An experiment to determine if different affective responses would result from exposure to three different forms of media presenting the same content used a semantic differential to measure affective response, and an objective test to measure cognitive learning. Analysis of covariance indicated significantly less learning for audiotaped version of…

Reports on a study undertaken to determine whether status inconsistency (discrepancies within individuals regarding such factors as income, occupation, and education) would contribute additional explanation of variance in attention to public affairs media content beyond the effects of individual status predictors. (GT)

Notes that college students in Kenya recalled more radio news stories than did adult illiterates, tenth grade students, or adults with less than a college education and that comprehension was also lower for the illiterate adults. (Author/FL)

Reports on the news gathering behaviors of 24 mass media science writers. Concludes that organizational constraints were the major factors determining news selection strategies, but that individual-level variables came into play at both the information gathering and writing stages. (RL)

A survey of 93 Mexican American high school seniors revealed no relationship between total use of English-language mass media and academic performance, a negative relationship between grade point average and television use for entertainment, and a positive relationship between grade point average and newspaper use for public affairs information.…

Describes the average junior college newspaper, as determined by a study of 502 junior college newspapers; reports that the best newspapers recruited staff members primarily from journalism classes, emphasized AP/UPI newspaper style in all articles, compensated staff members either financially or with academic credit, and emphasized adequate…

Reports that seeing the film "All the President's Men" had more influence on college students' attitudes toward the press than on their political attitudes; notes that party affiliation was a significant predictor for some of the variables investigated. (GT)

Considers how media audiences and online users differ in their assessment of news. A national survey that studied the perception of interactivity in mass media and computer networks, and its relationship to the assessment of news, indicated that more emphasis on feedback is needed. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the media effects approach broadly, to point out limitations the traditional approach imposes on the field, and discusses a "mix of attributes" approach with a focus on the study of "new" technologies for the dissemination of news. Argues that the mix of attributes approach would better serve to advance both theory and empirical research…

Examines the associations between media use and knowledge of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Explores how media consumption is related to attitudes toward AIDS and policy issues pertaining to AIDS. Finds newspaper users better informed than television viewers. Finds television news users more likely to be misinformed than frequent…

Proposes directions to help researchers balance instructional technology goals with the performance of well-designed and scientifically sound studies. Issues concerning the external validity of studies, use of media replications, and learner control as a means of adapting instructional strategies to individuals are emphasized, and designs for…

Assesses effectiveness of two desensitization strategies for reducing children's emotional reactions to mass media. Examines children having passive exposure, modeled exposure, or no exposure to lizards before watching a horror movie involving lizards. Finds that modeled exposure decreases emotional reactions and negative interpretations, whereas…

Surveys children's access to media sources and assesses their diversity of content. Finds that children have access to numerous old and new media, since most live in households that receive cable television and own VCRs. Suggests broadcasting and videocassettes offer little diversity in children's content, while cable enhances programing choices.…

Examines whether the special features of VCRs lead to transformations in families, or whether preexisting family relationships and media orientations determine the uses of VCRs. Finds that VCRs mainly augment and extend family television patterns, and suggests that VCR use is both a cause and a symptom of family conflicts. (KEH)

Examines the role of metaphors (particularly visual metaphors) in communicating social values associated with new communication technology by analyzing magazine advertisements for computing and advanced telecommunications products and services. Finds that the "lever" and the "synthesis of old and new values" metaphors are dominant in both general…