States that the widespread use of fear appeals in health communication campaigns reflects the existence of a folk theory that suggests messages are accepted due to induced fright. Discusses two studies to determine the effect of public service announcements on the topic of AIDS/HIV. Finds a variety of affects were induced, most of which predicted…

Investigates how much and what type of information college students receive from the media about drugs. Interviews were conducted with 228 students using the message discrimination protocol. Results are discussed in terms of the audience receiving fear and fight messages rather than clear, accurate information necessary to make informed decisions…

Argues that racial ideology structures news coverage of race. Illustrates how two manifestations of racial ideology, namely racial hierarchy and temporal distancing, operate in news articles to help create racialized criteria for being an "American." (SR)

Finds that election surveys, expert opinions, and man-in-the-street interviews have about the same amount of impact on candidate preferences. (SR)

Uses psychological theories about how people process information to examine the influence of variance in question wording on public support for the Reagan defense build-up. Concludes that source cues influence the public but that such influence is overwhelmed when the public is simultaneously exposed to relevant policy information. (TB)

Explores how the form of print versus television media influenced the autonomy of coverage during the Gulf War. Examines levels of support and criticism of President Bush's policy in the media and the diversity of sources evaluating that policy. Finds that television news was more supportive of the official government line than was print media.…

Uses Ross Perot's campaign for president in 1992 as a case study in how two key political institutions--the conventional political press and the party system--mediate the effects of political communication. Finds that reporters allocated positive and negative coverage to Perot according to the same rules that they normally follow. (TB)

Searched articles (n=387) in German magazines with highest circulation rates for attitudes about alcoholism. In 55 percent of articles, alcohol dependence was described as illness, but only 4 percent included definitions of condition. Found articles about alcohol dependence were so simplified reader could mistake condition as being self-inflicted…

Examines the changing industry role of the six transnational phonogram companies. Argues that high market concentration does not produce an inevitable decrease in popular music diversity. Presents a new popular music model that takes into account the open system of musical production as a strategy in maintaining control of the marketplace. (SR)

Shows that executive turnover through four administrations (1967-89) has kept public broadcasting mired in budgetary crises, transforming its goals, structure, and programing content over time. Describes policy preferences imposed by administrators, identifies attendant modifications in organizational structure, and delineates effects of these…

Presents the reflections of a designer of visual interfaces for online public access catalogs regarding the importance of a historical perspective for design practices. Topics discussed include cognitive psychology research; conventions for organizing information; and the ongoing process of changes in media. (LRW)

Considers the relationship between media theory and the practical teaching of media studies. Describes a recent research study that demonstrated the attempt to put theory into practice and to adjust theory in light of practice. Analyzes the results of the study, and concludes with a defense of practical work as instruction. (HB)

Comments on the attempt to construct a coherent intellectual viewpoint to span the disparate projects of interpersonal and mass communication research. Considers how the discipline of communication can construct functional representations of itself despite diversity. (SR)

Discusses the lack of academic legitimacy enjoyed by mass media research in Europe, in particular. Attributes the problem in part to the specialism of the discipline and to the normative dimension of European research. (SR)

Comments on some recent debates in audience studies. Argues that much active audience theory is in fact premised on a heavily negotiated reading (if not a misreading) of some of the earlier work that is often invoked as its theoretical basis. (SR)