Explores the dimensions of the question of competition in mass media and the diversity of information sources. (PD)

Discusses the critical sociology of communication of the Frankfurt School suggesting that theorists such as Lowenthal, Adorno, and Habermas have outlined both the political economics of manipulation and the social psychological interaction between the audience and the media. (MH)

Discusses different cultural and mass media, types of ownership, and organizational goals and strategies. Suggests that the "profit or perish" motive in the book publishing industry and the rise of communications conglomerates have not necessarily diminished the vitality or number of ideas in the marketplace. (PD)

Examines election night reporting, particularly by television networks, and assesses the impact of broadcasting on the process of reporting the vote. Areas analyzed are facilities and equipment; personnel; program format and structure; new innovations and changes; and ratings, criticism, and audience. (JMF)

Critiques Neil Postman's book, "Teaching as a Conserving Activity," which focuses on television's transformation of the information environment and the implications of this development for educational policy and practice. Points out some serious flaws in Postman's argument. (JMF)

Discusses the common practice within the media of relying on a few "science celebrities," rather than specialists conducting relevant research, for their scientific information. Cites the marijuana controversy as an example of this situation. (JMF)

Results of this study suggested that interpersonal sources seem to be much more important than impersonal sources in helping the individual to achieve value-prescribed goals. (Author)

Discusses the concepts of political myths and rituals which guide the formation of public opinion and policy and their uses in political communication. (JMF)

Considers whether the media as a whole provide a rich marketplace of ideas. Concludes that the range of ideas and information is relatively narrow due to the nature of ownership and media economics, resulting in a homogenization of content. (PD)

Presents a study of first-time voters and the relationship of interpersonal communication, particularly with fathers, and media exposure to their dispositions toward voting. Dispositions toward voting were indexed by items reflecting overall political interest, sense of political efficacy, concern about voting, and sense of voting efficacy. (JMF)

Demonstrates that television news is a relatively weak overall predictor of long-term information gain. Shows that newspapers remain America's premier source of public affairs information and more specialized cable programs such as the MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour and C-SPAN have come to rival newspapers and news magazines as suppliers of long-term…

These studies suggest that attitude change may not be predictable from belief strength and belief valence alone. Belief salience may have to be treated as an independent dimension of attitude change. (Author)

Outlines the concentration of control of the news media, particularly newspapers in the United States. Discusses the influence of the constituencies of daily newspapers (the reader, the advertiser, and the stock market) in terms of their control of public information. (JMF)

Describes the radio system in the Canadian North and efforts that have been made to use radio to provide a mixture of relevant national, regional, and local information. Also reports the results of a survey on the use of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Northern shortwave broadcasts. (JMF)