Television and the computer have created much speculation about the future of media.

“There can be no doubt that the computer has changed what it means to ‘use’ TV. Whether we’re discussing programs, the business or home viewing, we are in a different era.

“[Visiting] scholars and critics offer perspectives on big changes,” said Horace Newcomb, professor of telecommunications and Landin Kay chair for the Peabody Awards in an e-mail.

The media provide a structure for society and guide individuals in constructing meaning.

Compelled by this knowledge of media’s influence on modern society, the University is holding its second annual Peabody/Loyless Seminar on the state of television. In it, experts will examine the state of television and technology today.

The seminar will feature three visiting professors and two media professionals, each discussing the topic of TV and the computer.

A presentation and discussion, entitled “TV and the Computer,” will be held in the Miller Learning Center today.

The presentation will explore the significance of using computers for interaction, watching TV on a computer and whether people are using television as an outlet for escape, relaxation or information.

The Loyless seminar program was founded in an effort to explore the expansion of the Peabody Awards, which are run from the University’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The Peabody Awards, which began in the 1940s, originally were created for radio. Over time, however, their scope has widened to include electronic media as well.

“For most people who get them, it’s bigger than getting a Golden Globe or Emmy because it puts you in rare company,” said Noel Holston, a public relations coordinator for the Peabody Awards.