Abstract
This paper examines the formation and recent development of reality television: the type of television that reflects personal lives and encounters. The author attempts to tackle why reality television exists, the types of reality television that is offered and the future of reality television and society. Included is a review of different television shows that fall under this category.

From the Paper
"In the past few years? society and the entertainment industry has been more and more obsessed with the idea of reality-based television. This desire to find the real amongst society is a reflection on a society, which is based on lies, fraud and war. Television shows such as Real World, Cops, and Hard Copy introduced television viewers to the world of the unscripted and spontaneous. We often put aside these television programs calling them trash TV, or game shows, when really it is society, which has made these shows popular and allowed for the major networks, to demand for our attention in their scheduling. This essay will introduce many different types of reality television and begin to guide us to understanding why it exists and where it is expected to go. Society has been waiting for television to reflect our personal lives and the real world in which we live, and now it does."

Tags:911, abc, big, brother, cbs, cops, copy, crossing, entertainment, fox, hard, island, line, nbc, prostitution, real, rescue, september, survivor, temptation, tonight, world

Abstract
This paper starts by defining group dynamics and examines the popular TV series "Survivor" exemplifies this concept. It states that TV viewers experience a taste of reality when watching the show as it "stars" real people. The essence of the series is forming a solid group and thereafter dismantling it.

From the paper:

"Television, like most media forms, is intended to show, rather than simply tell, something about the human condition. As a viewer, television has the capacity to act as a mirror into our own lives, or the lives of people we know. Current television shows allow viewers to leave the stresses of their own lives, and become a part of the lives of characters we relate to, or who are so far from our own experiences that we forget about our own problems, anxieties and worries, to participate in the often tranquil or happily exciting lives of another person."

Tags:struggle, survival, TV, reality, relationship, principles, destination, individual, member, connections, team, challenge, immunity

Abstract
The writer of this paper argues that news shows such as 20/20 and Dateline cannot be objective because they must fit an idea or emotion into the story to make viewers want to watch it.

From the paper:

"In recent years it has become a national pastime to downgrade and insult the profession of journalism and those who work in the field. If we don't like the election results we blame the media, if a serial killer kills again the media caused it and let's remember they made the sun come up in the morning too. Sarcasm aside, the media is often accused of being biased in its delivery of the current events in the world."

Tags:profession, nationalism, patriotism, violence, viewers, perspective

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the topic of Oprah Winfrey and her business interests. Specifically, it includes her role as a business leader, how she organizes and controls her employees, and her role as an entrepreneur. It looks at how Oprah Winfrey has risen from humble beginnings to become one of the most successful entertainers in America today and how behind her popular talk show is a massive business structure containing publishing, broadcasting, and production companies, to name a few. It examines how her success as a businessperson matches her success as a talk-show host and how it has made her one of the richest people in the world and one of the most generous philanthropists.

From the Paper
"When she began Harpo in 1986, she had five employees. As of 2002, she employs 221 people, and a high percentage of them are women (68 percent). She has a minor turnover of between 10 and 15 percent (Sellers 3), and she seems to run a tight and successful ship, but there have been rumors that she is a difficult and demanding boss from former employees. Some of her former employees have called the workplace "chaotic" and "narcissistic," and Oprah requires her employees to sign a lifelong confidentiality agreement, something rather unheard of even in the entertainment business (Sellers 3). Despite these criticisms, most employees say the pay and benefits are "outstanding," with 6 weeks of vacation per year, generous pay and bonuses, and a spa and gym located inside the company headquarters as just some of the perks employees can expect working at Harpo (Sellers 3)."

Tags:broadcasting, publishing, harpo, talk, show

Abstract
This paper discusses Neil Postman's observations, in his book "Amusing Ourselves to Death" about the way television makes us perceive issues, commodities, people and countries. It explores Postman's concept that medium has actually become more important than the message itself,and that the way American television presents information actually breeds ignorance because it turns important issues into nothing but entertainment.

From the Paper
"Media has a very powerful impact on people, which is the reason its advantages and disadvantages are discussed so very often. With every new technology entering our world, we start wondering just how this would later impact our society, culture, consumer market etc. This is because every medium brings along a message and while we believe that message is more important, some social critics maintain it is the medium, which was more powerful than the message itself. Neil Postman admittedly based his book, "Amusing ourselves to Death" on the aphorism. "Medium is the message" which was coined by media expert Marshall McLuhan in 1959."

Tags:media, impact, marshall, mcLuhan, entertaining, subject, matter, commercial, technology

Abstract
The paper investigates the factors responsible for this medium's great popularity. It looks at its appeal to the democratizing influence, to people's desire for status, to natural curiosity, and to competitiveness. It also looks at other factors influencing the attraction to reality television, such as the desire to socialize and the allure of this medium for the less intellectual audience. The paper concludes with a brief synopsis of its main points.

From the Paper
"Reality television can include news programming, interviews, documentaries, and almost all programs that are portrayed as non-fictional. While many definitions of reality television include programs that are recreated portrayals of past events, reality television is generally does not include "docudramas" that have invented or composite characters, or that show events that are largely fictional in nature, or historical events have been significantly changed from their original incident (CFP: Reality Television; NTVS Research Team).
Perhaps the most interesting feature of reality television is its overwhelming popularity with traditionally fickle and sometimes jaded North American audiences. A myriad of shows, including Survivor, Big Brother, The Real World, Blind Date, Temptation Island, A Wedding, and the latest fad, American Idol, have each reached close to the top of the Nielsen ratings in the past few years."

Tags:factors, popularity, appeal, democratizing, influence, status, curiosity, competitiveness, audience, non-fiction

Abstract
This paper looks at the images of women that were portrayed in 1950s TV sitcoms and examines to what extent these images give us an insight into popular culture of the time.

From the Paper
"The most stereotypical portrayals of gender are spread through communication media, especially television. Often, trends in television give us insight into the shifting meanings of gender in popular culture. For example, television in the fifties portrayed a wonderful world of perfect homes in a perfect America. In this world the mothers never worked, the families were happy, and problems were always solved within a half hour. Women had a clearly defined, fixed role, says Spigel, "The essential function of women was that of caretaker, mother, and sexual partner. The domestic woman needed to save her energy for housekeeping, childrearing, and an active (monogamous) sex life with her husband"

Tags:feminism, gender, role, sexism, society, stereotypes, TV

Abstract
The average American child watches three to four hours of television daily. This paper looks at violence on television and how it subliminally effects children. The author argues that the amount of time children watch TV, regardless of content, should be moderated, because it keeps children from doing more beneficial activities such as reading and playing with friends.

From the Paper
"It's three o?clock in the Smith residence and little Johnny just arrived home from school. He is greeted by his mother, and she asks him how his day was and they talk for a couple minutes, similar to the routine in many households. After they are done talking, Johnny decides that he's going to watch some television. While Johnny's mother is ironing in the other room, little does she know that her son was watching the wild coyote attempting to blow the roadrunner's head off."

Tags:media, society

Abstract
This paper introduces and discusses the concept of violence in society, and its causes. Specifically, it discusses the contribution of violence on television and in the movies to violence in society, and the ways families can create a safe, violence free environment for their children.

From the Paper
"Violence in American society has taken a dramatic increase in recent years. Acts of "road rage," "air rage," and "sports rage" are much more common today than they were even ten years ago. Worse, these violent and aggressive acts often take the lives of others, simply over an act of rage or anger that could have been avoided. Why is America such a violent and angry society? Many researchers believe that some of the responsibility for the problem lies with the television and motion picture industries, whose license to create increasingly violent content no longer seems to be questioned. Does violence on television and in the movies really cause more violence in society? If so, what can individuals and society do about it? Many have attempted to answer these questions, but the problem clearly still exists."

Tags:media, rage, crime, television, cinema, anger, aggression, terror

Abstract
This paper offers an in-depth review of how the family has been depicted in TV sit-coms and the like over the past 50 years. It examines dozens of shows and discusses how the roles of the husband and wife, and the values within the family has evolved. Also looks at racial issues.

From the Paper
"In the fifty years between the first season of I Love Lucy to the first season of The Osbournes, the ethics, mores and socio-economic configuration of the TV-viewing audience has changed greatly. Closely aligned to the revaluated morals of contemporary society have been the representations of family on television. Of particular significance is the way in which the sitcom family is depicted on American TV. Throughout the history of the sitcom, the mother and father and children have adhered to a consistent and perpetuated set of stereotypes informing the way they act. Largely, these representations are dictated by the social class and economic situation of the characters. From their beginnings in a pleasant romp in suburban middle class existence, the members of the sitcom family have become edgier and more prone to throw insults at each other. Conflict has always threatened the family, but with a new age comes transformed values and new forms of danger to the family unit. Issues of sexuality, violence and substance abuse have increasingly played a major role in the lives of TV families over the past three decades. Though the troubles they face may be more serious than the fifties sitcom predicament, and they have changed greatly from the respectable ideals of the fifties sitcom, the family, as will be demonstrated, is perhaps as strong, if not stronger than ever."

Tags:bewitched, brady, bunch, children, cosby, dick, dyke, families, family, married, osbournes, roseanne, show, simpsons, step, van