Image size, viewing angle, and contrast affect performance of a visual discrimination task. Further, the three factors interaction in their effect on performance. (Author)

Focuses on the organizational use of transcendent appeals to redefine "sin" into a "virtue." Analyzes Johnson Controls' apologia after critics charged that its "fetal protection policy" was discriminatory. Examines the redefinitions and ultimate terms invoked by the company to justify its choice of policy. (PA)

Examines military occupation force's role in shaping Japan's contemporary broadcasting system. Notes that controls placed on Japanese broadcasters were often rigorous and uncompromising, despite Washington's initial instructions to give guidance to the Japanese without overt control. Suggests that this domination created an environment conducive…

Proposes a framework for analyzing information portrayed in different media, for example, in text and in diagrams. The framework attaches information to propositions, then analyzes text and diagrams as being interpreted languages with the ability to refer to propositions. The approach is illustrated with Venn diagrams. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of how the information age may alter forms and use of media focuses on personal media, or community media, as opposed to mass media. Topics include controlling the point of view; the idea of appropriation; storytelling, or narrative; and the need to bring technology and humanism back together. (LRW)

Analyzes full-page advertisements in four national magazines for the years 1980 to 1986. Finds (1) endorsements occurred in about half of the advertisements; (2) endorsers most used were celebrities; (3) advertisements with endorsers contain less information; and (4) celebrities most often endorsed personal care or apparel products. (RS)

Compares interpretive media research with traditional media research. Suggests that interpretivism's distinctiveness from earlier work is not always entirely clear and that, through an analysis of the challenges that interpretivism poses to preceding traditions, these challenges may be illusory. (MG)

Examines institutional changes in advertising before and after the stock market "crash" of 1987 as represented in the "Wall Street Journal." Finds that financial institutions increased the frequency and size of ads after the crash. (RS)

Presents preliminary data about audience perceptions to colorized movies. Finds that colorized films were seen as more contemporary and were evaluated slightly more favorably. (RS)

Analyzes the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) assignment of renewal expectancy to existing broadcast licensees within the framework of the Commission's ongoing inquiry into the comparative renewal process. Discusses and analyzes the rationales given by the Commission to justify its current policy. Finds only the criteria of excellent…

Develops a framework to examine the communication goals of interacting partners and how these affect media choice. States that 70 people were presented with different communication situations, and were asked which mode of communication they would use. Finds that in situations of relational competitiveness, relational control was a significant…

Responds to six articles in the same issue on images in retrospect. Deals collectively rather than individually with ideas that underlie the work of the respective authors and attempts to provide a critical interpretation guided by the maxim "always historicize!" (SR)

Attempts to demonstrate the value of conjunctural interpretive analysis (which is multilevel, multimodal, and explicitly theoretical and political) through an interpretation of the culture of homelessness in the United States. Addresses differences between positivist epistemologies. (SR)

Tests nonadditive model of suggestion/imitation, predicting that suicide stories will have greatest effect on suicide in times of high suicidogenic conditions measured in terms of unemployment. Data on U.S. monthly suicide rate supported nonadditive model based on interaction effect between media stories and rate of unemployment; it did not prove…

Assesses the effect of model ethnicity on prejudiced respondents, and thus on advertising effectiveness. Finds that, for the most part, use of Asian models does not cause prejudiced respondents to evaluate a product or advertisement more negatively than when White models are used. (SR)