Reports that, for Dutch viewers, the televised debates between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter helped develop a presidential preference, regardless of the viewers' own political orientations, and that the debates may have benefited Carter. (GW)

Investigated the educational effects of a Dutch schools television series designed to teach children aged 10 through 12 that television news broadcasts give a selective and thus subjective and incomplete impression of the news. Results indicate that the series led to an increase in children's knowledge of the news selection process, but no…

Contributes to scholarship on the effects of television on children. Finds that the most important characteristics valued by both Dutch and U.S. children 6 to 11 years old were comprehensibility and action, closely followed by humor, "interestingness,""innocuousness," realism, violence, and romance. Finds boys in both samples…

Describes study conducted with Dutch preschool and elementary school students to determine their perception of reality when watching Sesame Street on television. Variables studied include age, communication skills, and socioeconomic backgrounds, and data are analyzed using factor analysis and multiple regression analysis. (13 references) (LRW)

Describes a study conducted in the Netherlands that investigated the effectiveness of news stories watched on television and news stories read by students in grades five and six. Results are compared for children who expected a test and those who did not, and earlier media studies with adults are reviewed. (20 references) (LRW)