CANARIES IN THE COAL-MINE - PERCEPTIONS OF THREAT AND MEDIA SYSTEM DEPENDENCY RELATIONS

This article tests the proposition that the intensity and scope of med ia system dependency relations are positively related to perceptions o f threats in, the environment Theoretical and operational definitions of threat are introduced. The results of multiple regression equations support the hypothesis that dependency relations with newspapers, rad io, magazines, and television are more intense the more one perceives one's social and natural environment to be threatening. Hierarchical r egression analysis shouts threat to add significantly to the explanati on of variance in dependency when demographic variables are controlled . Logistic regression fails to support the hypothesis that the scope o f dependency relations becomes wider as threat perceptions increase. I n fact, the opposite is supported; threat is negatively associated wit h scope.