Finds that readers of a news report featuring extreme exemplar distortion considered carjacking a more serious problem than those who read reports featuring minimally, mildly, or substantially distorted exemplars. Finds that subjects overestimated the incidence of extreme outcome but did not differ in evaluations of newsworthiness, importance, or…

Explores the effects of emotionally disturbing news stories upon recall of other newscast details. Explains that undergraduate communication students viewed an eight-item news telecast which included an item whose arousing properties were demonstrated in a pretest. Reports adverse effects upon recall of innocuous information presented after…

Finds that journalistic story frames (such as human interest, conflict, or personal consequences) significantly affected the topical focus and evaluative implications of thoughts generated by readers. Shows that evaluations and opinions offered by participants indicated that news frames also subtly could affect audience decision making about…