Describes the development and pilot program implementation of an online campus information service at the University of California at Berkeley called Infocal. Highlights include the establishment of an advisory committee; target audience; control; quality; confidentiality; legal issues; commercial information; policies; computer power; and…

Compares an "uncluttered" writing portfolio to a wise investment. Describes methods for saving words, or "tightening" an essay, such as using firm verbs and nouns, maneuvering active and passive tense, and making every word count. (PA)

Presents guidelines for helping students produce effective multimedia presentations. Topics include modeling presentations from other successful examples; evaluation criteria; solving relevant, real-life problems; purpose statements; identifying the intended audience; preparing storyboards; the use of multimedia resources; interactivity; student…

Describes a project designed to alleviate the emotional isolation of elders concerned about the manner in which they will die, particularly fears about loss of control. A counselor engaged elders in dialogue exploring nonthreatening ways this could be done. Drama that includes dialogue with the audience was chosen, developed, and performed at…

Posits that organizations in crisis situations must address multiple audiences with distinct needs. Analyzes the public communication offered by Jack in the Box restaurants during a food poisoning outbreak. Finds that ambiguity may provide organizations with a means for satisfying the divergent needs of their audiences--even where these distinct…

Studies a large sample of Dutch children. Finds that a positive-intense daydreaming style was stimulated by watching nonviolent children's programs and was inhibited by watching violent dramatic programs, while an aggressive-heroic daydreaming style was stimulated by watching violent dramatic programs and inhibited by watching nonviolent programs.…

States that scientific journal article introductions usually open with standard moves that introduce the community to new findings in specific literature. Presents a study in which 4 articles on chaos theory were analyzed--then 12 scientists were asked to think aloud while reading them. Emphasizes that scientific readers reacted differently.…

This study analyzed four characteristics of political commercials to determine their impact on television viewers' reactions: (1) issue versus image strategies; (2) attack versus support appeals; (3) presence and absence of music; and (4) visual content, either with families or in professional campaign settings. Memory measures and attitudes are…

Marketing professionals offer these suggestions to college communicators: segment audiences; convey the campus' position on issues; express the same theme in various communications; frame the message in the context of meeting the audience's needs; let editorial content guide design; use sophisticated but cost-effective design; solicit opinions;…

Discusses her writing processes, how she gets her ideas for her books, censorship, the role of her editor, and the fact that she never thinks of audience when she writes. (RS)

Finds that middle and high school students change their views of television watching along three ways of evaluating television: as a "magic window" to reality; as a utility route to information; and as an identity source of almost real people. Concludes that views of television reality are complex and dynamic. (SR)

Argues the major problem with report writing is poorly developed or lack of audience awareness, not grammar and mechanics. Discusses reliability of such reports and how lack of audience awareness may be remedied. Suggests that teachers have students follow a 10-step outlining process. (PA)

Children's discussion of television horror shows is the basis for examining television's effect on children and the relationship between television and reading. It is recommended that more attention be paid to the importance of social contexts in which both reading and responding to television occur. Implications for classroom instruction are…

A literature review of listening comprehension research covers five areas: text characteristics; interlocutor characteristics; task characteristics (variation in listening purpose); listener characteristics; and process characteristics (variation in the listener's cognitive activities and the nature of the speaker/listener interaction). (Contains…

Describes an activity in which students study and then create effective television public service announcements, thus integrating reading, writing, speaking, and drawing. (SR)