Robert K. Avery

Adolescents' Use of the Mass Media

years between the ages of twelve and eighteen. Adolescence usually is marked by the onset of puberty, thus beginning somewhat earlier for girls than boys, and culminates with the completion of high school. The unique characteristics of this chronological period have been described by such theorists as Erikson (1968), Piaget (1972), and Kohlberg (1976). The cognitive, structural, and psychoanalytical perspectives represented by these authors also vary, but they can be examined together for purposes of identifying the specific attributes which characterize adolescence. All three writers underscore the importance of environmental factors during this stage in the life cycle, and view this period of human growth as a stage of complex transformation, from relative dependence to relative independence. It is a period of searching and introspection, in which the individual is constantly faced with the perplexing question, &dquo;Who am I?&dquo;

From Class D to LPFM: The High-Powered Politics of Low-Power Radio.

The most heated broadcasting issue of the year 2000 was the fight over low-power FM radio. The rise and fall of the proposed service reflected the state of the art in telecommunication policymaking, and provided a snapshot of power relations among broadcasters, the FCC, Congress, and citizen activists. For public radio managers with long institutional memories, however, the low-power FM debate seems a bit ironic. Thats because a similar low-power service did exist, but was permitted to languish by broadcasters and regulators. This paper provides a comparative analysis of the former Class D FM and the contemporary debate.

Audience conceptualizations of late night with David Letterman

Audience conceptualizations of Late Night with David Letterman were examined through a two‐step process that included a mail survey and focus group interviews. Letterman fans associated the program with a wide range of activities and viewer interactions that occurred during and after viewing. Focus group participants indicated that competent viewers interpret the program as a sophisticated parody of conventional television talk. These results reinforce the notion of an active audience that interprets television texts according to genre‐derived meanings.

Mining the mother lode

Communication as an academic discipline is at a critical point in its evolution, and the Western region is poised to play a most influential role during the next few years. The 1995 WSCA Presidential Address delivered at the Portland Marriott Hotel challenges members of the Association to resist potential institutional assaults by leading the communication discipline in a systematic grass roots movement.

An analysis of changes in voter perception of candidates' positions

A panel study of families during the 1976 presidential campaign supports the generalization that the family provides a firm anchor for voting preferences but has no apparent influence on the patterns of change in individuals’ perceptions of their own and candidates’ positions. The patterns of change for different individuals suggest different maintenance mechanisms.