Click here to see the results of a simple Google web search for the word television. Does the number of hits surprise you? Next, take a look at this Google.com directory about TV. What advantages does this directory have over the web search just above? How would you begin to narrow your search further if you intended to do research on television?
In a book called Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman argues that television is determining culture rather than reflecting it. Use a Google search to find some information about the book online. Do you agree with Postman? Why or why not?
Many groups have advocated turning off televisions for a period of time or altogether. WhiteDot.org, "the international campaign against television," has developed this site. See if you can come up with some good paper topics by checking it out.
Conservative media observers often state that there is a liberal bias in the U.S. media. That topic is still too broad for a research paper, but going to the Media Research Center, a conservative "media watchdog," will help you initially narrow it, no matter what side of the debate you ultimately decide to take.
2004 McGraw-Hill Higher Education