A study examined the effects of several structural and individual variables on the perceived role of the media by media representatives and the general public. The focus of the study was on public perceptions of the media as "watchdog," but the images of the media as "guide dog,""rabid dog,""lap dog" and…

Focusing on three leading Indian newspapers published in New Delhi--"The Economic Times,""The Hindustan Times," and "Nav Bharat Times," a study examined the roles that journalists working for these newspapers assume, or want to assume, and how that may be related to development news production by their newspapers. A…

Examines whether knowledge gaps decrease when motivation to acquire information is similar among more and less educated groups. Compares two groups with differing motivations to acquire cancer and diet information in a community that received a year-long health campaign. Finds evidence of education-based differences in knowledge even among members…

A study examined the religious radio listening habits of Brazil's indigenous population. Subjects, 46 linguists (under contract to the Brazilian government to educate the population) who worked with 32 different Brazilian tribes, completed a 16-item survey. Results indicated that: (1) 13-20% of adult Brazilian Indians have access to a radio; (2)…

Surveys 82 Alabama legislators and finds officials' views of the press as adversary or agent of consensus relates to perceived value of media for job-relevant information. Suggests a dysfunction of the "watch-dog" role because those believing the consensus model found the press more useful than those seeing the press as an adversary. (MG)

A study of "causal" communication, the communication of attribution-related information, investigated the relationship of exposure to mass media (especially film) depictions of Vietnam veterans to perceived causes for the problems facing a number of Vietnam veterans. The study further extends attribution theory to social interaction and…

A study questions recent findings that adolescents spend more time viewing television than listening to music. It is argued that questions about what constitutes music listening and music media, about adequate scales to measure time spent with television and music media, and the age range from which recent samples have been drawn, have led…

A two-part radio communications survey was conducted to test the effect of the government owned and operated radio station on Pohnpei, a Micronesian island state. The first phase was conducted in the capital city, while the second phase was conducted in rural areas of the state. The purpose of the survey was to determine the extent of radio and…