Search

This study examined the association between ownership of high-risk ('vicious') dogs and the presence of deviant behaviors in the owners as indicated by court convictions. We also explored whether two characteristics of dog ownership (abiding licensing laws and choice of breed) could be useful areas of inquiry when assessing risk status in settings where children are present. Our matched sample consisted of 355 owners of either licensed or cited dogs that represented high or low-risk breeds. Categories of criminal convictions examined were aggressive crimes, drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, crimes involving children, firearm convictions, and major and minor traffic citations. Owners of cited high-risk ('vicious') dogs had significantly more criminal convictions than owners of licensed low-risk dogs. Findings suggest that the ownership of a high-risk ('vicious') dog can be a significant marker for general deviance and should be an element considered when assessing risk for child endangerment. Keywords: high-risk dogs; high-risk behavior; criminal convictions; child maltreatment; risk assessment

Media's perception of race and its portrayal of minority communities are perverted because of the predominance of whites' attitudes in the mainstream media. The imagery of blacks is not based on reality but on popular misconceptions. The attitude of media authorities has also influenced the young people of minority communities who do not have faith in themselves to become a part of the American culture.

The portrayal of women of color on TV has typically originated with white men, and limited opportunities remain for black women in TV shows. A stereotypical role has been as a domestic worker. This role can be broadened, as on 'Maude' and 'Good Times.' The maid in 'I'll Fly Away' keeps a journal, which indicates her intelligence. Roles for black women have expanded to include situation comedies, but parts in TV movies remain scarce.

The article focuses on the need to enforce firm laws to include non-white and female faculty in colleges in the fields of journalism and mass communications.

African American people in US feel that it is important that there be more of their people writing, producing and directing. There is discrimination of African Americans in the entertainment industry as they are considered good for comedies but issues related to the realities of their life's ups and downs are not often shown on weekly network television.

Whenever journalism educators discuss accreditation, standards 12 and 3 are the ones that elicit the lion's share of attention. Standard 12, Diversity, focuses on a school's commitment to increased diversity [...]

Prime-time television shows have not been effective in building a positive image of Blacks in the US despite the large number of black performers, directors and managers. Only a handful of shows have exerted an effort to present an image of Blacks different from the singers, dancers and servant roles that are most often given to Blacks. Notable among these shows are 'Frank's Place' and 'Equal Justice' for their realistic depiction of Blacks from the Black perspective. Television programmers should reorient their policies given the growing importance of Blacks as consumers.