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The relationship between the gender of storytellers and on-screen portrayals of conflict resolution is examined by using situation comedies, dramas, and reality programs aired during 2004-05 prime-time season on the broadcast networks.

The characterization of age and gender in prime-time television was studied. Results show those prime-time over-represented individuals in their 30s and under-represented individuals 60 and older concluding that prime-time showed a truncated view of adulthood.

A content analysis of prime-time programming on the six US broadcast networks revealed unexpected differences between scripted programs and reality programs. Past research posited and found that women working in powerful behind-the-scenes roles are associated with greater on-screen representation of female characters and more egalitarian portrayals of conflict and its resolution. Although our hypotheses were confirmed for scripted programs, the presence of women behind the scenes on reality programs was negatively related to on-screen representation. Further, women behind the scenes on reality programs were less effective at eliminating gender differences in the portrayal of conflict resolution. Keywords Gender * Television * Conflict resolution

An analysis of the top 100 domestic grossing films of 2002 found evidence of a lingering double standard for aging female and male characters. Overall, major male characters outnumbered major female characters (73% vs. 27%); the majority of male characters were in their 30s and 40s, and the majority of female characters were in their 20s and 30s. Both women and men in their 60s and older were dramatically underrepresented compared to their representation in the US population. For male characters, leadership and occupational power increased with age. Men in their 40s, 50s, and 60s were more likely to play leadership roles and wield occupational power than were their female counterparts. As female characters aged, they were less likely to have goals. KEY WORDS: age; gender; film.

The purpose of this study was to examine the number and type of appearance comments made and received between female and male characters and whether the employment of women writers mitigated verbal interactions about appearance in the 1999--2000 prime-time season. The results show that although male and female characters comment equally on other characters' appearance, female characters are twice as likely to be the recipients of those comments. The gender of the receiver also influences the type of appearance comment made. Male characters are more likely to insult males than females and to compliment females than males. In contrast, female characters insult and compliment female and male characters with equal frequency. Overall, the employment of women writers is related to a significant increase in the overall number of appearance comments made and a significant decrease in the number of insults. KEY WORDS: appearance; beauty; compliments; content analysis; insults; occupational roles; politeness; television.

This article discusses the role of women television executives in influencing the manner in which female characters are portrayed. Topics include conversation patterns, character demographics, and feminine discourse.

This article discusses the validity of media self-efficacy measurements and their relevance for media research. Topics include social learning, task performance, and behavior research.

This study tests the effect of concern about the electability of candidates competing for a party's nomination for president on voters' information-seeking behavior. The analysis is based on a sample survey of voters in four California counties in early 1992. Correlational tests replicated prior findings that issue-oriented voters rely mainly on newspapers, whereas image-oriented voters tend to seek relevant information from television. But these tendencies interacted with electability. Voters with this additional concern sought information on secondary criteria in secondary media. That is, if the candidates' chances of election were also important, issue-oriented voters also sought image information, and vice versa. Issue-oriented voters sought their image information via television, if electability was important to them. The opposite interaction was not found, however; image-oriented voters used television as their source for both kinds of information, if electability was important to them.

The recognition and respect afforded characters in varying demographic groups is examined analyzing prime-time programs from the 2002-2003. The results indicate that prime-time television continues to overrepresent characters in midlife and dramatically underrepresent those aged 60 and older.

A study has been carried out of motion pictures released in 1997, 1992 and 1987, and of prime-time TV in 1997-1998 and 1995-1996. This study shows that women are underrepresented in the TV and motion picture industries, though there is a correlation between numbers of women employed behind the scenes and the extent to which women are shown in the screen. Female executive producers may hire more women writers who give stronger dialogue to women characters. There is a need for research on why women have been underrepresented in these industries.