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This article suggests a theoretical explanation of the processes related to recall and learning of media news information. It does so by linking the concepts of schematic thinking and the Search of Associative Memory (SAM) to the variable of time. It argues that learning from the news may be better than many recent studies suggest. Although humans may have trouble recalling discrete news stories in recall examinations, it seems likely that they acquire "common knowledge" from the news media. Time is an important variable in helping people to remember news if they use it to think about new information in the context of previously stored knowledge.

This study examines the news releases that were posted on the official campaign Web sites of George W. Bush and Al Gore during the 2000 presidential campaign. Analysis of each of the 487 news releases posted during the campaign season reveals that nearly three-quarters of these contained an attack on the opponent. This parallels data on the incidence of attacks appearing in televised political advertising during the 2000 campaign. The study provides support for the Political Competition Model, which posits that close races produce significant negativity. Furthermore, the study offers insights on how presidential political campaigns may use campaign Web sites in the future.

This study suggests that local television news directors may be considering new reporting strategies during political campaigns. The impetus appears to be a concern that citizens are getting more of their political information from the advertisements, along with a recognition that new technologies might be used in new and innovative ways during election seasons. Variables associated with the willingness to adopt new technologies and consider new political reporting strategies are analyzed.

A population study of television news directors was conducted in spring 1992 to assess their plans for coverage of the 1992 election. The findings revealed an interest in providing greater election analysis, with strong emphasis on the coverage of political advertising. In addition, the news directors reported that they planned to use the new satellite-based technologies to enhance their coverage efforts. These changes might signal a significant new proactive role for local television news in election coverage.

The authors hypothesized that information consistent with an evoked knowledge structure will tend to reinforce the structure. However, inconsistent information will tend to produce greater amounts of free recall because the inconsistencies will become salient. Finally, inconsistent information in text form will tend to produce more recall than inconsistent information presented on television or on the radio. The authors gave subjects consistent and inconsistent information on two topics, forest fire (harmful or medicinal to the environment) and population growth (good or bad for the society). These factors were also varied by medium of presentation used. Subjects were tested for recall and willingness to make inferences. Subjects receiving consistent information were most willing to infer while those receiving inconsistent information were more likely to remember more facts from the stimulus. Mode of presentation had little effect.