ERIC Number: ED271748
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1986-Aug
Pages: 33
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Promise vs. Performance: A Case Study of Four Public Access Channels in Connecticut.
Hardenbergh, Margot
A study examined the organization, content and audiences of four public access channels to determine whether public access on cable television can be described as mini-communication and, if so, whether cable television is fulfilling some of its promises as a mini-medium. Organization was categorized as reflecting little or no hierarchy of authority, specialization among jobs, or resistance to public discussion of technique. Content was categorized as traditional or non-traditional, depending on production styles and whether on-camera people were personally known to the intended audience, while audience was identified by common areas of interest or mutual geographical boundaries. Data were gathered by interviewing the producers involved with the four channels and by observing the activity of the four channels for one week each, viewing one week's content of each channel, and surveying the potential audience of the channels. The findings did not reveal an audience homogeneous in character other than by virtue of its geographical boundaries. The results did show that the size of the audience was unaffected by the extent of bureaucracy within the organization of the channel, that available equipment determined whether content was traditional or non-traditional, and that producers, not the audience, were more interested in making sure the content was similar to traditional television. Finally, the study found that many, but not all of the producers wanted more expensive equipment capable technically of doing more with the content. (HOD)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A