Describes a study that examined 48 television stations seeking FCC (Federal Communications Commission) license renewal in 1992 and assesses their efforts to fulfill the programming requirements of the Children's Television Act (CTA) of 1990. Educational programming requirements are explained, and results are reported that indicate inadequate…

Examines the relative power of visual, audio, and audiovisual television messages on people's understanding of political issues. Shows that audio alone is just as effective as a combined audio and visual presentation for conveying information. Shows little difference between the effective responses to audio and video channels. (SR)

Employs a dramatistic system based on the critical frameworks of Kenneth Burke and Northrop Frye to analyze 903 prime-time network television series. Classifies series as ironic, mimetic, leader-centered, romantic, or mythical. Concludes that over the period from 1974-91, series went from individualism, to idealism and authority, to authority…

Tests G. Armstrong's and B. Greenberg's model of the effect of background television on cognitive performance, applied to reading comprehension and memory. Finds significant deleterious effects of background television, stronger and more consistent effects when testing immediately after reading, and more consistently negative effects resulting…

Analyzes the content of 16 hours of children's cartoon television programs. Finds that (1) all programs contained some violence, but especially those programs linked with toy merchandisers; (2) such programs used more theme music; and (3) few Black characters were shown, whereas males predominated and females were victims more often than were men.…

Many challenges currently face art educators who aim to address aspects of popular visual culture in the art classroom. This article analyzes the relationship between performance art and the MTV program "Jackass," one example of problematic popular visual culture. Issues of gender representation and violence within the context of Reality TV and…

The effects of parental attitudes, practices, and television mediation on adolescent sexual behaviors were investigated in a study of adolescent sexuality and media (N = 887). Confirmatory factor analyses supported an eight-factor parenting model with television mediation factors as constructs distinct from general parenting practices. Logistic…

The author discusses "Design Squad", a television program designed to introduce students to the engineering process. Each episode tells the story of how two teams tackled a particular challenge. A graphic announces each stage (e.g., brainstorm, design, build, test, and redesign) as the teams construct their solutions. These graphics make visual…

Recently the author has been including in her undergraduate seminars Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Letter to d'Alembert on the Theatre" (1758), the most provocative essay on the arts ever written. It is about the unintended effects of theater--which, for Rousseau, stands in for all of the arts--on an audience. The essay is an impassioned rebuttal to…

A noted journalist and critic examines why broadcasters are conditioned to accept the reality of what American broadcasting is, and therefore many have lost the vision of what it could be. (Author/HB)

Fresh from writing a history of educational broadcasting, the author places that history in a larger context--the total broadcast service available to the American people. (Author)

A general look at problems in broadcast management from an international perspective. (HB)

A reprint of an informal message from McGeorge Bundy as he accepts the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Educational Broadcasters in Las Vegas, November, 1974. (Author/HB)

A list of the most common mistakes made by newcomers to television and how to avoid or correct them. (Author/HB)

How to handle a script on-camera and use cue cards off-camera. (Author)