The effects of a year-long newspaper series about energy on peoples' knowledge and actions were assessed in a Wisconsin study. The series consisted of 20 full-page newspaper articles, which appeared at intervals of from three to five weeks. Results, based on responses to a 16-item knowledge test mailed to newspaper subscribers and nonsubscribers before and after the series appeared, showed that newspaper subscribers increased their scores significantly from 1976 when the series began to 1977, that nonsubscribers did not increase their scores significantly, and that those who remembered reading at least one article from the series increased their scores by more than those who did not remember reading an article. Examination of specific test items showed that persons who both received the pretest questionnaire and saw the series of articles generally received the highest scores on the posttest, suggesting that questionnaire sensitization was a factor in the study. Scores both before and after the series were found to increase as educational level increased, and younger readers learned more from the series than older readers. No specific changes in respondents' energy-related actions could be linked directly to the reading of the series articles. (GW)