Examines psychophysiological and cognitive processing of television events to see what kinds of contextual information might be stored as a result of both real and fictional television events and mediated and unmediated television events. Examines decision processes that use this information. Suggests that television may result in contextual…

Describes results of a survey of 225 parents that assessed patterns of television-related interaction, viewing habits, and perceptions. Topics include motivations and implications of mediation versus coviewing; and a typology of mediation patterns that includes nonmediation, optimists, and selectives. (Author/LRW)

Appraises the information content of Singapore television advertising, and makes a comparison with relevant United States findings. Research reported in this paper is a replication of two empirical studies of the informational content of television advertising in the United States from 1977. (Author/LRW)

Samples 100 prime-time shows, finding that only 2.8% of the adult speaking characters were over 65, and only 8.8% of them were cast in major roles. Notes that the role prominence of characters 65 and older has decreased since the 1970s. (SR)

Reality-based television programs showcase actual footage or recreate actual events, and include programs such as "America's Most Wanted" and "Rescue 911." To identify the features that typify reality-based television programs, this study conducted an analysis of formal features used in reality-based programs. Formal features…

Concludes that television is used in developing nations to maintain or reinforce national values and traditions in modernizing nations. (RB)

Dispels the notion that television is a "cool," or noninvolving medium, at least for preschool children. (RB)

Noting that television network coverage of hostage crises tends to emphasize the same topics while depicting them in similar ways, and that networks may be unwittingly granting legitimacy to terrorist grievances, a study investigated the nature of "NBC Nightly News" coverage of the Trans World Airline (TWA) hostage crisis. Specific…

The ethical dilemma presented by the ratings sweeps is a fundamental operating principle of advertiser-financed television broadcasting: broadcasters generate operating revenue and profit by exchanging audiences for money with advertisers. In order to create or attract audiences to be sold, the broadcaster formulates or acquires and then…

The question of why advertisements for contraceptives are not shown on television in the United States is explored in this paper. The statement is made that although television is permeated with sex, network broadcasters steadfastly ban contraceptive advertising from the airways on the grounds that they do not want to alienate or offend viewers.…

This test of the use of videotape in courts is a part of a symposium on legislative and judicial communications. (CH)

A discussion of audience surveys conducted by Pennsylvania State University, and how they can be used to set priorities for public television. (HB)

After critiquing the usual estimates of the importance of television as a source of news, the national audience for television news over a two-week period is identified from the 1974-1975 W.R. Simmons study (which uses a diary technique for gathering data). Analysis showed that, in the two-week period, 49% of the adult population did not watch a…

Examines the relationship between agressive attitudes and violence on television, concluding that there is a positive correlation. (RB)