The first in a series of four, this report describes part of a national study commissioned by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to investigate audience awareness of public radio, reaction to on-air fund raising and programing on public radio, and audience reactions to on-air fund raising by public television stations. Specifically, this…

A review of 67 studies examined minorities' media selection/usage, the psychological variables that account for minority exposure to the media, minorities' information sources, and the effects media have on minority audiences. Among the major conclusions are the following: blacks spend less time reading newspapers but more time viewing television…

Data from personal interviews with 268 black adults living in predominantly black neighborhoods of San Francisco, California, were used to examine the relationships among political participation, media exposure, and various individual characteristics. Results showed that reading general news magazines had the strongest interaction with the three…

Research literature relating to the power of dramatic television or movie entertainment for value, attitude, and behavior change is reviewed. Section 1 of this paper covers the research literature bearing on the effects of mass entertainment on adults, adolescents, and children. Section 2 briefly describes the research needs to be addressed by the…

Two questions were the focus of this study. Do television network presentations of the same event significantly vary in their use of nonverbal production techniques? If they do differ, what effect do these differences have on receiver's attitude toward the object of that network coverage? Phase 1 of the study examined the speeches of Ted Kennedy…

In order to determine whether Appalachia Educational Laboratory (AEL) had the capacity to produce a TV series of sufficient quality, two pilot tapes were produced by AEL and then submitted for rating to nine broadcasting specialists from several commercial TV stations. Based on the responses of these nine individuals to a questionnaire dealing…

A survey conducted with a cross section of the national population produced the following findings. First, not only has television grown to the point where only 2% of American homes receive fewer than three channels, it has also grown in public esteem. It has become the number one source of news and the most credible and frequently used medium. In…

An analysis of 43 films produced by children from 7 to 15 years old was performed to develop strategy for investigating how children learn and use symbolic system of film. Anticipated factors were overshadowed by use of commercial television formulas, suggesting strong television influence on development of children's symbolic skills. (MBR)

Explores the role of memory in mediating mass communication effects. Examines (1) the nature of memory, (2) issues in retention and recall of media messages, (3) methods of promoting retention and recall of media messages, and (4) implications of memory processes for mass media effects. (PD)

These two studies suggest that children's preconceptions of the effort needed to understand material presented on television and in print appear to affect the depth with which they process the information, thereby making their own expectations come true. (PD)

Summarizes recent research on the following topics: media coverage and information-seeking behavior, newspaper treatment of state government releases, magazine evaluations and readership, motivation for viewing television programs, sex differences in bylines, photojournalism, advertising on children's television, television editorial themes,…

Argues that cultural studies imported to the United States often lose much of their critical edge. Contends that their misleading affirmation of the power and independence of media audiences is derived from several factors, including (1) overestimating the freedom of audiences in reception; and (2) confusing active reception with political…

Argues that television, when used as a secondary activity, interferes with performance on otherwise intellectually demanding tasks. Examines performance on seven different cognitive processing tests for respondents in four television-viewing conditions and a no-TV control group. Finds significant performance decrements for measures of reading…

A study which reviewed the research literature analyzed the relationship between television advertisements and the lowering of the self concept. Although television advertising has a relatively short history, today a person can hardly escape from it. Advertisements are specifically targeted to age-related and demographic groups. By focusing on…

This issue of "Media & Values" provides essays and teaching ideas for addressing the influence of television in society. Articles in this issue include: (1) "Wrestling with Television" (Elizabeth Thoman); (2) "Comics and Culture" (Rosalind Silver); (3) "Society's Storyteller" (George Gerbner); (4) "Five Important Ideas to Teach Your Kids about TV"…