To broaden your understanding of the chapter, consider the following assignments related to the Internet.

1. Since television is at the core of the media identified by Gerbner, examine websites specifically addressing television and consumers. Look for Internet sites that address how television influences us as consumers, especially through advertisements, product placement in shows, and references to the viewers in scripts.

2. Examine the Nielsen ratings (www.Nielsen.com) to assess what our country is watching on television. Look at comedies, dramas, or reality shows and discover the effects of heavy and light viewing of these shows.