The impact of print and electronic media orientations upon the public affairs knowledge of older persons was investigated through interviews with 59 participants in a foster grandparents program, 68 participants in a retired senior volunteer program, and 23 members of a retired teachers association. Analysis of results indicated a clear pattern in which education is positively related to the use of print media which in turn is positively related to knowledge of public affairs. In the same way, the frequent meeting attender (who is also a high print consumer) is highly educated and highly knowledgeable about public affairs. The more educated older person goes out more often to visit friends, which is also associated with higher public affairs knowledge. Television, radio, movie, and phone use have little to do with level of education or with public affairs knowledge. Education, income, and race were important antecedent variables in this study, with age and sex showing no significant relationships with them. Interrelationships among the mass media exposure variables were also considered. (AA)