Prosocial Learning Northwest Ohio Sixth Graders Participating in a Local Television Newscast

The impact of television on children has been analyzed from various perspectives. The social cognitive theory of mass communication explicates the mechanism of children’s social learning from television. The premise of this study is that television may have positive effects on youngsters by exploring prosocial themes and developing community-oriented content. A distinctive example of prosocial television or programming that promotes positive values and fosters socially desired behaviors, the News Six series (WBGU-TV, Bowling Green, Ohio) covers school news, community traditions, local landmarks, people, and events. Children involved with the program research a topic, interview a subject, write a story, and participate in the field and studio production. The present study examined (a) whether there was a relationship between student participation in News Six and student learning about the community, (b) whether the News Six prosocial message was actually received by the sixth graders, and (c) whether student participation in the News Six production played a role in the impact of the program. The research was organized in two phases. Participating in the first phase were 580 sixth grade students from 16 northwest Ohio schools. For the second part of the study the data were obtained from audience surveys of News Six participants and non-participants. Responses of two groups of sixth grade students (N = 81) were analyzed. The results suggest that an interactive model of television, which is partially created by the viewers, can contribute to children’s social learning and can successfully bring together family, school, and community. Television should be viewed as a participatory medium and actively involve students, parents, teachers, and communities in the production process. An inquiry into the effects of this local program provided empirical data and insights that may stimulate further research of prosocial TV programming and assist in the development of new programs.