A content analysis of selected print media examined press coverage of the shuttle Challenger explosion. Press sources identifying and explaining technological causes were tabulated for two major newspapers, three popular newsmagazines, and one trade magazine, during the 30 days following the event. Results revealed (1) a failure to provide timely…

A study examined the changes that have occurred in the content of cigarette advertising in magazines from 1945 to 1985 in the context of changes in the product itself, in advertising science, and in government regulation. Specifically, the study examined how advertisements had changed in terms of format, brand segmentation, major sales point or…

The following 11 papers, on a variety of topics, were given at the 1990 meeting of the American Journalism Historians' Association: (1) "They Hang Editors Don't They?: Free Speech and Free Press Issues in the Haymarket Case, 1886" (Nathaniel Hong); (2) "G. K. Chesterton and the British Press, 1911-1933" (Dean Rapp); (3)…

This publication reports the findings of research carried out in recognition of the need for an in-depth analysis of the U.S. jazz music audience in order to identify and assess ways to shape the future of jazz as part of the "Survey of Public Participation in The Arts" conducted in 1982. The research problem was to learn the size,…

The issue of the public's ability to differentiate between psychologists and psychiatrists has frequently been raised. A survey was conducted to assess the public's knowledge of and preferences for the mental health services of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, clergy, and physicians. The subjects were 136 adults of diverse…

Through a case study of Minnesota daily newspaper editorials, this paper examines the extent to which one state's newspapers championed the freedoms of speech and press during the national crisis of World War I. The historical relationship of the press and First Amendment defense is briefly reviewed. Guided by the question "How did the…

Society does not view rape seriously. Few rape crimes are successfully prosecuted. Rape results in permanent alteration of the victim's life. Besides street rape there is no consensus on the definition of rape. This study attempts to gather people's perceptions of rape. Subjects (N=96) were approached randomly and accepted if they fit into desired…

To assess the roles of TV news commentators during times of crisis, a study examined network news commentary during the 10 days following each of three crises--Spiro Agnew's resignation (October 10, 1973), the Saturday Night Massacre (October 22, 1973), and the seizure of the American merchant ship "Mayaguez" by Cambodians (May 11,…

To determine how to articulate a concrete definition of the substance of the journalist's occupation, this paper offers a propositional framework of news value based on Kurt Lewin's gatekeeper model. First, the paper follows the established suggestion that news decisions are best studied from a gatekeeping perspective or that "news is…

Although originally developed in terms of interpersonal systems, the coorientational strategy model can be modified and used for research on the communication of collectivities. The proposed changes to the coorientational framework would permit examination of constructs of greater verisimilitude to theoretical reasoning of the behavior and…

The fall of Gary Hart, brought about because of his indiscretions during the 1988 presidential campaign, should not be treated exclusively as a consequence of Hart's moral failings. Rather, the fall of Hart can be traced to a complex of factors including bad judgment, the near total control that the press exercises over the political agenda, and…

Psychotherapists of different theoretical persuasions use systematically different profiles of verbal response modes. However, clients tend to use very similar profiles, regardless of what their therapist does. Disclosure comprises the largest part of this common client profile, and it distinguishes the client role from other roles. Higher levels…

An analysis of opinion columns in the "New York Times" on the issue of amnesty for draft evaders during the Vietnam War provides a quantitative approach to investigating qualitative policy issues. A total of 93 editorials, guest editorials, and letters to the editor from 1971 through 1975 were examined. The material was classified as…

A citizens' agenda for the President concerning the establishment of national priorities, proposed of increased federal spending, and the reduction of the federal deficit through budget cuts or increased revenues was developed by the Roosevelt Center for American Policy studies through their sponsorship of a series of Presidential Agenda Forums at…

A scientific sample of 820 Ohioans responded to a 10-question telephone survey about vocational education in Ohio. The findings, which can be generalized to all Ohioans, included the following: (1) four out of five say that it is extremely important or very important that vocational education remain part of high school programs; (2) nearly one of…