Memory in radio news listening

Abstract

Radio news broadcasts of 20, 30, and 40 news items were presented to approximately 300 subjects consisting of enlisted Air Force personnel, and nonacademic employees and students at the University of Illinois. Results indicate that audiences remembered progressively more items as the number of items increased; the audience preference was for the fewer item broadcasts; repetition of facts did not increase memory significantly; and human interest and spectacular stories of crime and diaster were remembered better than stories of public affairs. A table of items which proved to be most and least discriminatory between good and poor memories is included. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)