In blaming television for low test scores and poor academic achievement, critics ignore other, more compelling factors that should be addressed. The quest of educators should be for more and better ways to capitalize on the useful aspects of the child's viewing experience. (Author)

Challenges television research which presents an overly critical view of the effects of television viewing on its audience. (JJD)

Questions the basic approach and findings of the Gerbner et al.'s study of the effects of television viewing on viewers' feelings of fear, suspicion, and alienation. Demonstrates that the cultivation effect is not supported by the data and outlines three plausible explanations for the absence of cultivation effects. (JMF)

Notes the potential educational and socializing role of television for children in light of the amount of viewing time, sensitivity to nonverbal communications, and their relative ease of influence. The effects of commercials and televised violence are cited, as is television's ability to influence behavior and cognitive functioning. (RAO)

Examines articulations of "egalitarian" courtship in romantic comedy films of the 1930s and 1940s and recent television series resurrecting their conventions. Gauges the extent to which such texts are open to a negotiated reading that recontextualizes heterosexual monogamy in anarchic rather than patriarchal terms. Suggests that the…

Describes a study that examined 48 television stations seeking FCC (Federal Communications Commission) license renewal in 1992 and assesses their efforts to fulfill the programming requirements of the Children's Television Act (CTA) of 1990. Educational programming requirements are explained, and results are reported that indicate inadequate…

Applying knowledge of myth to the milieu of commercial television programming, this paper focuses on the way myth was generated in an advertising campaign that featured Lee Iacocca, chief executive officer of Chrysler Corporation, during the period of 1979-1982, when Chrysler moved from the edge of bankruptcy to financial stability. After…

Considers how definitions of teaching and learning have informed educational broadcasters' rationales for their work and how these are manifested in the textual strategies of specific programs. A theoretical framework for accounting for the ways educational television seeks to implicate its viewers in the learning process is then developed. (RP)

Reports a study of the ways young children view television. The more common style involves uncritical absorption which seems debilitating to the child, while the other style provides the viewer with skills for discovering meaning within the program and beyond. Suggestions are given for parents to encourage the more critical style of watching.…

Compares the influence of television news on the reactions of 100 Blacks in both Georgia and Iowa to the Atlanta slayings. People surveyed were examined for their reactions to live coverage, newsmaker interviews, wire service reports, and news writers and researchers. Eight references are listed. (MER)

Defends the theory of cultivation effects of television viewing on audiences against the criticism of Paul Hirsch. Contends that the data is broad-based and that the framework of mainstreaming and resonance shows systematic and consistent patterns within subgroups. (See CS 705 469 and CS 705 539.) (JMF)

Finds differences between African Americans and Non Hispanic Whites in recall of verbal and visual themes of televised AIDS public service announcements (PSAs). Notes that differences anchored in a complex relationship among emotions, attitudes, and opinions about science and society. Suggests effective healthcare communication campaigns require…

Examines ethical dilemmas associated with using entertainment television for prosocial development. Discusses the ethics of distinguishing prosocial from antisocial television content; depicting socio-cultural equality through television programs; limiting the unintended effects of television programs; and using television as a persuasive tool to…

Uses previous reviews on the literature on children and television advertising to trace the short history of research from a social science perspective on advertising directed at children. Examines the dimensions that have come to define the field. Argues that nothing in these studies indicates an increasingly sophisticated perspective of the…

Discusses the use of "Channel One" in secondary schools for teaching current events and describes a study that examined its instructional effectiveness. The inclusion of advertisements is addressed; teenagers' general awareness of current events is considered; and the use of television in educational settings is described. (21…