Further research that includes the cumulative effect of using a variety of U.S. media over time combined with other factors such as education, family, income, religion, other interpersonal contacts is needed. The challenge for this research agenda is to develop a framework that includes all of these variables. One idea that may be helpful is cultural capital. Media choices are influenced by various factors such as education, family, travel, religion and membership in associations. However, media, such as television, is also an aspect of cultural capital.
Media are sources of ideas about society, but so are other sources, such as travel.
It is a complex interaction and one the warrants additional study. TBS Mary E. Beadle, PhD is an associate professor of communications at John Carroll University located near Cleveland, Ohio. She teaches in the undergraduate communications program and in the graduate program in communications management. Her research interests include international media and media history. She has completed several research projects in South America and has conducted communication seminars in Russia, Paraguay and Argentina.