A sample of 558 communication specialists and nonspecialists was drawn for this study of the future role of mass media in Florida. The Delphi technique was used in four rounds of mail questionnaires, though response rates dropped from 29% of the total sample in round one to 8% in round four. Social, legal, and economic events affecting the future of the mass media are discussed in this report; technical aspects of the study will be reported in a later document. Twenty-eight future events are discussed on the basis of assigned probabilities of .5 or better in round three. Fourteen events were classified as social, dealing primarily with the public's trust in access to television and newspapers. Seven were classified as legal, concerned mainly with freedom of the press. Seven were economic, dictated by rising production costs and by competition within and between the various mass media. (AA)