In the last decade, the prevalence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) within the American food supply has rapidly increased, with some experts estimating their presence in 80% of all U.S. food products. Unlike many other parts of the world, consumer opposition to this biotechnology has been modest in the U.S., and numerous studies have found that most Americans are unconcerned about this paradigm shift in agriculture. Although the genetic modification (GM) literature is substantial, little research has examined the role the media may play in this acquiescence, while even less has focused on the way critics and advocates of genetic modification have framed this issue. Addressing this lacuna is important because many scholars have concluded that the way an issue is framed significantly influences how an audience interprets a given message, and ultimately affects opinion formation. This study examined the websites of numerous anti-GM organizations and transnational biotech companies to determine the dominant frames they employ in their attempt to influence the American consumer. Once these frames were identified, frame analysis of the three most widely read newspapers in the country was conducted to measure the extent these frames have been employed by the U.S. print media. I hypothesized that the frames used by critics of the technology have been employed at significantly lower rates than those of advocates. This analysis suggested, however, that the way this issue has been framed in the print media is likely a less significant factor in this acquiescence than the sheer dearth of coverage generally. / Master of Science

The consumer protection is very topical area because it has reference to the majority of citizens which are consumers, producers and also salespersons. Shoping and using services is everyday activity for all of us but it bears some risks to shoppers especially from sellers and that is why should be the consumer protection priority for every one and the society should take actions to improve it. The role of consumer organizations is crucial as the role as agency which offer important information and gives advice to the consumers in situation in which their rights are in repressed or in danger. Those organizations are participating in the education of consumers. The main objective of the diploma paper {$\neg$}{\clq}qThe analysis of the position of non-governmental organizations in the area of consumer protection`` is to implement the research in area of knowledge of consumer organizations from the side of consumers and the research of consumer interest in membership in such organizations. The fragmental objectives were to evaluate the contemporary situation in consumer organization in the Czech market using the questionary research and propose the possible solutions that will help to improve the present state. The theoretical part refers to the consumer protection. In the practical part are discribed best known consumer organizations in the Czech Republic. There are also characterised results from the questionary research and from the comperative analysis of main actions of organizations. The results of the questionary research showed that the consumer protection is not strong enough. The problems are not only legislative, but the main problem is that consumers aren´t informed enough about their rights and about consumer organizations. My suggestions faces particularly for better awareness of consumers about consumer organizations and their role in the Czech market. My recommendations are to improve awareness of consumers from the side of consumer organizations, and their rights by using of communication medias and to introduce new ways of propagation of consumer organizations. Very important is also the good motivation for new members in those organizations etc. The level of the consumer protection is not still on the same high level as in the more advanced states in EU. The consumers have not big consciousness of the consumer organizations and their role in the market and of the possible help from the side of those organizations.

I used questionnaire investigation to reach the goal of my thesis. I wanted to ascertain the behaviour of users in the market when using the relevant product and to establish the importance of the attributes of digital camera for the user on the base of the research. Further my task was to set the weights of the individual attributes for multi-criteria decision-making. To compare the offered products with the help of the selected technique of multi-criteria decision-making and to suggest suitable products for the users on the base of the weights found out. The ascertained data and results will be further utilizable for consumer organizations, specifically for the Spotřebitelský institut SOS, o.p.s. (SOS Consumer institute, quasi-public company). I came to the following results after having evaluated my research. Most respondents own digital cameras, most frequently brand PANASONIC, CANON and OLYMPUS. The highest percentage of respondents use their cameras to record the personally significant moments, identically most frequently several times a week or several times a month. The main reason to choose a new camera is its function and price and the users are most frequently ready to spend between 3 001,- and 9 000,- CZK. Respondents prefer black and silver digital camera. As I supposed that there would be certain differences among the parameter preferences between genders and experiences of the users, I divided the respondents into individual segments in which I performed my further research. If I should assess the parameters most preferred by the respondents, there are certain differences between genders and experiences of the users. It is possible to say generally, on the base of the ascertained highest values of weights, that all user segments prefer the following parameters: noise (sensitivity), camera speed, battery durability, megapixel resolution and optic zoom. The clearly unimportant parameter is the possibility of printing directly from the camera that is on the last place of importance in all segments. I compared 25 digital cameras on the base of multi-criteria decision-making and the ascertained weights. I can recommend more or less the following 7 suitable products to the individual segments: Canon PowerShot SX1 IS, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500, Canon EOS 40D, Canon Ixus 870 IS, Casio EX-V7, Canon EOS 50D, Nikon D300.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal