Reviews the use of media comparison studies in the field of educational technology, argues that they are weak and inappropriate, and recommends a new focus on the issues of instructional methods and learner characteristics. Discusses intra-medium studies and aptitude treatment interaction studies as better alternatives. (LRW)

School reform involves the public: its expectation of participation and its support for a reform agenda. In theory, the press influences both. To explore this link, we compare education coverage in four press outlets, two each in Chicago and Cleveland. Articles and editors are interrogated for (1) style of journalism and (2) assumptions about the…

A study examined the similarity or dissimilarity between the "New York Times'" editorial position on Iran and Iranian affairs and the official United States foreign policy towards Iran as reflected in the "Department of State Bulletin" for the period of 1968-1981. Each piece was categorized by major category and sub-category by…

A study examined the uses and functions of broadcast sports programming as compared with in-person attendance of sporting events by focusing on the motivations, behavior, and attitudes of audiences toward such activities. Subjects, 219 students from a major western university, completed a survey instrument. Findings indicated that: (1) sports…

A study examined the readership habits and gratifications of southern Illinois student and non-student newspaper readers. The study involved the "Southern Illinoisan," a privately owned regional newspaper, and the "Daily Egyptian," a student-operated newspaper. Other papers included the "Chicago Tribune," the…

Noting that efforts of governments to control newspapers are more problematic where news photographs are concerned, a study compared the news photos printed in an English-language Argentinian newspaper during and after a period of totalitarian rule. The study sample was a simulated "week" of issues, consisting of one day from each month…

A study examined whether intercity competition affects the content of daily newspapers and whether the content profile is consistent with the umbrella competition theory elaborated by James N. Rosse. Rosse's theory hypothesized four layers of newspaper competition--large metropolitan dailies, satellite daily papers, suburban dailies, and weekly…

To discover if editors' perceptions of audience opinions had changed and to determine the accuracy of editors' predictions regarding readers' reactions to using videotex, a 1987 study repeated a 1976 survey of Associated Press managing editors, and compared the responses with the original survey results. Surveys were sent to 302 Associated Press…

Acknowledging inadequacies of press coverage of black Americans during this century, a study examined how a medium sized Ohio daily newspaper covered blacks before, during, and after the civil rights movement. Items concerning blacks in 66 issues of the Youngstown "Vindicator" from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s were studied, and the…

To determine whether there are systematic differences in press role between nations or blocs of nations, an exploratory study examined structural differences between United States and European political systems and whether, in light of these differences, press roles may vary in some respects across continents. These editors were interviewed about…

A study sought answers for seven questions about the public's orientation toward television news. Television interviews were conducted with 823 adult residents of Dane County, Wisconsin, during October 1983 by trained graduate students and advanced undergraduates as part of a communications research methods course. Results showed that the public…

A study examined the extent to which the availability of cable television service in a household diverted viewers from local television channels. Questions concerning media use were included in three comprehensive market surveys conducted in three diverse areas. Approximately 1,000 telephone interviews were conducted in the three areas. The…

A study was conducted in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, to replicate research undertaken in Columbus, Ohio, that measured public knowledge about newspapers and television news business. Data were collected through telephone interviews with 341 heads of households. The results supported the findings of the earlier research. Among the findings of the…

A comprehensive analysis of articles and editorials was performed on "Ebony" magazine editions published two years before and after the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The writings of the publisher were also studied, as were personal interviews with the editors of "Ebony." Editorial content was analyzed with respect to the major…

A study was conducted to determine if environmental activists differed from nonactivists in their use of the various media; specifically in their use of the media to obtain information on environmental issues. Based on a review of environmental literature, it was hypothesized that activists (1) would spend more time using newspapers and less time…