Presents a taxonomy of formal features of television and examines ways in which these features are used in current productions for children. Coding categories for formal features include action, pace, visual events, and auditory features. Concludes that commercial producers stress formal features as much or more than content. (PD)

Explores children's understanding of the nature of television characters by assessing their abilities to differentiate between human, animated, and puppet characters. (PD)

Examines forms of communication used in commercials to convey social stereotypes. (Forms refer to production techniques such as level of action or movement, pacing, camera techniques, and auditory features.) (PD)

Investigates the nature and extent of violence contained in television programming that targets children aged 12 and younger. Notes that the violence itself is just as likely to be glamorized in children's as in nonchildren's shows, but it is even more sanitized and more likely to be trivialized. Documents five subgenres of children's programming…

Reports on three types of separation techniques used by networks to assist children in distinguishing between programs and commercials. Results indicate that children were unable to make effective program/commercial distinctions on the basis of any of the network separators. (PD)

Applies fantasy theme analysis to explain the rhetorical vision that emerges from newspaper and broadcast news coverage of Fred Rogers. Notes that journalists have created a fantasy about Rogers that holds him up as the embodiment of television's potential. Concludes that when journalists do this they step outside their usual role as objective…

Annual progress report sums up findings suggesting that fear and inequity may be television's most pervasive lessons. 1978 Index shows violence up in children's hours. (PD)

Appraises the way in which the broadcasting industry is now promoting toys to children, focusing on structural changes in the broadcasting industry, new ways of financing and distributing programs, aggressive marketing by the toy industry, and the deregulatory climate at the Federal Communications Commission. (MS)

Finds clear patterns of differences in nature and number of commercials during children's programs on three different types of television channels: broadcast networks, independent stations, and cable networks. Examines themes/appeals employed in commercials, disclosures/disclaimers used, and other content attributes. (SR)

Finds that 37% of a random sample of children had been frightened by a news story on television; percentage of children frightened by news increased from kindergarten to the elementary school years, whereas the tendency to be frightened by fantastic, unreal content showed a decreasing trend; and tendency to respond with fright to violence between…

Argues that the thinking behind three legislative proposals intended to protect children from the harmful effects of TV violence is fundamentally flawed. Analyzes a composite week of television programming. Finds that many children watch television after 9 P.M., and the lowest percentages of punishment for aggressive acts and major consequences to…

Reviews the current research on the effects of television advertising on children and the interaction between parent and child regarding the child's consumer behavior. Suggests areas for future research. (JMF)