PsychologicalReports, 1992, 71, 123-126
O Psychological Reports 1992
TELEVISION NEWS AND ELDERLY PERSONS ' MICHAEL L. HILT Universiq of Nebraska at Omaha Summary.-Previous studies concerning elderly people have examined either use of all media by older adults or their depiction in television entertainment programs. What has been overlooked has been television news and its effects on elderly people. Careful research is needed to gauge this.
Studies and rating surveys agree that television news has become the public's most important source of information (14). Recently Roper (20) indicated 66% of those surveyed rely on television more than any other medium as their primary source of news, and half said television is their sole news source. Elderly people spend more time watching television than with any other mass medium (15) and watch more TV than younger people (4). I n addition, older viewers are major consumers of television news, preferring television news over other media (9) perhaps because they need to be aware of current events rather than to have diversion (8). As the older population in the United States is increasing dramatically (3), television news executives must consider this growing segment of the audience when contemplating programming decisions. Previous studies of elderly persons have examined use of all media (newspapers, radio, television) by older adults or exclusively of television entertainment programs' depiction of them. Overlooked has been effects of television news on elderly people. This review of literature includes some of the research to identify gaps and directions for additional research in older adults' use of and appearance in television news.
Television Use by Elderly People Frequency of television use and total viewing time increases with age up to about 69 years, before showing a slight decline (15). People 55 years and over watch an average of seven hours of television more per week than younger adults (17). Nielsen found elderly people watch between 30 and 35 hours of TV per week. Bower (4) found that "older persons spend more of their time watching the news." His >>-year and over group had the highest rate of any age group for viewing "news" and "information and public affairs." Steiner (23) had reported similar findings ten years previously. Steiner found people 55 to 64 years watched 16.4 television news and information programs per week, and those 65 years and older watched 22.4 programs per week. These were 'Address enquiries to M. L. Hilt, Department of Communication, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Arts & Sciences Hall, Room 151-B, Omaha, NE 68182-0112.
124
M. L. HILT
the two oldest age groups for viewing television news and information programming. Doolittle (9) separated an older cohort into three subgroups: younger 'seniors (48 to 66 years), old seniors (67 to 74 years), and older seniors (75 to 93 years). Of the three subgroups, television news usage was highest for old seniors (67 to 74 years). Over-all, these respondents gave the highest credibility to television. Several explanations have been given for age-related trends in media use. The increased leisure time that accompanies retirement may account for some of the higher consumption rates of elderly people. I n addition, the elderly audience's use of the broadcast medium may be related to the ease with which it can be received. Television, beyond the cost of the set, costs less than newspapers and magazines. Failing eyesight can make reading difficult and often impossible (6). Also, television and newspapers may become substitutes for interpersonal contacts (7, 12, 13). Atkin (2) suggested the preference for news and information in television viewing is a direct attempt to compensate for the stable and unexciting world of older adults. Schramm (21) interpreted this as elderly people's way of keeping up with society rather than a means of disengagement. H e wrote that older people use television to keep in touch, combat progressive disengagement, and maintain a sense of belonging to society. Lowenthal and Boler (16) found those aged adults who voluntarily disengaged from their social activities decreased use of media, and those involuntarily disengaged increased their use. This has been offered as evidence to refute the disengagement hypothesis. People attempting to disengage from society would not seem likely to be interested in television news, but elderly people show high interest.
Television Portrayal of Elderly People Much research has been done on how elderly people are portrayed in the mass media and specifically on television. There are two primary hypotheses about media effects. Cultivation holds that people watching television acquire a view of the real world shaped by the televised content they view. Gerbner (10) noted that, if elderly people are portrayed on television as incompetent, viewers may begin to think that is true. Signorelli and Gerbner's (22) prime-time television analysis of more than 9000 TV characters found that elderly people were not often represented. When they were, they often had problems and were reliant on younger people for help (18) or were likely to be villains, not heroes (1). Adherents would say that heavy television viewers may think that few people are elderly and that elderly persons were of less consequence since they were not seen. A second hypothesis about media effects is agenda setting, which sug-
TELEVISION NEWS AND ELDERLY PERSONS
125
gests the media wilJ influence the way people think by focusing viewers' attention on specific issues (19). The media set the agenda for the audience by emphasizing certain topics and by slighting other issues through omission. Agenda setting can enter television news programs through event bias, i.e., what is reported in television newscasts tend to be events (e.g., fires, car accidents) rather than nonevent issues (e.g., plight of elderly people, starvation). Television can reinforce stereotypical attitudes toward elderly people (11).Many Americans fear growing old. Although studies of television's portrayal of the elderly do not conclude that the elderly are inaccurately depicted, very few conclude that portrayals are positive.
Conclusion Television's portrayal of elderly people and their use of television provides two contrasting views. Although many older persons spend substantial time with T V and like to watch, such older viewers have not been a significant factor in commercial television programming decisions ( 5 ) . Television news does not cover elderly people well, perhaps because aging is not a newsworthy event. The media show a tendency to be biased toward reporting events, especially catastrophes. Aging and its inherent problems occur over time and are usually not associated with analysis and easy solutions characteristic of television programming. The way older people are depicted in the news and the nature of news coverage of their problems should be studied (2, 9). Systematic analysis of the television news content would be useful. The ranking of stories about issues and problems of elderly people with other news stories would provide some evidence of their importance to the television news industry. Another area of examination might be the use of elderly people as "experts" in television news broadcasts. Few researchers have tested the influence of news content on older people in terms of political participation and awareness of current developments. Research also is needed to assess effects of television news stories such as nursing home crises and Social Security bankruptcy, among other topics. Answers to these questions should interest gerontologists and television news executives alike. Gerontologists should take note of the lack of information. Television news executives should be interested because the elderly audience is growing. In the past, broadcast news, entertainment, and advertising have been geared toward younger adults, the so-called money-makers who buy goods. This must change if the television industry is not going to alienate an already large and constantly growing segment of viewers. REFERENCES 1. ARONOFF,C. (1974) Old age in prime time. Journal of Communicafion,24, 86-87. 2. ATKIN, C. K. (1976) Mass media and the aging. In H. J. Oyer & E. J. Oyer (Eds.), Aging and communication. Baltimore, MD: University Park Press. Pp. 99-119.
126
M. L. HILT
3. BARROW, G . M. (1989) Aging, the individual, and society. (4th ed.) St. Paul, MN: West. 4. BOER, R. T. (1973) Tekvision and the public. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston. 5. CARMICHAEL, C. W., BOTAN,C. H . , & HAWKINS,R. (1988) Human communication and the aging process. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press. 6. CHAFFEE, S. H . , & WILSON,D. G . (1975) Adult life cycle changes in mass media use. Paper presented to the Association for Education in Journalism, Ottawa, Canada. 7. DAVIS,R. H . (1971) Television and the older adult. Journal of Broadcasting, 15, 153-159. 8. DAVIS,R. H . , & DAVIS,J. A. (1985) 7V's image of h e elderly. Lexington, M A : Heath. 9. DOOLITPLE,J. C. (1979) News media use by older adults. Journalism Quarterly, 56, 311317, 345. 10. GERB&R, G . (1969) Toward "cultural indicators": the analysis of mass mediated public message systems. I n G . Gerbner (Ed.), The analysis of communication content. New York: Wiley. Pp. 123-132. 11. GERBNER,G., GROSS,L., SIGNORELLI, N., & MORGAN, M. (1980) Aging with television: images on television drama and conceptions of social real~ry journal of Communication, 30. 37-47. 12. GRANEY,M. J. (1975) Communication uses and the social activity constant. Communication Research, 2, 347-366. 13. GRANEY,M. J., & GRANEY,E. E. (1974) Communication activity substitution in aging. Journal of Communication, 24, 89. 14. IYENGAR, S., & KINDER,D. R. (1987) News that matters. Chicago, IL: Univer. of Chicago Press. AND ASSOCIATES,INC. (1975) The myth and reality of aging in America. 15. Lows HARRIS Waslungton, DC: National Council on Aging. 16. LOWENTHAL, M. F., & BOLER, D. (1965) Voluntary vs. involuntary social withdrawal. Iournal of Gerontology, 20, 363-371. 17. Nielsen estimates: national audience demographics report, November, 1974. In Nielren '75. Chicago, IL: A. C. Nielsen. 18. NORTHCOTT,H . (1975) Too young, too old-age in the world of television. The Gerontologist, 15, 184-186. T., & ROBINSON, J. D. (1989) Communication and aging. 19. NUSSBALIM, F., THOMPSON, New Yorli Harper & Row. 20. ROPERORGANIZATION, INC. (1989) Public attitudes toward teleuision and other media in a time ofchange. (No. 14) New York: Television Information Office. 21. SCHRAMM,W. (1969) Aging and mass communication. In M. W. Riley & M. E. Johnson (Eds.), Aging and society. New York: Russell Sage Found. Pp. 352-375. 22. SIGNORELLI, N., & GERBNER, G . (1977) The image of the elderly in prime-time network drama. (Report No. 12) Philadelphia, PA: Univer. of Pennsylvania, Annenberg School of Communication. 23. STEINER, G . A. (1963) The people look at television. New York: Knopf.
Accepted June 1, 1992.
O Psychological Reports 1992
TELEVISION NEWS AND ELDERLY PERSONS ' MICHAEL L. HILT Universiq of Nebraska at Omaha Summary.-Previous studies concerning elderly people have examined either use of all media by older adults or their depiction in television entertainment programs. What has been overlooked has been television news and its effects on elderly people. Careful research is needed to gauge this.
Studies and rating surveys agree that television news has become the public's most important source of information (14). Recently Roper (20) indicated 66% of those surveyed rely on television more than any other medium as their primary source of news, and half said television is their sole news source. Elderly people spend more time watching television than with any other mass medium (15) and watch more TV than younger people (4). I n addition, older viewers are major consumers of television news, preferring television news over other media (9) perhaps because they need to be aware of current events rather than to have diversion (8). As the older population in the United States is increasing dramatically (3), television news executives must consider this growing segment of the audience when contemplating programming decisions. Previous studies of elderly persons have examined use of all media (newspapers, radio, television) by older adults or exclusively of television entertainment programs' depiction of them. Overlooked has been effects of television news on elderly people. This review of literature includes some of the research to identify gaps and directions for additional research in older adults' use of and appearance in television news.
Television Use by Elderly People Frequency of television use and total viewing time increases with age up to about 69 years, before showing a slight decline (15). People 55 years and over watch an average of seven hours of television more per week than younger adults (17). Nielsen found elderly people watch between 30 and 35 hours of TV per week. Bower (4) found that "older persons spend more of their time watching the news." His >>-year and over group had the highest rate of any age group for viewing "news" and "information and public affairs." Steiner (23) had reported similar findings ten years previously. Steiner found people 55 to 64 years watched 16.4 television news and information programs per week, and those 65 years and older watched 22.4 programs per week. These were 'Address enquiries to M. L. Hilt, Department of Communication, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Arts & Sciences Hall, Room 151-B, Omaha, NE 68182-0112.
124
M. L. HILT
the two oldest age groups for viewing television news and information programming. Doolittle (9) separated an older cohort into three subgroups: younger 'seniors (48 to 66 years), old seniors (67 to 74 years), and older seniors (75 to 93 years). Of the three subgroups, television news usage was highest for old seniors (67 to 74 years). Over-all, these respondents gave the highest credibility to television. Several explanations have been given for age-related trends in media use. The increased leisure time that accompanies retirement may account for some of the higher consumption rates of elderly people. I n addition, the elderly audience's use of the broadcast medium may be related to the ease with which it can be received. Television, beyond the cost of the set, costs less than newspapers and magazines. Failing eyesight can make reading difficult and often impossible (6). Also, television and newspapers may become substitutes for interpersonal contacts (7, 12, 13). Atkin (2) suggested the preference for news and information in television viewing is a direct attempt to compensate for the stable and unexciting world of older adults. Schramm (21) interpreted this as elderly people's way of keeping up with society rather than a means of disengagement. H e wrote that older people use television to keep in touch, combat progressive disengagement, and maintain a sense of belonging to society. Lowenthal and Boler (16) found those aged adults who voluntarily disengaged from their social activities decreased use of media, and those involuntarily disengaged increased their use. This has been offered as evidence to refute the disengagement hypothesis. People attempting to disengage from society would not seem likely to be interested in television news, but elderly people show high interest.
Television Portrayal of Elderly People Much research has been done on how elderly people are portrayed in the mass media and specifically on television. There are two primary hypotheses about media effects. Cultivation holds that people watching television acquire a view of the real world shaped by the televised content they view. Gerbner (10) noted that, if elderly people are portrayed on television as incompetent, viewers may begin to think that is true. Signorelli and Gerbner's (22) prime-time television analysis of more than 9000 TV characters found that elderly people were not often represented. When they were, they often had problems and were reliant on younger people for help (18) or were likely to be villains, not heroes (1). Adherents would say that heavy television viewers may think that few people are elderly and that elderly persons were of less consequence since they were not seen. A second hypothesis about media effects is agenda setting, which sug-
TELEVISION NEWS AND ELDERLY PERSONS
125
gests the media wilJ influence the way people think by focusing viewers' attention on specific issues (19). The media set the agenda for the audience by emphasizing certain topics and by slighting other issues through omission. Agenda setting can enter television news programs through event bias, i.e., what is reported in television newscasts tend to be events (e.g., fires, car accidents) rather than nonevent issues (e.g., plight of elderly people, starvation). Television can reinforce stereotypical attitudes toward elderly people (11).Many Americans fear growing old. Although studies of television's portrayal of the elderly do not conclude that the elderly are inaccurately depicted, very few conclude that portrayals are positive.
Conclusion Television's portrayal of elderly people and their use of television provides two contrasting views. Although many older persons spend substantial time with T V and like to watch, such older viewers have not been a significant factor in commercial television programming decisions ( 5 ) . Television news does not cover elderly people well, perhaps because aging is not a newsworthy event. The media show a tendency to be biased toward reporting events, especially catastrophes. Aging and its inherent problems occur over time and are usually not associated with analysis and easy solutions characteristic of television programming. The way older people are depicted in the news and the nature of news coverage of their problems should be studied (2, 9). Systematic analysis of the television news content would be useful. The ranking of stories about issues and problems of elderly people with other news stories would provide some evidence of their importance to the television news industry. Another area of examination might be the use of elderly people as "experts" in television news broadcasts. Few researchers have tested the influence of news content on older people in terms of political participation and awareness of current developments. Research also is needed to assess effects of television news stories such as nursing home crises and Social Security bankruptcy, among other topics. Answers to these questions should interest gerontologists and television news executives alike. Gerontologists should take note of the lack of information. Television news executives should be interested because the elderly audience is growing. In the past, broadcast news, entertainment, and advertising have been geared toward younger adults, the so-called money-makers who buy goods. This must change if the television industry is not going to alienate an already large and constantly growing segment of viewers. REFERENCES 1. ARONOFF,C. (1974) Old age in prime time. Journal of Communicafion,24, 86-87. 2. ATKIN, C. K. (1976) Mass media and the aging. In H. J. Oyer & E. J. Oyer (Eds.), Aging and communication. Baltimore, MD: University Park Press. Pp. 99-119.
126
M. L. HILT
3. BARROW, G . M. (1989) Aging, the individual, and society. (4th ed.) St. Paul, MN: West. 4. BOER, R. T. (1973) Tekvision and the public. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston. 5. CARMICHAEL, C. W., BOTAN,C. H . , & HAWKINS,R. (1988) Human communication and the aging process. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press. 6. CHAFFEE, S. H . , & WILSON,D. G . (1975) Adult life cycle changes in mass media use. Paper presented to the Association for Education in Journalism, Ottawa, Canada. 7. DAVIS,R. H . (1971) Television and the older adult. Journal of Broadcasting, 15, 153-159. 8. DAVIS,R. H . , & DAVIS,J. A. (1985) 7V's image of h e elderly. Lexington, M A : Heath. 9. DOOLITPLE,J. C. (1979) News media use by older adults. Journalism Quarterly, 56, 311317, 345. 10. GERB&R, G . (1969) Toward "cultural indicators": the analysis of mass mediated public message systems. I n G . Gerbner (Ed.), The analysis of communication content. New York: Wiley. Pp. 123-132. 11. GERBNER,G., GROSS,L., SIGNORELLI, N., & MORGAN, M. (1980) Aging with television: images on television drama and conceptions of social real~ry journal of Communication, 30. 37-47. 12. GRANEY,M. J. (1975) Communication uses and the social activity constant. Communication Research, 2, 347-366. 13. GRANEY,M. J., & GRANEY,E. E. (1974) Communication activity substitution in aging. Journal of Communication, 24, 89. 14. IYENGAR, S., & KINDER,D. R. (1987) News that matters. Chicago, IL: Univer. of Chicago Press. AND ASSOCIATES,INC. (1975) The myth and reality of aging in America. 15. Lows HARRIS Waslungton, DC: National Council on Aging. 16. LOWENTHAL, M. F., & BOLER, D. (1965) Voluntary vs. involuntary social withdrawal. Iournal of Gerontology, 20, 363-371. 17. Nielsen estimates: national audience demographics report, November, 1974. In Nielren '75. Chicago, IL: A. C. Nielsen. 18. NORTHCOTT,H . (1975) Too young, too old-age in the world of television. The Gerontologist, 15, 184-186. T., & ROBINSON, J. D. (1989) Communication and aging. 19. NUSSBALIM, F., THOMPSON, New Yorli Harper & Row. 20. ROPERORGANIZATION, INC. (1989) Public attitudes toward teleuision and other media in a time ofchange. (No. 14) New York: Television Information Office. 21. SCHRAMM,W. (1969) Aging and mass communication. In M. W. Riley & M. E. Johnson (Eds.), Aging and society. New York: Russell Sage Found. Pp. 352-375. 22. SIGNORELLI, N., & GERBNER, G . (1977) The image of the elderly in prime-time network drama. (Report No. 12) Philadelphia, PA: Univer. of Pennsylvania, Annenberg School of Communication. 23. STEINER, G . A. (1963) The people look at television. New York: Knopf.
Accepted June 1, 1992.
