Interpersonal Communication and News Comprehension

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 50, Heft 2, S. 160-175

Abstract

In an examination of the role of interpersonal & mass media channels in public awareness & comprehension of major news stories, an attempt was made to determine actual comprehension of stories that had been in the news during the previous week by interviewing 2 separate probability samples (N = 407 & 544, respectively, in May & June 1983). R awareness & comprehension were measured & related to demographic, media-use, & interpersonal discussion variables. The findings indicate that conversation about the news is a major & often overlooked correlate of comprehension, & that interpersonal channels may play at least as important a role in the public's awareness & comprehension of the news as exposure to the news media. 3 Tables, 40 References. Modified AA