In this interview, Peggy Charren, the founder and president of Action for Children's Television (ACT), talks about the organization's concerns, goals, and activities, as well as its effect on television programing and commericals intended for children. (Editor/SJL)

Discusses differences between the primary functions of the cerebral hemispheres, notes differences between conscious and subconscious responses of subjects in several research studies, and stresses the need for a whole series of questions (so far largely unasked) about how unconscious meanings are made from media. (GT)

Focuses on one of the founders of educational television Freida Hennock. Discusses her early career, appointment to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), initial call for educational representation at FCC hearings, response to educational channel assignments, belief in childrens television, and ongoing struggle for educational programming…

Compares identical studies of the uses of leisure, culture, and communication in Israel in 1970 and 1990, to infer possible long-run effects of the introduction of television broadcasting. Finds a drop in attendance at "spectacles" of all kinds (whether theater or sports) and a rise in activities that are interactive, time flexible, and…

The effects of a rapid change in media environment are examined through the introduction of a multichannel cable television system in Israel. Findings highlight changes on the behavioral, cognitive, and affective dimensions. Changes occurred in reallocation of leisure time, social characteristics of viewing, viewing patterns, and content…

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…

Discusses a study of "Channel One," a commercial television news program for high school students. Discusses supporters' and critics' reactions to the service. Reports that most Channel One commercials are aimed at teens and feature teen characters and pleasure/attractiveness themes. Suggests using the commercials as the focus of…

Studies the value of television commercials and political debates as sources of information about candidates. Reports that respondents who viewed both kinds of messages state that advertisements provide more information on issue positions. Concludes that debates are more effective in improving candidate name recognition and knowledge of party…

This article is an annotated bibliography of 36 formative, summative, and theoretical research studies on the 4 educational children's television series produced by the Children's Television Workshop since 1969: "Sesame Street,""The Electric Company,""3-2-1 Contact," and "Square One TV." (LRW)

Recorded home television viewing of 2-, 5-, 8-, 12-year olds, and adults on time-lapse videotapes over 10-day period. Found that cuts, movement, and overt purposeful character behavior were positively related to viewer's looking behavior, independent of child versus adult programming. Associations with looking behavior for other features depended…

Authenticity of production for accurate interpretation in television programming is necessary for educational value. (JR)

The goal of children's television in the Czechoslovakian Socialist Republic is the ethical and aesthetic education of young viewers. (Author)

A discussion of how excellence in public television programing can refute the rule that it not only does not draw large audiences, but that somehow it can't. An analysis of how "The Incredible Machine" succeeded where others have not. (HB)

A discussion of how public television can lament its "inability" to draw reasonable audiences, while slighting or ignoring the professional tools that help make those audiences possible. (Author/HB)

A discussion of television audience research in Germany. (HB)