Tests the impact of cable, VCRs, and remote control devices on fear of crime and interpersonal mistrust. Finds that interpersonal mistrust was linked to greater exposure to cable's broadcast-type channels, but fear of crime and mistrust were negatively related to increased exposure to specialized cable channels. Finds fear of crime linked…

Points out that the images and voices of Jewish women are largely absent from prime-time television. Links feminist theory and images of women as signals of systemic troubles in a community to mass communication theory. Provides a multidisciplinary approach for considering "doubly" and "triply" oppressed minority women. (SR)

Suggests that Japanese international and White students' positive or negative evaluations of television portrayals, rather than the number of television programs seen, significantly affected their stereotypes of African Americans. Demonstrates that the media can affect one's impression of other races and suggests that effects of mass media are…

Conducts interviews with nine groups of South African women, examining their responses to episodes of "Suburban Bliss," a South African television sitcom that attempted to use humor as a catalyst to transcend the aftermath of apartheid. Evaluates whether "cultural reconciliation" is possible through harnessing the varying…

Examines responses to misleading word-picture combinations. Finds that in contexts where race and gender can play a role in audience members' construction of meaning, the conditions may be conducive to the creation of libel. Shows how nothing literally defamatory was communicated, yet many subjects made just such linkages, both immediately and…

Because of the close proximity of countries in the Middle East, broadcast signals freely cross national boundaries, bringing not always friendly endemic populations into contact with each other through radio and television programming--a fact that has not been lost on the governments which fund broadcasting facilities. National anthems are…

This study, a part of a larger project, investigated what children learn about gender roles from cartoons and how these cartoons might color the children's view of the world. A total of 89 children ranging in age from four to nine were sampled from three different locations (a university-affiliated day-care center and two parochial schools near…

Researchers who study television's cultivation effects believe that heavy television viewing exposes people to consistent messages that lead them to be more fearful and mistrustful of others. The widespread adoption and use of new television technologies, such as cable, VCR, and remote control devices (RCD), however, have the potential to alter…

A study investigated the effects of local (momentary) and global (whole program) involvement in program context and the effects of message complexity on the retention of television commercials. Sixteen commercials, categorized as simple video/simple audio through complex video/complex audio were edited into two globally high- and two globally…

Based on research suggesting spatial zones of proximity in human behavior (individuals have definable zones of intimate, personal, social, and public space), it was hypothesized that "framed shots" of people on television screens would suggest specific distances to the viewer. The hypotheses were that subjects would estimate a greater…

A study of 186 black and 141 white college students was conducted after the televised sequel to "Roots" to ascertain viewing frequency, perception, and attitude change. Each student responded to a questionnaire consisting of 13 items related to the series and questions on demographic characteristics of the students. It was found that…

This paper examines the supply and demand for early evening news and public affairs programing aired by major market commercial television stations. The sample consists of 493 thirty-minute programs aired by 99 stations between the hours of 5:30 and 8:00 P.M., E.S.T. A frequency analysis of programing indicated that stations owned by three…

Examines the role of motives, attitudes, and audience activity in explaining affective, cognitive, and behavioral involvement of daytime soap opera viewers. Finds that viewing attention and perceived realism of soap opera content correlated with parasocial interaction, suggesting that parasocial interaction may be a functional alternative to…

Reveals that highly dogmatic television viewers are most easily influenced by television characters they perceive to be highly dogmatic also. (FL)

Examines the relationship between exposure to soap operas and perceptions about people and events in real life. Concludes that exposure to soap operas was found to relate to college students' perception of the numbers of professionals (lawyers, doctors, business people) and problems (divorce, illegitimacy, abortions, crimes, etc.) in real life.…