Communication Commons^™

The Power Of The Message: A Study Of Media Influence On The Development Of Public Opinion, Jonathan C. Churchill

Theses and Dissertations

The influential power that media channels have directly affects the development of public opinion when it comes to the National Football League, its players and subsequent on or off the field incidents.

The purpose of this study was to show how public opinion of the NFL is driven by different demographic information and by how fans get their news concerning the NFL and its subsequent adverse news. This study will attempt to show how age and media source can affect the development of public opinion, how public opinion is formed and potential variables that may influence opinion formation.

The researcher …

Ethical Pharmaceuticals? A Deeper Look At The Ethics In Pharmaceutical Public Relations, William M. Walsh

Theses and Dissertations

This study takes a deeper look inside the ethics of pharmaceutical Public Relations within marketing campaigns. More specifically, the researcher performed case studies on the ethically questionable marketing campaigns of Fen-phen and Vioxx and compared that data with data collected from focus groups composed of Rowan University graduate Public Relations Alumni.

The case studies were performed through primary and secondary research of the campaigns conducted for Fen-phen and Vioxx. The data was then used to reconstruct the two campaigns. The focus group data was collected from three focus groups, each with four members, and all data was tabulated and then …

An Analysis Of The Models Of Public Relations Most Commonly Used By Professional Minor League Baseball Franchises, Pasquale J. Rose Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the public relations practices of professional minor league baseball franchises by determining which of Grunig's four models of public relations are most commonly used by these organizations. With these findings, the study then evaluates the effectiveness of the models with respect to individual differences among the organizations and overall limitations encountered in the field.

Twenty directors of media and community relations for fifteen minor league franchises were asked to participate in data collection by completing a three-tiered Delphi study to reach a consensus on the most important job responsibilities and skill sets they feel are necessary to …

The Role Of Public Relations In Crisis Communication Planning And Management: An Analysis Of The Pharmaceutical Industry, Tracey A. Myszka

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines crisis communication and management in the pharmaceutical industry. It analyzes three specific pharmaceutical crises and examines the respective public relations responses.

The researcher prepared a mail survey that was sent to senior public relations professionals, PR professors and crisis communication experts. The data from 20 surveys were analyzed manually to determine respondents' perceptions about the role of PR during a crisis and the state of crisis preparedness in the pharmaceutical industry. The results were tabulated in percentages and presented in graph form.

Findings indicate general agreement about the value and role of public relations during a crisis …

What Influences A Recruit From New Jersey Or Nyc Between The Ages Of 18-27 Years Old To Join The United States Air Force In Post 9/11 America?, Lisa M. Martz

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines who or what influences a military recruit from New Jersey or New York City to join the United States Air Force in Post 9/11 America. Knowing what influences recruits for enlistment could help ensure the Air Force is targeting the right influencers and incorporating the most effective communications methods into its recruiting strategy. The study will also look into whether the events of 9/11 affected the decision to join the Air Force.

Recruits were asked to participate in data collection for the research through a survey sent electronically via email. Responses were tabulated using Microsoft excel software. …

Cultivating A Donor Base: How Colleges And Universities Use Public Relations Techniques To Influence Undergraduate Students To Become Donors, Heather Ann Sheridan

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines effective public relations techniques used by higher education fund raising professionals in cultivating an alumni donor base. The researcher surveyed fund raising professionals in the nation's top private and public colleges and universities. The researcher also conducted a personal interview with a top fund-raiser in the field of higher education.

Survey participants rated donor bases, identified when they begin to cultivate relationships for lifetime giving and the effectiveness of strategies to obtain alumni support. The researcher surveyed key fund-raisers from 124 of the nation's top colleges and universities. This study examined what strategies fund-raisers deemed effective in …