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Tests the hypothesis that the higher the level of perceived conflict about an issue in a community, the higher the level of knowledge attained about that issue. Data are drawn from 2 case studies in MN of a dispute concerning (among other environmental issues) whether control & regulation of power lines ought to be regionalized. Analysis indicates that individuals tended to get their first information about the issue from the mass media, but, as time passed, they got more of their information from interpersonal communication. As the intensity of the conflict increased, a reciprocal effect occurred among media & discussions with other persons. Thus, intensity of conflict is closely associated with amount of knowledge about the conflict. This relationship particularly holds true for technical knowledge about an issue over which there is a great deal of conflict. It is concluded that the conflict-knowledge hypothesis is valid. 7 Tables, 6 Figures. D. Ryfe

In a study of metro daily pullback, analyses of metro and regional daily newspaper penetration were conducted in 87 Minnesota counties. Readership data for metro and regional daily newspapers and small-town weekly and semiweekly papers were studied in 28 communities. Metro daily newspaper penetration has declined sharply in nonmetropolitan areas, with the sharpest drops occurring in agricultural counties. Although change in circulation of regional daily newspapers is negatively related to change in metro circulation, the "compensation" is only partial, because regional gains do not completely offset metro losses, either in circulation or in the amount of content provided. In outlying communities, education is more strongly associated with reading the metro paper than with reading the local paper, a finding that underscores the differential opportunity for access among higher status groups in the community. Among regional communities with daily papers, the relationship between education and reading the metro paper is greater where the pullback has been greater. This difference does not occur in the more rural communities with weeklies. Also, in rural communities, the low opportunity structure for media appears to have consequences similar to universal availability in the metro communities. In both metro and small communities, a change in penetration has little effect on what status groups will have access to the metro newspaper.

Two midwestern cities were studied to evaluate how support for the basic values of widespread information and the use of specialized knowledge by the public and leaders is related to community structure as measured by homogeneity and heterogeneity. The public in the more heterogeneous community was more likely to support wide distribution and use of information. There were fewer differences between leaders in the two communities. The authors suggest that as social differentiation increases, information is evaluated in terms of perceived relevance for specific social ends.

The authors trace the development of their own work in terms of a social systems framework for mass communication research. Other research is considered in terms of this model.

Cover title. ; Includes bibliographical references. ; Mode of access: Internet.