Television : what's on, who's watching, and what it means /

The renewed debate about media violence makes this comprehensive survey of empirical research on television viewers, content, and effect particularly timely. Providing a guide to that research and referencing more than 1,000 studies, Comstock (Syracuse Univ.) and Scharrer (SUNY, Genesco) divide the volume into three sections. In the first section they present findings about how the medium is structured and who watches. The second section, provocatively and appropriately labeled "Manufacturing the World," deals with news and public affairs and presents data that demonstrate the process and outcome of television's selective presentation of reality. The final section looks at effect and will probably receive the most attention. The multiple experimental studies reviewed lead the authors to conclude that 1) on balance (but not universally) substantial television viewing by school-age children has a negative effect on scholastic performance; and 2) exposure to violent acts on television produces antisocial behavior: some people do learn that every problem can be solved with a gun. Highly recommended for all collections. P. E. Kane SUNY College at Brockport