This study uses individual media dependency (IMD) to examine student dependency on the media before and during the attacks of September 11. A content analysis of media journals kept by a group of university students during the week of September 11 confirmed the existence of the IMD relationship, a finding that adds to the methodological breadth of IMD research. Goal scope, which is composed of the understanding, orientation, and play goals narrowed to the goal of social understanding on September 11 only to expand outwards to pre-September 11 levels by the end of that week. The theory postulates goal scope to be comprehensive, but student-identified reasons for seeking out the media during the week of September 11 were not fully explained by goal scope. Dependence on news mediated sources followed the pattern of goal scope with students articulating a tremendous dependence during the attacks, only to be followed with a sharp decline in time spent with news media by the end of the week. Contrary to hypothesis 4, referent scope did not narrow at all during that week. However, the media diaries revealed television was the referent of choice among students for information about the attacks. Time spent with television followed the patterns of goal scope and dependence on news mediated sources—a sharp increase in time spent with television was followed by a comparable decline in time spent. Student reflection papers were analyzed to understand why students returned so quickly to former media consumption patterns. Weariness with the reports and images surrounding the attacks, disappointment with the lack of new information, and the obligations of being a student were among the reasons given in the reflection papers. Despite the quick return to pre-attack levels of media consumption, students wrote that the media presentations of the attacks had broad cognitive, affective, and behavioral effects.

La télévision traditionnelle, « voix de la France » est un média de masse. Avec un taux d’équipement des foyers de plus de 98%, un taux d’écoute de plus de 3h50 par jour, un chiffre d’affaires publicitaires de plus de 4 Mrd EUR , et des « contenus rendez-vous » assurant des audiences record, cette télévision trône dans le salon et réunit la famille. Jusque dans les années 1980, elle reste placée sous le contrôle du pouvoir politique.Sous la Présidence de François Mitterrand, la télévision se libéralise. De nouvelles chaînes privées et commerciales financées par l’audience et la publicité apparaissent, tandis que le secteur public reste principalement financé par la redevance audiovisuelle. Dans les années 90, l’arrivée du câble et du satellite, puis de la TNT en 2005, permettent l’accroissement considérable du nombre de nouvelles chaînes et des offres de télévision (abonnements au câble, au satellite, et à Canal + en 1984). Le numérique révolutionne le secteur de la télévision, les technologies et les usages. Le nombre de chaînes continue de s’accroître de façon exponentielle. On voit se développer la production de contenus générés par les consommateurs (UGC), et l’interactivité est favorisée grâce aux réseaux sociaux. L’évolution des équipements changent les habitudes de consommation du petit écran, notamment pour les plus jeunes. L’ordinateur, la tablette, le Smartphone et la télévision connectée permettent de visionner « la télévision comme je veux, où je veux, quand je veux. ». Ainsi la télévision traditionnelle considérée comme un média de masse, tend à s’individualiser, et s’adapte aux goûts et aux envies de chacun. L’écosystème jusqu’à présent hexagonal est littéralement en train d’exploser pour faire face à l’internationalisation des contenus et à des acteurs audiovisuels majoritairement nord-américains. La réglementation devenue obsolète peine à trouver un nouveau cadre juridique à l’échelle française et européenne. Face à l’offre mondialisée, et les nouveaux usages de consommation notamment les usages délinéarisés (télévision de rattrapage, et Vidéo à la demande), la télévision continue néanmoins à fédérer le public autour de grands évènements d’actualité (évènements sportifs, politiques, journal télévisé du 20h…). Les profondes mutations et les changements rapides qui s’opèrent actuellement laissent planer une grande incertitude sur l’avenir de la télévision traditionnelle et faute de pouvoir s’adapter, celle-ci pourrait à plus ou moins long terme disparaitre… / Traditional TV, "Voice of France" is a mass medium. With a home ownership rate of over 98%, a viewing rate of l more than 3.50 hours, advertising revenue of over 4 billion euros , and “contenus Rendez-vous” bringing in record audiences, television rules over the living room, bringing the family together up into the 1980s. It is, however, controlled by the ruling political powers.Under the presidency of François Mitterrand, television was liberalized with the appearance of new private and commercial channels, financed by audiences and advertising, while the public sector continued to be funded by a license fee. In the 90s, the arrival of cable and satellite, followed by TNT in 2005, allowed the amazing increase of a number of new channels and TV services (« subscriptions to cable, satellite and finally Canal + in 1984 )But this evolution continues with the arrival of digital TV, revolutionizing the industry. It increases the number of channels exponentially, expands the production of content generated by consumers, and promotes interactivity through social networks. Technological advances are changing consumer habits with regard to the small screen, especially for young people. The computer, tablet, smartphone and the connected TV let you watch "television as I want, where I want, when I want”. Traditional TV, once considered as a mass media, is now a media that is individualized and that adapts to the tastes and desires of each viewer.The current financial system in France is literally exploding to deal with the internationalization of audiovisual content and players, with most of the content produced in North America.. Obsolete regulations can no longer keep pace with consumer demand in Europe and France. Faced with global supply and new viewing habits (delinearised viewing: replayand video on demand), television still continues to unite the public around major news events (sporting events, political events, the evening news …). The important, rapid changes now occurring in TV content and distribution lead to considerable uncertainty with regard to the future of traditional television, and unless it can adapt, it could more or less disappear in the long term.