This paper discusses the role of the National Geographic Society (NGS) in providing educational materials on geography, from the National Geographic magazine to future innovative educational technologies. The changing nature of technology, communications, and the role of the creative mind are described in remarks quoted from the Society's…

This paper examines various areas related to industry's role in and awareness of the need to respect environmental considerations, both from the perception of the factors relevant to staying in business in the longer term, and the regulations and requirements formulated by governments, often in cooperation with the industrial sector concerned.…

The major policy issues raised by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations with regard to the year-round nature of political media campaigns and the emergence of political action committees (PACs) are explored in this paper. The first part of the paper introduces the major policy issues, specifically who should have an affirmative right…

For nearly half a century, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been exercising its authority to grant and deny applications for broadcast licenses. In the process of comparison used by the FCC to assess qualified new applicants, two considerations weigh heavily: (1) the best practicable service to the public, and (2) maximum diffusion…

Social thinkers in the United States do not recognize that technology is a result of conscious decisions that directly reflect the social order, and, therefore, have an impact upon American life that goes beyond the technological development itself. The decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1954 established standards for color…

Broadcasters should aim for diversity and excellence in programing rather than basing programing decisions on the Nielsen ratings and aiming for maximized profits. Broadcasting reflects, shapes, alters, and informs the national consciousness; entertainment programs as well as newscasts have tremendous impact on the public, and the effect of…

Of all the mass media, radio is the most abundant, both in terms of the number of radio stations in operation and the number of radio receivers in use. Unfortunately, given the dynamics of a competitive market and the Federal Communications Commission's reluctance to interfere with a licensee's discretion in the choice of format, format…

An assessment of an increasingly tight national economy dictates a reevaluation of the costs and functions of the corporate special library if it is to survive recessionary pressures intact. Services which are crucial to daily business operation, not duplicated elsewhere, and of high visibility to upper management must become the prime focus of…

This paper examines the question of whether the religious broadcasting industry has indirectly received unconstitutional aid from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It reviews individual FCC cases involving religious programing and religious broadcasters, the constitutional meaning of the establishment clause, and the limits the courts…

Municipal ownership and operation of radio stations, an interesting but forgotten variant approach to radio that flourished in the 1920s, is discussed in this paper. Specifically, it examines WPG in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the first and in many ways the most interesting example of municipal ownership of radio. WPG's operations are recounted…

Since a fundamental principle of communication is to adapt to the audience, authors of journal articles would be wise to familiarize themselves with their primary audience, the editor of the professional journal. Everything that an editor does results from an interplay of the editor's ideas about the purpose, scope, audience, literary quality, and…

The study reported in this paper, conducted during the winter of 1973-74, explored the newshole policies of U.S. daily newspapers in the context of rapid technological and economic changes. A national survey consisted of a structured questionnaire mailed to a stratified, random sample of newspapers selected by circulation size. Analysis of…

The assumption, which has influenced broadcast news reporting hiring practices, that women broadcasters are not as believable, acceptable, or effective as men broadcasters is explored in this research report. Four network newscasters, two males and two females chosen on the basis of similar professional competency and stature audio tape in…

The total percentage of women employed in executive positions in television stations in the United States is substantially lower than previous studies indicate. Of the 1743 persons employed in those jobs in commercial and noncommercial stations in the top 50 markets, only 4.8 percent are women. This compares with 91.2 percent who are men (the sex…

This paper examines public access by focusing attention on development of the citizen intervenor role and development of the citizen agreement concept, and by discussing the future role of agreements as viable elements of public access. Examined are such topics as the history of citizen intervention, the history of citizen agreements,…