More than 500 television news directors were surveyed in a study of the effects of three factors--multiple ownership of stations, newspaper crossownership, and cable television use--on the quality of local news programing. For purposes of the study, "quality" was defined in terms of expenditures for news programing (greater expenditures…

Describes a technique for analyzing local television newscasts that uses weighted categories of news content and an audience survey. Reports the results of a study that used the technique. (FL)

Neither of two types of television ownership--television station multiple ownership or crossownership with a local daily newspaper--was found to have an adverse effect on the quality of local television news (defined as the level of expenditures for such programing). Increased local cable television use was associated with a slight decline in news…

Among the findings from a survey of 435 third-through seventh-grade children is that substantial numbers of children watch television news in formats designed for both adults and children, that children believe news is produced to serve a number of different functions, and that they receive different patterns of gratifications from viewing. (GT)

Findings of a survey of 229 television news personnel suggested that most news personnel were not satisfied with the fairness doctrine as now applied and that attitudes toward the doctrine were based on a complex mixture of educational background, managerial position, and political participation. (GT)

In response to a 34-item questionnaire, 112 members of the United States House of Representatives gave their opinions of network television coverage of House activities and members. It was found that respondents believed that their access to network television is poor when compared to the President and to the Senate, although their actions are as…

This publication contains two reports of research on news media. The first is a review of more than 100 studies conducted between 1955 and 1977 that indicate that both television and newspapers are used in a generally complementary manner, although they do compete with each other for diversionary time. Among the conclusions noted in the report are…

Reports on a study that suggested that those who watch television news primarily to gain information recall more than others, and that casual viewers recall more than those seeking diversion or both diversion and information. (GT)

A content analysis was performed on all of the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) Nine O'Clock News and ITV (Independent Television) News at Ten programs that were broadcast during Britain's year-long miners' strike--March 1984-March 1985--and a four-month sample of Channel 4 news to examine how television news covered a protracted story of…

A survey of more than 600 Michigan high school students suggests that adolescents who prefer television news and public affairs programs tend to feel their families, friends, and schools think public affairs are important; tend to be older; and tend not to be from a minority racial background. (GT)

A content analysis of major German television news shows and 53 weekly surveys on 16 issues were used to compare linear and nonlinear models as ways to describe the relationship between media coverage and the public agenda. Results indicate that nonlinear models are in some cases superior to linear models in terms of explained variance. (34…