The author reviews some of the history of television as it has been used in teaching economics, describes some ways in which it is currently being used, and gives some thought to how it might be developed in the future. (Author)

Women, blacks, the poor, and the elderly view more television than the population as a whole. Does TV serve the needs and interests of these primary viewers? Professor Comstock doubts it and finds these viewers largely disenfranchised by shallow news programs and entertainment that reinforces accepted norms. (Editor/RK)

Discusses a survey on Family Viewing Time designed to determine audience reactions to program content including violent and sexual content, audience perceptions of the suitability of program offerings for family viewing, and audience viewing habits with respect to Family Viewing Time. (MH)

Two-way cable television proved to be an effective way to provide instruction in GED and pre-GED skills in Spartanburg, South Carolina. (MKM)

Finds that the better- and the less-educated members of a telephone survey recalled nearly the same amount of details from television newscasts, supporting the "knowledge-leveler" model of television as an educational medium for the general population. (RL)

This article raises the question of whether Sesame Street could be a valuable learning device for children older than those for whom the program was designed as well as for children who are functioning below average for their ages. (Author/AM)

Describes the initial efforts of the Nova Scotia Department of Education and the Atlantic Institute of Education in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to conduct a formative evaluation of a French language television series in order to suggest improvements for their own television programs. (Author/RK)

A view of the development and operation of a closed circuit educational television system in London. (STS)

Provides a critical review and analysis of Marie Winn's "The Plug-in Drug." (KS)

Describes a study of 301 undergraduates which was designed to determine their motives for watching soap operas. Responses to a questionnaire were analyzed to determine perceived gratifications and consequences of viewing. Convergence of motives was studied, and the diversity of motives and resultant implications for subgroup analyses were also…

Replicated a New York City study of completed suicides by persons 19 years old or younger, in metropolitan districts of Ohio, Texas and California, following broadcast of four fictional television films on suicide. Found the impact of movies varied by metropolitan area. Analyzed geographic differences in suicide response, emphasizing that…

Children viewed televised messages with identical content that were presented in either child or adult program forms and at three levels of difficulty. Visual attention was significantly greater for messages in child forms, but showed minor variation according to content difficulty. Recall scores were higher for child forms and for easy versions.…

Reviews the origins of the lecture as the format of choice for instructional television in the 1950s, and evaluates the effectiveness of this format. The development of educational television, including the trend away from liberal arts curricula and the role played by the government and the Ford Foundation, are also discussed. (13 references) (CLB)

While some teachers think cable television broadcasts of congressional proceedings reveal how public policy is made, others feel it is not a representative view, has limited access, and contains little useful material for the time required to obtain it. (MSE)

Indicates that (1) affinity, selectivity, and involvement predicted intentionality; (2) pass time motives, perceived realism, and reduced intentionality predicted nonselectivity; (3) pass time motives and reduced affinity predicted distractions; (4) information and nonentertainment motives, perceived realism, and intentionality predicted…