Attitudes toward local programming needs: A comparison of a northern and southern sample of community leaders and respective publics
Replicating salient features of a study perfomed in Michigan, it was found that the northern and southern community leaders differed in their programming requests. The two public samples were quite similar, however, in ranking their requests. The findings suggest that care should be exercised by concerned public agencies in evaluating community leaders’ opinions, since they differ from their publics’ unsystematically.
A study of broadcast station license application exhibits on ascertainment of community needs
The requirement that station licensees “ascertain the needs of their community” as part of the application for renewal of license is relatively new and, as this study plainly shows, is little understood by many broadcasters. The authors examined a large sample of applications filed in the Public Reference Room of the Federal Communications Commission to arrive at their conclusions. They particularly wish to thank William Dempsey, President and General Manager of WZZM‐TV, Grand Rapids, Michigan, who permitted experimentation in methods of ascertaining community needs in a series of studies conducted for the station. Dr. Thomas F. Baldwin is associate professor in the Departments of Television‐Radio and Communication, and Mr. Surlin is a graduate assistant in the Department of Communication at Michigan State University.
Science fairs as learning tool for teaching excellence
Science fairs are usually considered to be a pedagogical and cultural activity that involves the students actively. Gifted students need challenges to further develop their skills while maintaining the motivation level. Science fairs may provide the informal environment that will request and allow these students of excellence to challenge themselves by developing a scientific research project. Despite being well known in different countries, in Portugal first steps are being made on the use and implementation of science fairs as effective pedagogical tool. In this work, we will present a 4 years study that was developed on a Portuguese school with the main goal of evaluating the advantages of this informal way of teaching. The study includes an analysis of the evolution of the students’ knowledge that have participated, or visited, the different science fairs. Some advices for the implementation of these projects will be given. The motivation of the students was monitored as well as the knowledge and skills effectively improved by this activity.