Although usually considered the "master of suspense," Alfred Hitchcock relished working humor into his films, frequently juxtaposing it against scenes of utter gruesomeness. This placement of comic elements--comic relief--in an otherwise serious murder mystery or suspense thriller became a Hitchcock trademark early in his career.…

Data collected in three recent reseach reports were examined to answer two basic questions about social science coverage in the news media. The first question, whether the media prefer social science stories to other kinds of science questions, was answered affirmatively by three kinds of evidence. First, combined analysis of 1977 and 1979…

Noting that launching a new magazine in a competitive market is both complicated and costly, a study analyzed four "Teddy Bear" magazines and their market to determine the viability of launching a new Teddy Bear magazine. The market includes "Bear Tracks,""The Teddy Tribune,""Teddy Bear and Friends," and,…

A study surveyed newspapers that print religious news to determine the kinds of coverage their religion journalists provide and to determine the type of audience for which they write. Mail surveys were completed by 141 daily newspapers with circulations ranging from under 10,000 to over 100,000. All but 13 respondents provided a working definition…

To determine whether the media in one state have reflected current trends in crime reporting, a study focused on crime news content in the 24 Louisiana daily newspapers in 1980 and in 1985. Issues addressed were whether statewide crime coverage increased or decreased, if the placement of crime news and type of headline changed, and whether…

A study analyzed statistically the monotony of all-news radio listening and identified stylistic figures that elicit attention in listeners. Subjects were 30 graduate students whose experience with radio news ranged from occasional listening over several months to regular listening five or seven days per week for several years. Respondents were…

A study analyzed the relationship between reading in various community structures and where people shop for goods and services, and whether this relationship differs by the type of community in which individuals reside. Telephone interviews were conducted with samples of 100 or more subjects in each of 10 Minnesota communities, including a small…

Scientific researchers traditionally have held that the use of data represents a test of hypotheses or theories. Social psychologist William McGuire has developed a contrary position, arguing that instead of testing hypotheses and theories, research merely specifies their limitations, generality, and assumptions. McGuire's contextualism suggests…

A study examined (1) how advertising practitioners perceive research related to their profession, (2) how advertising practitioners learn of current research results, and (3) how, if at all, advertising practitioners use research. Individual discussions with advertising practitioners in the San Diego market led to an initial bank of items from…

Reminiscences of reporters and press club histories painted the Chicago journalist, around the turn of the century, as part bohemian and part businessman. A study, in order to fashion a more realistic picture, recounted amd examined descriptive material available about Chicago journalists and then tested the material with census data collected…

A diagnostic study tested the hypothesis that still advertising pictures and television commercials are governed by a basic visual communication principle: that viewers' comprehension and retention of still and moving images depends greatly on the harmonious coexistence of their figure/ground relationships. Ten still images (half in black and…

A study surveyed minority journalists at newspapers and television stations in Ohio to determine how overall job satisfaction is linked to perceived communication satisfaction, satisfaction with intrinsic and extrinsic aspects of a job, perceived racial discrimination, and general variables such as years in journalism, position, and the number of…

Measurements were taken from 8 randomly selected Gannett papers and from 23 non-Gannett papers in an effort to determine whether Gannett papers are unlike other kinds of papers. The content of every issue of every newspaper was divided and measured into eight categories: advertising, news, opinion, letters, sports, features, entertainment, and…

To investigate the relationship between newspaper readership and community involvement in a nonmetropolitan area, data were collected from a random sample of 300 residents of one California county. The county has one daily newspaper and four weeklies. Subjects were asked if they read a newspaper once a week or more, if they subscribed to any…

To delineate the ideas of newsworthiness and consent as they apply to journalism and private facts lawsuits (those in which plaintiffs seek to stop publication of facts about themselves), this paper covers key areas of dispute. Various sections of the paper discuss (1) the definition of newsworthiness, (2) consent as a legal defense, (3) the…