Ethnic Heritage Studies Project described in ED 150 043. The project materials are…

Recognizing that students spend more time before the television set than in school, this monograph evaluates television as a potential resource in the teaching of English. The nine articles in the collection (1) discuss the effect of massive television viewing on children in and out of the classroom; (2) examine the students' need to apply…

Designed to teach students to become selective and discriminating users of television who will be better able to affect changes in programming, this bulletin offers a series of suggested activities and lesson plans for teachers to use in planning instructional programs around television for students in kindergarten through grade 9. This course of…

This booklet provides a toolbox of practical resources to help in developing media literacy skills to reduce the amount of media violence people are exposed to in their homes and communities. This overview accompanies a series designed for different age groups and grade levels. The leader's guide provides strategies for increasing contact with the…

Provides background information and learning activities for six areas of inquiry concerning media literacy and violence. These are (1) "Monitoring 'Action' in TV Cartoons"; (2) "To Market, To Market (Share)"; (3) "What's 'Educational' Anyway"; (4) "Rating the TV Rating System"; (5) "Nine Risks of TV Violence"; and (6) "Teenagers in the News." (MJP)