On the assumption that the mass media, to some degree, shape their users' thoughts about the nature of the world, this paper explores the development of a framework for studying television-influenced social reality--the controversial television-viewing-and-aggression hypothesis known as cultivation theory, as well as recent cultivation theory…

A Senate hearing on the cable porn and dial-a-porn control bill is presented in this document. Opening statements by Senators Jeremiah Denton, Arlen Specter, and Jesse Helms discuss the need for this bill and its content. The text of the bill itself is included. Jack D. Smith, General Counsel of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)…

According to a new myth in the television broadcasting industry, the producer has become the representative of the show business side of news production, while the reporter has remained the protector of the more noble goals of journalism in the television newsroom. To explore the dimensions of this myth, a study examined data, available from a…

To assess the roles of TV news commentators during times of crisis, a study examined network news commentary during the 10 days following each of three crises--Spiro Agnew's resignation (October 10, 1973), the Saturday Night Massacre (October 22, 1973), and the seizure of the American merchant ship "Mayaguez" by Cambodians (May 11,…

Noting that little theoretical work has been done on the processes of adapting novels for television viewing, and that what discussion there is tends to concentrate on judgments about "faithfulness" to the original, this paper suggests that more can be gained from approaching television adaptations in a less literal way, and shows how…

Daily sessions of the U.S. Congress are currently televised by satellite to viewers across the United States. This booklet provides information on the role of communication systems in educating about democratic processes and informing viewers about legislative procedures. Two chapters, entitled "The Electronic Eye: The Merger of Technology…

While the United States Senate debates the merits of televising its proceedings, it might consider as a model the House of Representatives, which has televised floor activities since 1979 with no dramatic changes in those activities or in members' behavior. The House system consists of inconspicuously placed cameras and microphones operated by…

Content analysis was used to study the values evident in televised beer and wine commercials. Seventy-seven prime time commercials, 7.6% of a week's total, were analyzed along value dimensions adapted from Gallup's measure of popular social values. The intensity of each value was coded on a five-point scale. None of the commercials in the beer and…

Addressing the issues of the application of the First Amendment and deregulation, this paper examines the judicial and legislative precedents for cable television regulation and the current industry status. The paper then addresses the questions: (1) Should and could a different regulatory approach be taken? (2) What types of models might best be…

Deregulation of the cable industry has been based largely on the assumption of existing diversity and competition and on the promise of promoting diversity within the industry. To test this assumption, a study examined levels of channel diversity for a sample of cable systems at three stages of the deregulation process. A random sample of 326…

Bundling, a practice which has increased dramatically in the television and cable industries in recent years, occurs when program distributors package groups of movies and episodes of series, and then sell licenses to use these packages to TV stations and cable channels. Typically, such bundled packages include both highly desirable and less…

A two-fold statistical analysis examined the creative development of the 15-second television commercial, providing a follow-up to a similar study conducted in 1986. Study 1 of the present analysis examined 335 actual 15-second spots extracted from 30 hours of network daytime and primetime programming in the fourth and first quarters of 1988-1989.…

This study examined female adolescent characters portrayed in over 200 episodes of 19 prime time television programs aired in the spring of 1988, and analyzed the messages these programs conveyed about education and work. It was found that although adolescent girls outnumbered adolescent boys on prime time television, these female characters were…

To examine how the contents of Korean television serial dramas have changed and to determine trends of their portrayals of male and female characters' lifestyles, a study analyzed Korean television dramas of 1977 and 1987. A sample of three channels' video--22 daily and 14 weekly episodes of 18 different television dramas during weekday prime time…

The principles of synergy, particularly as described by Charles Hampden-Turner in "Maps of the Mind," can be applied to critical thinking in television broadcasting. Synergy is the process by which one need or person combines optimally with another. A metaphor for the idea of the concrete and the abstract working together while they are…