The Main Source: Learning from Television News (People & communication) Book

The authors effectively challenge the myth that the public gets -- or thinks it gets -- most of its news from television. In a wide-ranging study (with European and US data) of what the public actually learns from the news media, they conclude that television is not the public's 'main source' for news. The Main Source shows that public understanding of news information is considerably higher than previous research has found, but that television news presentation could be far more effective. These results are based on innovative survey techniques for the 'naturalistic' study of news awareness, comprehensive, detailed content analyses, and an important new synthesis of 20 years research.The book breaks new ground in 'effects' research, and in consideration of news media policy. It raises significant questions about the current state of communication theory, shows how journalistic practice could be changed to improve public understanding of the news, and links its findings to a reconsideration of normative theories of public communication.Read More