Tests a complex model of how audience members assess source credibility. Hypothesizes that (1) message quality has direct effects and mediates partially the effects of initial credibility assessments on subsequent source credibility assessments and on belief change; and (2) subsequent credibility assessments mediate effects of initial credibility…

Belongs to a series of papers from a panel discussion on "The Future of the Internet: A Historical Perspective" examining how scholars understand and explain the Internet. Draws four lessons from two earlier "communication revolutions" (writing and the printing press) and applies them to our age of television, computers, and the Internet. (SR)

Shows that those with greater interest in politics, those who have extreme political views, and those who have paid attention to the election are more willing to be interviewed by a news reporter after a pre-election survey. Concludes that attitude strength plays a significant role in predicting willingness to express political views. (SR)

Surveys consumers about their perceptions of advertising styles that mimic news, documentary, and editorial formats and about its associations. Suggests that these "hybrid" styles triggered values and meaning generally associated with more realistic forms of communication, perhaps making realism an involving and positive marketing…

Investigates whether local media contribute to individuals' involvement in a community. Finds that the "community integration hypothesis," which holds that they do, may have been overestimated. Suggests that some media contribute more than others, and the relative contribution of each medium depends upon the individual's stage of…

Tests the persuasive impact of synesthetic metaphors (which equate sense A to sense B) in advertising headlines. Finds that in some circumstances, synesthetic headlines produce less, rather than more, favorable attitudes toward the advertisement and brand than literal equivalents. (SR)

Surveys Indiana journalists, finding that two models tested (the sociocultural model and the organizational model, both grounded in conception of power differences between harassed and harasser) have explanatory power, but that they explain the same results in different ways and sometimes combinations of the models provide better explanations of…

Examines whether readers' perceptions of online news stories varies as a function of source attribution in those stories. Finds that they rated stories with quotes significantly higher in credibility and quality than identical stories without quotes; but that quotes did not affect liking for (and representativeness or newsworthiness of) online…

Examines media coverage of a gubernatorial election, suggesting that: (1) gender may be a larger factor in selecting policy stories over "horse race" stories; (2) coverage of the horse race has greater impact on election outcome than coverage of policy issues; and (3) a woman will be more successful in an election if she presents herself…

Investigates the impact of format and source on attitudes and behavioral intentions of an audience receiving a corporation's advocacy message. Suggests that news stories may be more effective than ads, and that a CEO (chief executive officer) appears more persuasive than an outside authority because the CEO can generate more interest among the…

Investigates whether the locus of persuasion of the metaphor "A is B" lies in the valence of B, as widely assumed, or in the valence of the metaphor ground, what A and B share. Indicates that global affect toward B does not transfer onto A and that metaphorical persuasion is a distinct process meriting further investigation. (SR)

Examines the role new technology is playing in the magazine writer/editor relationship. Finds that editors report the new technology is affecting their relationship with writers, and that free-lancers are less apt to use expensive new technology than staff writers. (SR)

Analyzes 319 personal home pages. Finds the typical page had a brief biography, a counter or guest book, and links to other pages but did not contain much personal information. Finds that strategies of self-presentation were employed with the same frequency as they were in interpersonal settings, and gender differences in self-presentation were…

Examines public records laws regarding access to computerized format as it has developed in state and federal courts and legislatures. Explores the law at the federal level, which generally limits the ability of requestors to obtain records in a format most useful to them. Surveys state cases, in which there is a split of authority on the issue.…

Examines 10 variables in content analyses of 245 journal articles from the social scientific, interpretive, and critical traditions. Finds that researchers conform highly to expectations associated with ontology, epistemology, data collection, and data analysis, but less so with theory, hypotheses, sampling, verification, and generalization.…