Do local media contribute to individuals' involvement in a community? The “community integration hypothesis” has long held they do, but a recent test based on a stricter measurement criterion shows the extent of contribution may have been overestimated. Results also suggest some media contribute more than others, and the relative contribution of each medium depends upon the individual's stage of settling into the community. The study is based on a probability telephone survey of 432 respondents.

This study is a critique of Bobo and Gilliam's (1990) empowerment hypothesis. The authors examine black-white differences in political trust, efficacy, and sociopolitical participation. The study took place in Mobile, Alabama, and involved a telephone probability survey of 428 respondents. The authors argue for an expanded operational definition of empowerment, and research results support this position. No significant differences between blacks and whites emerged for political participation, attending to news, gender, age, occupation, or education. Blacks were significantly more politically trusting, efficacious, and involved in the community than were whites.

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Rural sentators more accurate in assessing constituent opinion and more likely to vote the way their constituents feel than are urban senators.

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