Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Prsa District Leadership Shows Strong Ohio Connection, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

When the Public Relations Society of America East Central District begins its 20^th year on January 1, 2024 its board of directors will have a distinct connection with the Buckeye State.

Reputation Themes From Communication Perspective: A Qualitative Systematic Review, Omar Abu Arqoub

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education (مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية (للبحوث في التعليم العالي

The article aimed to systematically review communication reputation-related research to shape the reputation literature from a communication perspective. After investigating several databases, a total of 366 peer-reviewed communication journal articles focusing on reputation were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. A qualitative text mining and thematic analysis approach was conducted using the NVivo program to examine the most frequently used words and major emergent themes. The results revealed that the topmost frequently repeated words in communication reputation-focused articles were “crisis,” “public,” “reputation,” “communication,” “media,” and “relations.” Also, this study discussed the six major themes that …

Prsa Communicator Of The Year: Cedarville's Mark Weinstein, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

Mark D. Weinstein, an experienced public relations professional, has been named the recipient of the 2023 Communicator of the Year Award by the Dayton chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). He will be presented his award at the Gem City PR Awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 24, at the Top of the Market in Dayton.

Prsa Communicator Of The Year: Cedarville's Mark Weinstein, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

Mark D. Weinstein, an experienced public relations professional, has been named the recipient of the 2023 Communicator of the Year Award by the Dayton chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). He will be presented his award at the Gem City PR Awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 24, at the Top of the Market in Dayton

Presidents And Media During Initial Federal-Level Hurricane Relief: A Study Of Presidential Crisis Communication Efforts, Emily A. Ball

Honors College Theses

Public relations serves a huge role in almost every sector, including politics. Crisis communication, a subset of public relations, is very important in a setting that constantly undergoes crises. The response to these crises matters a great deal on the federal level because the outcomes can affect such a wide variety of policies and even elections. Because of this, I wanted to focus on one type of crisis that every president is almost guaranteed to face: hurricanes. To examine the effectiveness of federal-level crisis communication, I look at Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden’s responses to the worst hurricane during their …

​​Pr 101: A Resource For New Public Relations Professionals, Ilana M. Weinberger

Publications and Research

The field of public relations (PR) is often misunderstood, despite the fact that it is a growing field (Fawkes, 2018). New employees enter the field of PR every year, whether as new graduates or as those making a career change, yet the intricacies of working in PR are not generally taught in the classroom (Meganck, Smith & Guidry, 2020). Most people do not have a solid understanding of what PR professionals do on a day-to-day basis, and in fact, many of those entering the field don’t either. They may think that PR is simply social media management, or even confuse …

Soche Honors Cedarville’S Public Relations Director, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

The Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) has presented Cedarville University’s Mark D. Weinstein, executive director of public relations, with a Staff Excellence Award for September 2022.

Digital Communication Channel Selection For Organizational Leadership: Best Practices For Interacting With Dispersed Stakeholders, Sarah M. Diefenbach

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

As organizations embrace hybrid and remote work models, there is a growing need for organizational leaders to use digital communication channels to maintain active communication with dispersed stakeholders. The purpose of this study was to analyze what digital communication channels have been implemented by organizational leadership and why they were selected. LinkedIn, Twitter, and corporate posts from six CEOs within the New York Metropolitan area were analyzed over a four-year period. Results revealed that personal social media channels were the most frequent forms of communication. Additionally, multimedia and multichannel strategies enhanced the communication messages and led to a best practices …

Situational Crisis Communication Theory And The British Royal Family, Addison Shaw

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis will analyze the public relations of the British Royal Family as seen through the lens of Timothy Coombs’ Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT). Coombs’ (2007) theory provides a theoretical framework and guidelines for crisis response strategies when organizations experience a crisis. This thesis will particularly evaluate the public relations of the British Royal Family during the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death by examining primary artifacts such as newspaper articles and public statements made by the organization and the public. Furthermore, this thesis fills in the research gap regarding the evolution of the public’s perception of an organization with …

Framing Friction: A Content Analysis Investigating How The Cdc Framed Social Media Communication With The Public During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Michaela Kandzer, Valentina Castano, Lauri M. Baker, Ashley Mcleod-Morin

Journal of Applied Communications

The novel coronavirus was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019. This zoonotic disease quickly spread through over 100 countries, including the U.S. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency by the end of January 2020. Soon after, many U.S. states issued mandatory stay-at-home orders, which caused adverse effects for agricultural businesses and food supply chains. During this crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared information through social media platforms such as Facebook. This study sought to understand how the CDC framed direct communication to the public about issues related to COVID-19 using …

Covid-19 & University Stakeholders: A Faculty Perspective, Torie Fowler

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate faculty member perceptions of job satisfaction, response efficacy, organizational communication efforts, along with organizational trust and goodwill in relation to the COVID-19 crisis. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, using faculty members employed at their institution of higher education during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 academic years. A total of 285 responses were analyzed.

Results of this study suggest faculty member perceptions of job satisfaction and response efficacy were significant in predicting perceptions of trust and goodwill. The most significant predictor of organizational trust and goodwill was perceptions of organizational communication efforts. Also, this …

Symbolism Or Substance: Factors Influencing Campus Messaging Decisions And Their Alignment With Institutional Values, Laura Herzog Jacobs

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Historically, institutions of higher education (IHE) have been cautious and slow in making changes. Yet in today’s fast-paced and dynamic world of content availability and information flow generated by 24-hour news cycles and the ubiquity of social media present a challenging reality for colleges and universities in their public relations and communications approaches (Sands & Smith, 2000). Creating a harmonious and agile approach to managing these responsibilities against the backdrop of an incessant flow and public demand for information, including responses to national events often with seemingly little or no connection to the institution, suggested a need to examine the …

Challenges And Motivations Of Science Communication: An Administrative Perspective At Land-Grant Universities, Ashley Mcleod-Morin, Joy N. Rumble, Ricky W. Telg

Journal of Applied Communications

Interdisciplinary agricultural research centers are becoming more common at land-grant universities. These centers often use an interdisciplinary approach to address complex science issues. As these centers address agricultural issues that impact society, effective science communication is a necessary activity. However, these centers may face unique barriers or opportunities. This study utilized a qualitative approach to identify the barriers and motivations of interdisciplinary agricultural center directors when communicating about science. Participants identified common science communication challenges, such as time and lack of funding. Funding was also identified as a motivation, as well as factors related to the tenure and promotion process. …

The "100 Club" Spotlights Cedarville University, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

100. It’s a big deal. When someone reaches their 100th birthday. Or, engaged couples realizing it’s only 100 days till their wedding. And for three Cedarville University faculty members, completing 100 media interviews in a single academic year is an achievement worth celebrating.

Is Care In The Air?: A Crisis Ethics Case Study Of American Airlines’ Communication During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Lily V. Hicks

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This research proposes a qualitative case study of American Airlines’ communication during the first month of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Data from the airline’s press releases along with its tweets and a sample of organizational responses to those tweets are offered for proposed analysis using the lenses of Situational Crisis Communication Theory, the Applied Model of Care Considerations, and the body of crisis literature on audience coping and emotions during crises. This in-depth look at a unique communication phenomenon will be a fundamental step in examining how airline communication exhibits ethics or lack thereof and is related to people’s emotions …

Guided Toolkit For Virtual Programming, Sienna Mcarthur

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The Coronavirus pandemic that has occurred over the last year was a major detriment to the entire world. COVID-19 caused businesses to shut down, people to shelter in place, and restricted in-person gatherings. Specifically, in the event coordinating profession, planners had to pivot their thought process and change how they saw their careers. Virtual events became a reality for most, but some were unsure of where to start the transition.

This research focuses on the importance of continued programming, even virtually, in order to keep positive relationships alive and encourage participants to be engaged from their homes. It also creates …

Social Media Leader Receives Dayton Prsa "Young Professional Of The Year" Award, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

Sarah Gump, director of digital and social media at Cedarville University, was named the Young Professional of the Year by the Dayton Area Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) at the Gem City PR Awards ceremony on Sept. 24, 2020.

Prsa-East Central District Honors Cedarville University's Newsroom With Diamond Award, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

Cedarville University received a Diamond Award for its "Newsroom Expands Cedarville University's Media Footprint" entry from the East Central District of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA-ECD). The Diamond Award is presented to public relations practitioners who have successfully addressed a communication challenge with exemplary skill, creativity and resourcefulness.

Tackling Toxicity: Identifying And Addressing Toxic Behavior In Online Video Games, Matthew Lapolla

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Online video games are plagued with toxic behavior, which has a strong potential to cause a reputation crisis for online video game developers. A grounded theory study was conducted to determine what online video game players consider to be toxic. An analysis of online forums for Overwatch and League of Legends was conducted alongside the observation of player behavior in Apex: Legends. Behaviors that were found to be toxic include flaming, poor teamwork, trolling, cyberbullying, and hate speech. The results were used to create a series of recommendations for online video game developers in their attempts to address toxicity. …

The Role Of Arkansas Ffa Chapter Reporters And Advisors, Jessica Wesson

Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Undergraduate Honors Theses

FFA reporters are tasked with conveying the FFA brand to the public. They are supposed to follow a set of guidelines set forth by the National FFA Organization that suggests different public relation activities for them to participate in. This organization has a long history of impacting the agriculture industry, but who tells people about it?

In 2018 the University of Arkansas agriculture education, communication and technology department sent a team of students and professors traveled to the 91^st Arkansas FFA State Convention to work the media room. This team was in charge of creating different communication pieces for …

Cedarville's Newsroom Awarded “Diamond” By Prsa District, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

For the second time in less than 12 months, Cedarville University’s marketing and communications division received an award of excellence. Cedarville is the winner of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) East Central District “Diamond Award” for its campus newsroom.

Prsa-East Central District Honors Cedarville University's Newsroom With 2019 Diamond Award, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

Cedarville University received a Diamond Award for its "Newsroom Expands Cedarville University's Media Footprint" entry from the East Central District of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA-ECD). The Diamond Award is presented to public relations practitioners who have successfully addressed a communication challenge with exemplary skill, creativity and resourcefulness.

Image Repair In Ncaa Division I Athletics, Joseph J. Martinelli

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

NCAA Division I universities are constantly under a threat of image loss due to both internal and external factors. The purpose of this study was to examine past image repair campaigns executed after a crisis by the following NCAA Division I member universities: Ohio State University, Louisville University, and the University of Maryland. A problem-oriented case study was completed on the media coverage of these situations, which evaluated the effectiveness of the strategies chosen by each respective university. Results revealed the best practices for public relations practitioners to repair and maintain a positive image in the collegiate landscape.

Girls Who Handle It: Transforming The Lives Of College-Aged Women, Jordan Rae Delfs

Journalism

Girls Who Handle It (GWHI) is an organization unique to San Luis Obispo, but hoping to expand in the coming years. The team recruited myself to begin the process of expansion beginning in Santa Barbara. Despite the success in San Luis Obispo, the lack of previous recognition in this new city proved to be a difficulty in executing this event. GWHI aims to create a community empowerment movement by allowing college-aged women to share their vulnerabilities on a public platform creating conversation surrounding difficulty. They also highlight the role social media plays in hiding these trials by often not accurately …

Retiring The Mack: Preparing Campus Community For Library Construction Project, Ady Dewey

Strategic Public Relations Projects

The Bridgewater campus was on the verge of a dramatic change as the Alexander Mack Memorial Library transformed into the John Kenny Forrer Learning Commons. The project impacted every student as the Mack closed its doors in May 2018, library services were moved to another building and warehouse, and new study spaces were created on campus. Despite this project touching every current and prospective student, there was not a distinct communication plan to reach this audience.

At the request of the library administration, the Strategic Public Relations class planned and recommended how to promote and educate the campus community about …

Newsroom Will Take Cedarville University To National Audience, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

Providing greater communication for media outlets in Dayton and across the United States is one of the goals for Cedarville University's newest communication vehicles--its high-tech newsroom.

Operational since September 13, Cedarville University's public relations department has provided Dayton media with 14 interviews--three being on live television. A benefit for Cedarville University from the newsroom is it is expected to help increase awareness for its faculty and academic programs.

Newsroom Will Take Cedarville University To National Audience, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

Developing greater awareness is a function of public relations. At Cedarville University, this includes finding new ways of telling stories of academic excellence and Christian mission through the media.

By Friday, Cedarville University will have a better opportunity to achieve this objective as it will officially open its first newsroom on campus. The facility, located in Centennial Library, will allow the university to connect its stories and professors’ expertise more easily with local and national media.

10.01.001-.004 Lesley College Newsletters, 1972-1998, Marie Wasnock

Finding Aids

Lesley College Newsletters comprises news and newsletters written and published by the college’s Office of Public Relations (now Office of Communications) and provided to the Lesley community. The following publications are contained in the collection: Lesley Weekly, Lesley College Newsletter, the Lesley College News, and Lesley News.

10.01.006 Lesley College Current, 1970-1987, Marie Wasnock

Finding Aids

The Lesley College Current was published by the Lesley College Office of Public Relations and Communications and distributed to alumnae, parents, students, faculty, staff, governing boards, and friends of Lesley.

Its purpose was to represent various aspects of the College - its achievements, aspirations, diversity, and controversies. In September 1970, the Current replaced the Alumnae Review, the Parents Newsletter, and the Community Newsletter.

10.01.008 Lesley Publications, Misc., 1968-2008, Marie Wasnock

Finding Aids

The Lesley University Publications (Misc.) collection comprises magazines, newsletters, newspapers, and other promotional brochures and periodicals published with the Lesley College/University community between 1968-2008.

The Lesley University Archives has sporadic runs or selected issues of these publications. (See finding aid for list of publications.)