Explores the relationship between media dependency and political perceptions in Chile, an ideologically monopolized media environment. Shows that, in an authoritarian political system, media dependency might have a significant impact on political perceptions, sustained even when taking into account the influence of sociodemographic variables, as…

Analyzes the alternative media and their reporting up to the February 1986 revolution in the Philippines. Shows that they broadened the context in which key events could be interpreted, and influenced those segments of the audience that provided new leadership. (MS)

Examines the influence of five communication modalities on voters' perceptions of candidates. Finds that political talk-radio exerted the greatest influence on voters' perceptions of Bob Dole and considerable impact on perceptions of Steve Forbes. Finds also that prospective voters' conversations with other people, television news, and candidate…

Argues that research in environmental communication should look at communication-related linkages between society and the environment, and that biosocial theory presents a useful conceptual framework. Suggests five empirical generalizations about mass communication's possible roles in the interactions between people and the environment, drawn from…

Offers a historical analysis of continuity and change in China's media reform. Discusses the interaction among ideologies, structure, and operation as well as reform's relationship to the political economy. Shows that the present reform has had the unintended effect of liberalizing China's media system, which contributes to the further erosion of…

Examines the development of mass media in China since 1949. Suggests that the rapid growth of television at a time when China is experiencing its fastest economic growth may indicate a mutual reinforcing relationship. Argues that television and entertainment may play an important role in economic growth since they may help build consensus and…

Offers a "guard dog" metaphor for the functioning of the mass media, suggesting that media perform as a sentry for groups having sufficient power and influence to create and control their own security systems. Delineates this perspective from others, and suggests several hypotheses that may be derived for testing the utility of the guard dog…

Presents a general mathematical model of the diffusion of innovations that incorporates mass media and interpersonal influence. Suggests that policymakers can use diffusion models to evaluate the effectiveness of media versus interpersonal campaigns, make comparisons between subgroups, and evaluate the effect of a policy. (RS)

Offers a clarification of the original uses of the word "stereotype" and argues that the current failure to account for evaluative and historical aspects of stereotypes has diluted the usefulness of the concept for critics and teachers. (MS)

Concludes that although the new rhetoric may serve as a reminder that communication studies are more than simple effects research, the ferment produced by a highly politicized debate--if it successfully masquerades as scholarly controversy--can become intellectually self-limiting and sterile. (PD)

Proposes and experimentally tests mood adjustment approach, complementing mood management theory. Discusses how results regarding self-exposure across time show that patterns of popular music listening among a group of undergraduate students differ with initial mood and anticipation, lending support to mood adjustment hypotheses. Describes how…

Divides 31 mass communication textbooks into introductory and issue-oriented texts that reflect an insider's view of mass media and stress socialization to the industry or theory texts that take a more academic and critical view of the role of communication in society. Defines mass communication. (NKA)

Examines the determinants and consequences of the Korean "Family Reunion Program" aired in June 1983. Compares the medium and audience involved to current definitions of media events. (MS)

Traces some of Wilbur Schramm's early influence in shaping and defining the field of communications in comparison to what the other founding fathers contributed from their external disciplinary positions, and places Schramm's career within its historical context. (MS)

Systematizes the fragmented approaches to framing in political communication and integrates them into a comprehensive model. Classifies previous approaches to framing research along two dimensions: media frames versus audience frames; and the way frames are operationalized (independent variable or dependent variable). Identifies four key processes…