A follow-up panel study investigated whether a knowledge differential based on individual educational differences develops in a community, and additionally, whether media use is associated with differential gain in knowledge across education levels. It was hypothesized (1) that education would have a positive effect on public affairs energy knowledge and energy issue relationships, (2) that education would have a positive impact on public affairs media and energy media use, and on public affairs knowledge, and (3) that energy issue salience would be positively related to energy issue relationships and public affairs mass media use. Subjects, 650 randomly selected homeowners in a Wisconsin community, completed telephone interviews over a period of three years. Results indicated that education did have an impact on public affairs energy knowledge, but that energy media were used more evenly across higher and less educated subjects. Energy issue salience was positively related to energy issue relationships and public affairs mass media use. Findings suggested that information campaigns about energy and other complex issues need to take into account different patterns of media use and knowledge gain related to social status, particularly education. Energy communication media seem to be used equally by the more or less educated, although knowledge about energy is most consistently related to reading of newspaper energy stories by the more educated, and to viewing televised energy commercials among the less educated. (Tables of data and a list of references are appended.) (NKA)