The recent proliferation of reality-based television programs highlighting cosmetic surgery has raised concerns that such programming promotes unrealistic expectations of plastic surgery and increases the desire of viewers to undergo such procedures. In Study 1, a survey of 170 young adults indicated little relationship between cosmetic surgery…

This ethnographic study explored the ways in which media, particularly television, connected with English language and literacy practices among Sudanese refugees in Michigan. Three families with young children participated in this study. Data collection included participant observation, interviews, and collection of artifacts over 18 months, with…

This paper argues for a clearer conceptualization of media stimuli in experimental research and identifies 3 issues impeding our understanding of message processing: (a) assumptions bolstered by manipulation checks about homogeneity of response to media stimuli, (b) conflation of 2 different classes of variables--media attributes and psychological…

Examines interpretation of Robert Frank's photographic essay (1) to discern the experiences evoked by the essay, (2) to establish the relationship between "projected" and "stated" interpretations, and (3) to determine the extent to which "stated" interpretations resemble "ideal" interpretations. (FL)

Concludes that public relations people view editors' newspaper positions fairly accurately but that the reverse is not true. (FL)

A survey of 210 Texas residents revealed a preference for local and independent ownership of newspapers, although the quality of independent and group-owned papers was rated about the same. (GT)

Reveals that the direction of a review can have a significant effect on audience interest in and evaluation of a film. (FL)

Concludes that supermarket tabloid readers are not one homogeneous group with one set of needs and wants from newspapers. (FL)

Reports that changing the cutlines of 22 controversial photographs significantly affected the response of readers for only four of the pictures. (FL)

Reports that a majority of editors surveyed oppose the use of hidden recording devices of any kind. (FL)

Reports that residents of a midwestern community perceived local newspapers to be fairer than newspapers in general but that their attitudes were affected by structural factors. (FL)

Concludes that reporters desire more participation in decision making than editors want them to have. (FL)

Reports the findings of a nationwide survey of newspaper editors, revealing that most thought that the Janet Cooke hoax had been poorly handled by the "Washington Post." Notes that most of the editors said their newspapers had systems of review for stories coming from anonymous sources. (FL)

Reports on the reaction of long-term subscribers to two newspapers when those papers merged into one paper that adopted a format and content that were designed to attract new readers. Concludes that by reaching out for a younger audience, the new newspaper put less emphasis on local news, which alienated some long-term subscribers. (FL)

Presents the findings of a survey of members of the American Society of Newspaper Editors revealing that they were ambivalent about the use of veiled attribution. Notes that editors of larger rather than smaller papers were more likely to see the need for it. (FL)