This paper proposes an integrated approach to the study of world events, as they are filtered and interpreted in the news, by systematic experimental research on the interaction of the technological characteristics of the media, the content or message, and the characteristics of the audience. Specifically, it is hypothesized that these three factors operating within the general framework of a given social, political, and economic environment (in this case the United States) may affect understanding of world events. A detailed analysis is provided of these factors, which are defined as: technology, or the technical infrastructure needed to support a mode of information distribution; content, which is the topic, format, or style of presentation; and audience of/for news, i.e., the people who do or do not view, read or listen to the news; are or are not affected by the news; and react to, have opinions about and interact with the information conveyed by newspapers, magazines, radio, and television. A final section briefly discusses the mutual complex interactions among variables relating to the technology, content, and audience for news that will be examined at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Audience Research Facility. This series of news studies has been designed to challenge the current, dominant conclusion that the content matters, but the medium of communication does not. (34 references) (CGD)