This investigation examined 580 news stories in the top three local television news programs in a Northeastern U.S. television market for a two-week period. Content analysis was used to determine whether or not there were gender differences in the prevalence of reporters and anchors and in the type of stories they reported. Analysis of newscasts revealed that female reporters were more likely to present human interest and health related stories, while males were more likely to present political stories. Analysis of news sources revealed that male experts were used significantly more often than were female experts as news sources. There was no relationship between time news stories were presented and gender of the reporters or anchors.

A sample of kindergarten andjrst-grade children was studied in a research center and at school to determine the extent to which family communication mediated their comprehension of television, as well as a series of cognitive skills necessary for such comprehension. Results indicate that, even when intelligence is controlled for, several cognitive and imaginative skills and particular family interaction styles such as establishment of rules about television or explanation rather thanprescription are related to the ability to understand television.The study of television in the lives of young children has passed through three major stages. The first stage, beginning in the 1950s, centered on the role of television in the leisure spectrum of children and adolescents (Himmelweit, Oppenheim, & Vince, 1958; Schramm, Lyle, & Parker, 1961). Such investigations have typically adopted a global approach, Roger Jon Desmond (Ph.D., University of Iowa, 1977) is an associate professor of communication at the University of Hartford and a visiting fellow in psychology at Yale University. Jerome L. Singer (Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1950) is a professor of psychology at Yale University. Dorothy G. Singer (ED.D., Columbia University, 1966) is o 1985 International Communication Assn. 461 a professor of psychology, University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. RacheZ CaZam (Ph.D., University of Liverpool, 1981) is a research associate in psychology, University of Manchester, England. Karen Colimore (B.A., University of California at Santa Cruz, 1983) is a research associate at

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Consideration of the relationship between semantics and pragmatics leads to a formal analysis of pragmatic implications customarily made by auditors in this culture. The analysis isolates four types of responses to yes‐no demand questions: (1) explication, (2) prepositional implication, (3) relational implication, and (4) transparent question. It further shows how the latter three types can be exploited by devious communicators and proposes some possible social extensions of the system.