Since the study of human communication has emerged as a discipline more quickly than the development of its own channels of communication, this volume, first in a series, offers a status report on work currently attracting the attention of mass communication researchers. Contributors present review chapters on selected aspects of communication research: theory, gatekeeping, information diffusion, the interpersonal context, socialization and communication behavior, political effects, the environment of the urban poor, sex and violence over the mass media, and the environment and communication. (Author/SH)