By G. A. Donohue, P. J. Tichenor and C. N. Olien Mass Media
Functions, Knowledge and Social Control A macro-system position is developed
that treats mass media as a subsystem which interpenetrates all others, sharing
control of knowledge; examples are given from the reporting of science. ,The
importance of knowledge as a basis for social power has been noted by a number
of scholars,' but less well appreciated is the fact that control of knowledge
is central to development and maintenance of power. The knowledge industry, of
which mass communication is part, currently accounts for more than a fourth of
the gross national product and attests to the social importance of the demand
for knowledge production and distribution.2 In present-day society, large scale
organizations in both public and private sectors are structured to carefully
control both the assimilation and dissemination of information.3 The rapidly
growing data-processing agencies represent overt recognition of the role of
information and its control in modem social organization.4 Professional
specialists in modern corporate structures are integrated into a configuration
of organized intelligence which is often beyond the comprehension or concern of
any one of them as individuals.5 It is still important to study the
microprocesses of mass communication, but given the growing importance of
infor- *The authors, all of the University of Minnesota, as a team, have been
frequent contributors to this journal. mation control in society, it appears
equally important to take a macro-view of mass media as interdependent parts of
a total social system in which they share facets of controlling, and being
controlled by, other subsystems. A major purpose of this paper is to relate the
subsystems of mass media to the total pattern of social organization and social
control and to point up the crucial nature of knowledge control, rather than
knowledge per se, as a basis for social power. The concept of "social
system" is viewed here as a series of interrelated subsystems with primary
functions including the generation, dissemination and assimilation of
information to effect further control as a means to an end or as an end in
itself.6 Mass media rep- 'Sa for example, Ben H. Bngdikian, 7k Information
Machines, Their Impact on Men and the Media (New York Harper and Row, 1971);
John K. Galbraith, The New In& trial State (Boston: Houghton Mimin, 1%7);
Michael Harrington, "'ll~e Social-Industrial Compkx." Harper's
(November 1967). pp. 55+ Fritz Machlup. 7k Production and Distribution of
Knowledge in the United States (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1962):
J. McDermott. 'Knowledge is Power," Nation (April 14, 1969). pp. 4W,
Robert E. Park, 'News as a Form of Knowledge," American Journal of
Sociology, 49669-86 (March 1940); Douglas Carter, The Fourth lbanch of
Government (New York: Random Housc, 1969). pp. 11-20: Kenneth E. Bouldink 7hc
Meaning of the 20th Century: The Great 7bansition (New York Harper and Row,
1964); Sanford A. Lakoff. 'Knowledge, Power and Democratic Theory,"Anna&,
394:- (March 1971). 'Machlup, pp. cit.; Clark Kerr, 7k Uses of the University
(Cambridge: Harvard University Press, I%3). 'Galbraith, McDermott. op. cit.
Also sn James Burnham, The Managerial Revolution (New York John Day Co.. 1941).
'J. Stefan Duprc and Sanford A. Lakoff, Science and rhe Nation. Policy and
Politics (Englcwd Cliffs, N.J.: PrentiaHall, 1962). pp. 20-42:.C. V. Kidd,
"Implications of Research Funds for Academic Freedom," Law and
Conremporary Problems. Vol. 28 (Summer 1963); Russell Kirk. "Massive
Subsidies and Academic Freedom," Law and Contemporary Problems, 2lk606-12
(Summer 1963) and L. C. Mainzer. "Scientific Fradom in
Government-Sponsored Research," Journal of Politics, 23212-30 (May 1961).
Galbraith. McDermott, op. cil. Melvin L. DeFleur, l7teork-s of Mass
Communication (New York: McKay. Inc.. 1966). 652 Downloaded from
jmq.sagepub.com by FELICIA GREENLEE BROWN on April 12, 2012 Media Functions,
Knowledge nnrl So&/ Control 653 resent subsystems which cut across other
subsystems and transmit information among and between them. The examination of
the nature of the process by which this transmission occurs and the systemic
relations among the various subsystems, is a major focal point for this paper.
To sharpen this focus, the communication of scientific and technological
knowledge is used as a case in point, to illustrate the various forms of system
control that occur in mass communication. One should not assume from the above
that social control is the only function served by mass communication, but
rather that all communication processes have a control function within them,
either latent or manifest. A principal question for research is not whether
information is controlled. Instead, the main questions are: a) How the control
is exercised b) Where in the process it occurs; and c) What its consequences
are for the total social system as well as for the interdependent subsystems.
This model assumes that mass communication of scientific and technological
knowledge is controlled primarily in the interest of system maintenance.' The
system being maintained may be the media subsystem itself, a source subsystem
with which the media have systemic relations (such as the medical community or
a space research agency), or the 'Current discussions of social systems theory
include Talcon Parsons, 'A Paradigm for the Analysis of Social Systems and
Change," pp. 189-212 and Talcott Parsons and Neil J. Smelscr. "The
Primary Subsystems of Society," pp, 13140 and Pierre Van den Berghe, 'Dialectic
and Functionalism: Toward a Synthesis," pp. 293-306, in N. S. Demerath and
R. A. Peterson, 4s.. Sysfem, Change# and Conflict (New York Free Prcsa. 1%7);
Daniel Katr and Robert L. Kahn, Thr Social Psychology of 0rxanization.s (New
York Wiley, 19645). "Regulstory" is used here in the sense of the
traditional conccpt in social systems theory. See Herbert Spnar, Thr Rincipks
of Sociology (New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1898). Vol. I. 'See William
Hocking, Freedom of lhe Press (Chicago: University of Chicago Pms, 1947);
Williiam A. Hatchtm. The Prns as Reporter and Critic of Government,"
Journalism Quarterly, a12-18 (1%3); Bryce Rucker. Thr First Freedom (Carbondak
Southern Illinois University Press. 1968). p. 217. social system as a whole.
This maintenance function may be fulfilled by two sets of processes which,
while different, do overlap. They are the feedback-control and
distribution-control processes. The feedback concept, in much recent
communication research, has often been limited to controls on the media subsystem
itself, referring to such activities as letters to the editor and readership
research. Here, however, feedbackcontrol is used in a much more inclusive
sense, with the media subsystems themselves conceived of as providing a
feedback, or regulatory, function for other subsystems and/or for the total
social system.8 The feedback-control function of mass media in the total system
finds both its empirical basjs and its philosophical expression in the historic
conception of the fourth estate or "watchdog" role of the press.9
Distribution control, which can occur either independently or jointly with
feedback-control, serves a maintenance function through selective dissemination
and a wide variety of distributional techniques, as well as by selective
withholding of information. "Censorship," for example, is regarded in
this perspective as one special case of distribution-control, but not the only
type. Information control in the interest of system maintenance takes many
forms and is not the exclusive property of any one subsystem. For example, what
is functional feedback control at one system level or for a particular
subsystem may be dysfunctional for control and maintenance of another
subsystem. Herein lie some major social conflicts and problem areas for mass communication
research. The mass, pluralistic social system model assumes a certain amount of
conflict as subsystems interact, and it also assumes that modern media systems
are designed for conflict control through information control. Conflict control
may include the generation of conflict situations as well as the direct
dissipation of tension. This principle is widely recognized in the political
realm; the point here is that it applies equally well to the scientific area
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.I OU RN A I. 1 SM but is expressed by different means. Media reporting of a
clash between scientific opinion on supersonic transports and governmental
policies regarding such technology represents a generating of conflict. From a
systems perspective, such reporting is functional for maintenance of the total
system in that it increases the likelihood of preserving an equilibrium state.
Media Systems and System Dependency Dependence on secondary media by other institutions
is much greater in a modem pluralistic society. than was true in the small
community. System stability is one of the more general needs; a proposition
about stability which counterposes the consensus and conflict models is that:
The less complex and differentiated the system, the more likely mass media
within that system are to confine themselves to the distributive aspect of
system maintenance. The corollary is that: The more differentiated and
pluralistic the system, the more likely mass media are to perform a
feedback-control as well as a distributive function. This proposition applies
to several social situations and is especially relevant for current
technological and environmental crises. In the small town or suburb, there is
often a tendency to manage conflict at an informal level to prevent social
disruption. Small community media tend to refrain from reporting social and
technological controversies, concentrating instead on cohesion and consensus
and publicizing public decisions after the fact. Data from studies in Minnesota
and other locations support this proposition and indicate that norms of both
media and political subsystems of small communitits tend to be supportive of
this pattern.10 Implications for transmission of relevant technological
information seem to be clear. Media in small com- * QUARTERLY munities will
tend to confine themselves to descriptive reporting of technological issues,
unless outside forces intervene. Outside forces may appear, however, as
confrontations develop between subsystems and agencies of another subsystem of
the total pluralistic system. A control attempt by a regulatory agency, such as
a state anti-pollution bureau, over a small town industry is an illustration.
Metropolitan media whose coverage includes that community may report the issue,
but in a way oriented toward their feedback function for the larger,
pluralistic system. In such a case, mass media are serving as system
regulators, applying corrective pressures to subsystems that may be out of functional
balance in relation to others. In this perspective, "muckraking" by
mass media performed the same maintenance function in an earlier era. This is
far different from seeing muckraking as a wayward act of newspapers
sensationalizing for sensation's sake. Rather, as Lippmann viewed it,
muckrakers applied dominant social norms to social groups and institutions
which were new, deviant or not yet fully integrated into the social structure.
Similarly, Lasswell's "surveillance" and "correlation"
functions seem to refer to feedback-control processes in system terms. Merton
and Lazarsfeld refer specifically to "the enforcement of social
norms" as a prime example of the "power of the press."II These
writers referred to social issues of an earlier era. More recent examples of
mass media reporting serving a feedback-control function for the total social
system included Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring," sublac. N. Olien. G.
A. Donohue and P. J. Tichenor. The Community Editor's Power and the Reporting
of Conflict." JOURNALISM QUARTERLY, 45243-52 (1968); also sa Akx S.
Edelatein and Blaine Schulz, "The Wenhip Rok of the Weekly Newspaper a8
Seen by Community Leaders: A Sociological Perspective," in Lewis Anthony
Dexter and David Manning White, &.. People. Sociefy and Mass Cornmunice
riom (New York The Fra Pms of Gknca. 1964). 1' Walter Lbprnann. Drtt a&
Marrrrg (Engkwd Cliffs, N.J. Prenticc-Hall. I%lk Harold D. Lasawcll, "T~K
Structure and Function of Communication in Soekty," pp. 37-51, and Paul F.
Lazarsfeld and Robert K. Mcnon. 'Mau Communication, Popular Taste and Organized
S0ei.l Action." pp. 95-118. in Lyman Bryron, cd., Thr Conunvnicotion 01
Ideas (New York Harper, 1948). Downloaded from jmq.sagepub.com by FELICIA
GREENLEE BROWN on April 12, 2012 Media Fiinctions, Knowledge clnd Sociul
Control 655 sequent environmental. reporting, consumer research reporting and
mass media treatment of the Vietnam War. These forms of feedback-control media
behavior, such as muckraking, environmental reporting and political controversy,
are regarded within the systems perspective as more likely in broader gauged
media that serve the total system. Conflict reporting is a form of conflict
management, but ordinarily not conducive to conflict management at the
nonpluralistic subsystem level. Once a major issue is "in the news,"
however, reporting of that issue is legitimized, if not in fact imperative, for
local subsystem media. The subsystem media, however, structure their reporting
of the issue in a supportive way. Through various distributional control of
techniques (including content and timing) local media tend to support local
norms and social arrangements. Tension-laden information may be restructured,
or distribution may be timed to have maximum maintenance effect. This is what
would be expected in a consensus system. The difference between media serving
less pluralistic subsystems and those serving more pluralistic total systems is
clear in the contrast between small town and metropolitan newspapers. This type
of variation occurs in the industrial sector; reporting of conflict increases
as the system being served by the medium becomes more pluralistic and
encompassing. The house organ of a company is functionally similar to the small
town weekly in that reports of controversy are absent or, at most, restrained.
At a more inclusive system level, publications of the National Association of
Manufactur- "Hillier Krieghbaum, Scimn and fhr Mass Media (New Yort New
York Univtr8ity Prru, 1%7). "See Robert E. Park, op. cit.; Robert S. Lynd.
Knowkdge for hf? (Princeton: Prinaton University Press, 1939). "Caler. op.
cif. Thia view is notwithatanding the argument by Tom Wicker that 'in reimcc
wvtragc, a first ch reporter.. . is allowed more hy than a political re
porter." Wder. however, ia referring to media system wntrol rather than
soam control alone. Sce Tom Wicker. 7hc Greening of the Prerr," Columbia
Jarmolicm Review (May/Jum 1971). p. 10. ers will report more conflict. At the
total system level, the Wall Street Journal reports more conflict than any of
the media serving less complex subsystems. By fulfilling different functions,
small and large system media jointly serve to manage conflict and maintain the
total system as a whole. Media Systems and Science Systems Along with deepening
involvement of science in public decision-making has come an increased amount
of science content in mass media.12 Most of this content may be described as
"knowledge of' rather than "knowledge about." "Knowledge
of' refers to familiarity with a topic or events surrounding it, whereas
"knowledge about" includes analytic and formal knowledge.13 One
reason for this concentration on "knowledge of' in science, as well as in
most specialized knowledge areas, stems from the limitations of the media
system and the controls exerted on media personnel. Media and science systems
do not accommodate each other as readily as, say, media and political
~ystems.1~ Norms for entry and participation in political and science groups
are quite different. The first is literally "everybody's game," and
the control orientation of the political reporter is thus diraed more toward
the total system. Science, however, is more for the specially educated and the
journalistic orientation toward public affairs reporting does not mesh easily
with the scientist's particular control orientation toward knowledge. A
fundamental proposition about control of science content in media may be stated
as: Control over mass media content concerning science and technology by the
science system is a function of the degree to which media channel members
identify with the science system. An operational implication is that science
writers who are highly trained in fields which they cover, and have high
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JOURNALISM levels of association with scientists in those fields, -will be less
likely to report science in way that deviates from the norms of the scientific
community, particularly in 'areas of controversy involving scientists. To the
extent that this hypothesis is supported, it raises some question about
fulfilling the feedback, or fourth estate function, in science reporting by
science reporters. Such an apparent paradox may be a logical consequence of the
predominant scientific orientation toward knowledge and its spread.
Accumulation of knowledge is fundamental to growth and development of a
scientific field, and control of knowledge flow is crucial to the field's
legitimacy and survival. A scientific group feels it has arrived when it possesses
a unique body of knowledge which is considered necessary and can be dispensed
to the nonscientific world, that is, other subsystems, in a therapeutic
fashion. Research organizations by their very nature are control-oriented:
being called an "authority" is high acclaim for a scientist.15
Procedures established by professional scientific organizations for review and
criticism serve as feedback, or deviancy control, mechanisms at that subsystem
level.16 What scientists call "professional" behavior is, from this
perspective, "control" behavior. Maintenance of status position and
conflict control are closely related bases for information control in the
science subsystem. Members of elite scientific groups know that if they appear
not to possess exclusive and mutually acceptable knowledge, they may not be
elite for long. Monopoly of knowledge is as attractive a social goal as
monopoly of a commercial market. Also, a knowledge monopoly must be seen by the
larger system and other subsystems as agreed upon. Dissent among scientists may
be functional for the science subsystem, but only to the extent that it
provides a testing ground for relative acceptability of different perspectives
in the interest of eventual consensus. Q U A R T E R I. Y Scientific dissent
reported to the larger community, however, may be dysfunctional from the
scientific community's viewpoint, however enlightening it may be in feedback
terms for the audience ~ystem.1~ Sanctions in the- scientific community serve
to temper any debate that breaks into the open through mass media.18 Patterns
of media coverage of science point to a wide variety of direct distributional
controls over science content in ways that serve to prevent the performance of
a pluralistic function and, instead, serve to maintain the science system
itself. The fact that a majority of reporters may accept a measure of prior
review by scientists before publication attests to the amount of science system
control over mass media today.19 Reporters who abide by scientists' wishes "to
be left alone" are submitting to distributional control. It may be highly
desirable from the point of view of a scientific organization to withhold data
and "not rock the boat," regardless of media arguments that such data
are necessary "for the public right to know." Control of science
content in media may also be indirect, in that reporters may adopt procedures
that give the source control without overt demands. The general tendency to
report science as an area of consensus, even though the conflict model is
fundamental to organized science, is an example. That is, although managed
conflict is fundamental to science, the general value structure and popular
definition of science appears to reinforce reporters' tendencies to present
science as providing singular answers to technical and social problems. Until
the early 1960's, media accounts of science rarely dealt with scientific
dissent. ParIJ Wamn 0. Hagtrorn, lRe Scimf1~7c Commlolify (New York Basic
Books, 1%5), pp. 34-5. '*Donald Fleming, 'Big Science Under Fire," Alhtic
(September 1970). p. 99. 87Hagctrom. op.cif., p. 18. 1' [bid. pp. 254-86. '9
Hillier Krkgbaum. Whm Doetors Muf Reporters (New . York New York University
Pms, 1957). Downloaded from jmq.sagepub.com by FELICIA GREENLEE BROWN on April 12,
2012 Media Functions, Knowledge and Social Control 657 ticularly in medicine
and agriculture, research as recently as 15 years ago was largely reported on a
fairly descriptive, one-project-at-a-time basis. The apparent current shift to
more critical, conflict-laden coverage of science in some areas (the SST,
environment, drug effects) seems to stem from the growing relevance of
scientific problems to the political system. When a scientist testifies before
Congress, the public definition of his role changes and politically-oriented
media personnel tend to do the reporting. Dependence vs. Autonomy Research on
these questions requires a measure of channel member autonomy, or the extent to
which the channel communicator achieves both behavioral independence and legitimacy,
simultaneously, in the source system. The lack of such autonomy may be a major
barrier facing reporters who strive to perform the watchdog role in their own
special areas. As it is, political columnists may outdo science reporters in
some areas of major scientific controversy. When Glenn Seaborg reported the
discovery of a new element a few years ago at a professional scienoe meeting,
the specialized science reporters at his press conference confined their
questions to that discovery. After the science writers were through, political
reporters questioned Seaborg on this view as AEC administrator about nuclear
radiation levels and regulations. No single channel communicator focused on
both issues, and differentiation by specialty was complete. Control over
scientific information may also occur within the media system itself." In
fact, empirical evidence suggests that media system control and science system
control, when 'P. J. Tiehmor. C. N. Oh, Anacne Haniwn nnd G. A. Donohue, 'Mur
Communiotion System8 and Conk mumicarion Accuracy in Soicna Nm Reporting."
JOUR- NWY QUAR~~UY, 4767343 (1970): Warn Ed. "SgCi.1 Control in the Nm
Room," &cia/ Forms. 3332635 (1955). 21 Tihenor. Okn, Harrkon and
Donohue, op. dt. they occur jointly, may have direct and additive effects on
communication accuracy, defined as the extent to which a message produces
agreement between source and receiver.21 From the standpoint of veracity in
transmitting "knowledge about" a specialized area, such high control
appears in many situations to be functional. On the other hand, from the
standpoint of the total social system, such control may be dysfunctional to the
extent that it results in greater "knowledge of" science and
technology when "knowledge about" may sential for decision-making.
Audience Reception of Information The tendency noted above to topics, be
esrestrict information flow about science and technology to "knowledge
of" rather than "knowledge about" may be seen as a final outcome
of the various media controls and limitations and science system controls on
information. A charactenstic pattern of reporting major technological issues
repeats itself on several topics. Initially, reporting includes a certain
amount of technical information which is repeated fppently but in progressively
less detail. A rather homogeneous, almost stereotyped image of the topic
develops and recurs in successive media content-as was the case with the SST
issye, nuclear fallout, breakfast food controversies and automobile safety, to
mention a few. Mass media reporting of science is often confined to events
surrounding decision situations and the rationale given by officials,
technicians and scientists making public statements. The analytic media report
of technical details behind a decision about nuclear radiation, for example, is
rare for the reasons stated earlier. An illustration is the article written by
Paul Jacobs about the Atomic Energy Commission and the nticlear fallout
controversy. The article was financed by the Fund for Investigative Reporting
and appeared in Downloaded from jmq.sagepub.com by FELICIA GREENLEE BROWN on
April 12, 2012 658 JOURNALISM The Atlontic.n The fact that a reporter needs
special funding to do an investigative feature on a scientific issue for a
nationally circulated magazine testifies to the limitations placed upon medii
systems. Information Control and the Knowledge Gap If the existing pattern,
growing out of information control, limits the ability of general population
members to acquire information which may be used as inputs for public
decisions, it also has consequences for maintenance of elite groups. The
specialized nature of training and education is a powerful determinant of
information reception. Persons who take part in knowledge-input and
knowledge-processing activities at the office or plant are the ones most likely
to absorb information relevant to scientific and technological issues from the
mass media at home. Social consequences of this tendency have been summarized
in a general "knowledge gap" hypothesis: As the infusion of mass
media infonnation into a social system increases, vgments of the population
with higher smoeconomic status tend to acquire this information at a faster
rate than the lower status segments so that the gap in knowledge between these segments
tends to.incrcase rather than decrease.= Data bearing on this hypothesis, while
generally supportive, are based largely on messages transmitted through print
media, and the question remains whether television may be a "knowledge
leveler." For example, certain programs have been designed presumably for
the low SES child. Even here, the outcome is doubtful; while high-viewers of
"Sesame Street" among low SES children did learn as much as
high-viewing, high SES children, the data also show that high status children
were much more likely to view at these high levels." In the total social
system, then, it appears likely that "Sesame Street" may have created
more of a gap between high and low SES children than existed initially.
QUARTERLY It appears likely, then, that as far as knowledge transmission
through mass media is concerned, there is a strong tendency for media content
in scientific and technical areas to reinforce the status of the intellectual
elites in society. This tendency may hold, not merely in spite of media
tendencies to report only "knowledge of' content, but because of it.
Highly educated, high status professional persons are the ones who can best
make sense of superficial information. Whether the long-range consequence is
development of a rather generalized elite group with generalized scientific
knowledge, or further reinforcement of specialized elites, may depend to a
great extent on future information delivery systems. If, in fact, cable TV
systems make it possible to "dial up" specific information, one would
predict, from past experience and evidence, that such seeking of information
about the SST, for example, will be concentrated among those already most
informed about it. Such a system will be highly functional in information
control terms for a specialist. He need never fear "missing
something" related to his field on the news, because now he can check it
all out in minutes, from his livingroom. In a systems framework, there is
considerable reason for expecting selective interpretation and judgments, based
on the individual's group and organizational affiliations-his integration in
various social subsystems. It is consistent with the general theme of this
paper that some of the most intense public issues of the day have to do with the
way in which information is controlled. While some U.S. citizens did refuse to
believe a massacre occurred at My hi, the more striking poll finding is that a
majority believed "Paul Jacob. 'Praautions Arc king Taken E%y Those Who
Know," Atkmtic (February 1971). p. 45. ZIP. J. Tinor. G. A. Donohue and C.
N. Olien. 'Mass Mdi Flow and Differential Growth in Knowledge," hblic
Opinion plorrrrrv. 34: 159-70. USamucl Ball and Gerry Ann Bogatz, -A Summary of
the Major Findings," in The First Year of *me Strat: An Evaluation,
'Prinaton: Educational Testing Servia, 1970). Downloaded from jmq.sagepub.com
by FELICIA GREENLEE BROWN on April 12, 2012 Merlin Firnctions. Knowledge and
Sociul Control 659 the incident should never have been reported. The question
in the minds of members of the general public is not whether information should
be controlled, but how it should be controlled and toward what ends. Summary A
macro-conceptual frame of qference is presented here as an approach to the
study of mass communication processes, based on the assumption that control of
knowledge is basic to development of social power. Mass media are viewed, in
this perspective, as interdependent parts of a total social system in which
they share problems of controlling, and being controlled by, other subsystems.
A major goal of research within this perspective is to point up the crucial
nature of knowledge control, rather than knowledge in and of itself, as a base
for social power. Mass media are viewed as subsystems which cut across other subsystems
and transmit information among them. The principal question for research within
this framework is not whether information is controlled, but how the control is
exercised, where in the process it occurs, and what its consequences are for
the overall social system as well as for the interdependent subsystems. The
communication of scientific and technological knowledge serves as a case in
point, illustrating the various forms of system control that occur in mass
communication. Propositions relevant to this systemscontrol approach include:
1) The less complex and differentiated the system, the more likely mass media
within that system are to confine themselves to the distributive aspect of
system maintenance. 2) The more differentiated and pluralistic the system, the
more likely mass media are to perform a feedback-control as well as a
distributive function. 3) Control over mass media content about science and
technology by the science subsystem is a function of the degree to which
channel members identify with the science subsystem. 4) As the infusion of mass
media information into a social system increases, segments of the population
with higher socioeconomic status tend to acquire this information at a faster
rate than the lower status segments, so that the gap in knowledge between these
segments tends to in- crease rather than decrease. The widespread acceptance of
knowledge control in society is illustrated by poll finding indicating that a
majority believe some events (such as war atrocities) should not be reported to
the public. The question in the minds of individuals at large tends to be not
whether information should be controlled. but how and toward what ends. Writing
the lhth ,Your challenge will be to call things by their right names-to call a
spade a spade, instead of "an agricultural implement." Your challenge
will be to publicize the deeds of the saint as well as those of the sinner.
Your challenge will be to anchor your interpretation in plain good common
sense. Finally, you will seek to develop a mature style, a style that doesn't
have to depend upon fortissimo adjectives, gutter verbs, and nouns from the
lexicon of "G.I. rheto- ~~c."-RALPH T. EUBANKS, professor and
chairman, Faculty of Communication Arts, University of West Florida, in speech-
to a district conference of the Florida Scholastic Press Association.
Downloaded from jmq.sagepub.com by FELICIA GREENLEE BROWN on April 12, 2012