Reviews the past five years of community ties research. Examines recent research for evidence of progress in resolving important conceptual issues, and discusses problems that still persist despite previous cautions. (RAE)

Argues that, in terms of demography of attention, broadcast economics, the excitation of wide public commentary, and First and Third World media dependency issues, American Olympic television is a worthwhile object of scrutiny for mass communication researchers. Appraises two studies by Thomas Farrell and Eric Rothenbuhler (same issue). (SR)

Explores the potential role of mental imagery for media effects in emotional responses to frightening mass media, and in the effects of the media on beliefs in UFOs. Finds that individual differences in vividness of mental imagery may play a crucial role in moderating both types of media impact. (SR)

Argues that member interaction provides a contextual frame through which intersubjective interpretations of media texts emerge. Details the interactional resources that facilitate the reflexive co-accomplishment of context and text by one specific interpretive community. Provides an empirical answer to exactly how one interpretive community frames…

Introduces a symposium in this journal issue: "Technology through a Retrospective Eye: Imaging Practices between the World Wars and Beyond." Notes that each article of the symposium keys into a central moment of expansion of imaging practice and focuses on the debates that accompanied that expansion. (SR)

Investigates patterns of college-student reactions to local television newscasts. Finds that significant audience adaptation does not occur during a 30-minute newscast and that there was no relationship between segment placement and level of viewer interest. Suggests that the audience rebound phenomenon overcomes the audience adaptation phenomenon…

Questions 22 participants to ascertain whether using newspapers in school is associated with later newspaper use as an adult. Finds that, initially, only 40 percent recalled a "Newspaper in Education" experience; after focus group discussion, 70 percent recalled an NIE experience, indicating that more complex techniques are required to…

Measured the amount of copy devoted to appearance, home, male-female relations, and self-development in "Seventeen" magazine in 1961, 1972, and 1985. Male-female relations decreased, and self-development increased in 1972, at the height of the women's movement, but by 1985 coverage had reverted to the 1961 proportions. (DM)

Argues that production should be treated seriously as a form of research. Asserts that such research contributes to production theory and to an overall understanding of the media. Presents a new idea about what kind of knowledge comes from production and what kind of written research typically results from this knowledge. (PRA)

Uses Kantian logic to analyze the statement of Libertarian press theory "Truth beats falsehood in a free marketplace of ideas" as a definition, an observation, and a universal truth. Notes three corresponding moral universes, with differing ethical obligations. Discusses strengths and weaknesses of each. Cautions media ethics analysts…

Argues that scholars from other communication disciplines could learn much from public relations research. Discusses public relations research at the micro level (individual public relations programs), the meso level (managerial), and the macro level (what makes excellent public relations possible). Offers an integrative theory explaining the…

Argues that the discipline of communication has not progressed for two reasons: because scholars talk more to each other than to those outside the field, and because they have not clearly defined what they are about to themselves, their colleagues, their students, and the general public. (SR)

Examines one aspect of human information processing, the "translation phenomenon," in which words are remembered as pictures and vice versa. Finds that translation is more likely to occur after the passage of 48 hours, and most often results in facts that were conveyed as narration being remembered as having been conveyed in video. (SR)

Investigates whether people perceive effects of mass media as being greater on others than on themselves. Finds that almost 90 percent of respondents judge themselves less influenced than others. Finds respondents with more education see others as even more likely to be influenced, with older respondents most likely to do so. (SR)

States that a four-week case study of a radio newsroom's source delivered material ("information subsidies") found only 19% of items collected were used to make up part of a newscast. Finds 20% of information subsidies were never "opened." Suggests news directors place more emphasis on source credibility and power perception…