Digital Commons Network^™

The Radical Act Of Wasting Time, Bruce Kuiper

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"If we hope to converse across differences—political, cultural, interpersonal—we must cultivate skills that are inherently slow, such as patience, curiosity, humility, and attentive listening."

Posting about improving communication from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox  Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in  every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

The Radical Act of Wasting Time

Coat Of Many Crises: Dolly Parton's Brand Storytelling Through Compassion And Consistency, Riley M. Hunt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined Dolly Parton’s crisis communication across four major crisiscontexts: the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfires, the 2021 Middle Tennessee flooding, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2025 Hurricane Helene floods. Using a qualitative multiple case study approach, the research analyzed media coverage, public statements, institutional communications, foundation announcements, and philanthropic records to identify recurring patterns in how ethical leadership and stakeholder responsibility were communicated during these crises. Guided by ethical communication theory, ethics of care, stakeholder theory, Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT), and values-driven reputation management, the study explored how values were enacted through both communication and material action.

Findings indicated …

Science And Technology Communication And Construction Of China’S International Discourse System: Strategic Significance, Current Challenges, And Innovative Pathways, Haonan Du, Ting Wang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Against the backdrop of a new round of scientific and technological revolution with the ongoing restructuring of the global governance system, science and technology have become central to competition in national comprehensive competitiveness and struggles for international discourse power. China’s science and technology have achieved a historic leap from “catching up” to “running alongside” and even “leading in certain areas”, providing solid strength support for the construction of an international discourse system. However, the transformation of scientific and technological advantages into discourse advantages remains insufficient, and the international community holds a dual perception of China’s technological advancements—recognition alongside concerns. The …

From Data To Intelligence: A Review Of Recent Technological And Theoretical Advances In Computational Communication Science, Mengxiao Zhu, Zongting Ge, Jiaojiao Ji

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Against the backdrop of a platform society and the rise of multimodal content, communication processes are increasingly mediated by algorithms, while digital traces continue to expand in scale and granularity. Building on the 2009 and 2020 “computational social science” initiatives as an intellectual lineage, open science and testable evidence have gradually become field-wide norms. Building on prior work, this study traces a “actors–content–platforms/algorithms–audience–effects” pathway to clarify what computational communication studies and what its central questions are, and to review how artificial intelligence is used across the 5W elements of the pathway. We further review international institutionalization driven by scholarly societies …

Theoretical Construction And Practical Transformation Of “New Science Popularization” In Process Of Chinese Modernization, Ting Wang, Haonan Du, Tian Zhu, Shihui Yang, Rongting Zhou

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Rooted in the historical context of China’s national strategy-driven science popularization (SP), this study analyzes the local practical integration of “science popularization” and “science and technology communication”. It proposes a theoretical framework for “new science popularization” suitable for a strong state-strong society collaborative governance environment, based on the fundamental hypotheses of “innovation-driven development”, “systemic coupling”, and “nodal creation”. The core argument introduces the “One Body, Two Wings; Three Layers, Three Stages” dynamic system model. This model elucidates how SP, under the unity of national strategy and human development, achieves a spiral evolution—from knowledge interconnection and literacy co-shaping to ecosystem co-creation—through …

Innovation-Oriented Science Popularization (Iosp): A New Paradigm For Frontier Science Communication And Innovation Capacity Building, Yong Ge, Yifei Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Under China’s strategy of becoming a science and technology powerhouse, traditional transmission-oriented science popularization inadequately addresses youth demands for frontier technology practice, constraining source innovation in talent cultivation. Informed by international approaches such as learning by doing and responsible research and innovation (RRI), together with domestic Chinese practices, this study formulates innovation-oriented science popularization (IOSP) as a new paradigm focusing on frontier technologies, deep experiential learning, and innovation capacity building. IOSP establishes a systematic implementation pathway through four integrated dimensions: layered content design, virtual-real fusion, industry-academia-research-user linkage, and multi-scenario coverage. Taking the Shanghai Youth Science Innovation Practice Workstation as a …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 16 - March 19, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 16 - March 19, 2026. 16 pages.

What’S Critical In Critical Media Literacy? Barriers And Good Practices In Adult Education, Stefanie Mayer, Stefanie Fridrik, Josef Mühlbauer, Brigitte Temel, Viktoria Eberhardt

Journal of Media Literacy Education Pre-Prints

While there is broad consensus regarding the social and educational need for CML, its actual didactic content and especially the meaning of ‘critical’ are far from clear. The article argues for a turn to educational practices. Findings are based on empirical research on adult education in Vienna (Austria) consisting mainly of interviews with expert-practitioners in the field of adult education and media and/or digital literacy. We confront academic definitions of the critical impetus of CML with an analysis of innovative projects, which were designed for accessibility and addressed learners facing high educational barriers. Our findings encourage a turn towards the …

Lindenwood Digest, March 18, 2026, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

• Primary Figures: Monica Seiter, Manish Bhatt, Dominick Chase, Sarah Schlafly, Ken Lynch, John Clark, and Michelle Vinson. 

• Key Events: The Spring 2026 Educator, Career, and Internship Fair; Brown Bag Basics retirement planning session; Missouri’s Tax Future speaker event; Business Ethics Panel co-hosted with the Rotary Club of St. Charles. 

• Date/Location: Events occur between March 18 and April 23, 2026, primarily at Evans Commons, Harmon Hall’s Dunseth Auditorium, the LARC, and the Lindenwood Learning Academy. 

• Archival Significance: Documentation of the transition to Workday Performance for staff, faculty, and adjuncts through 2027; internal professional development structures including Promotion …

  ---

  Go to article

Faithful Listening In An Age Of Noise, Charles Veenstra

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"True listening opens the door to understanding, builds relationships, fosters cooperation instead of conflict, and allows God’s love and reconciliation to work through us."

Posting about barriers to healthy communication from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Faithful Listening in an Age of Noise

Exploring The Influence Of Environmental Motivations On Consumer Attitudes And Purchase Intentions Toward Upcycled Foods, Peng Lu, Jennifer Waldeck, Keith Weber, Hualu Zhou

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

Food loss and waste (FLW) present pressing environmental and economic challenges. Upcycling technologies provide a sustainable pathway by transforming food by-products into value-added products; however, consumer acceptance remains a critical barrier. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study investigates how environmental motivations influence consumers’ attitudes and purchase intentions toward milk enriched with upcycled peanut skins. Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 1488 U.S. adults. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test hypothesized relationships among motivational constructs, and cluster analysis was used to identify consumer segments based on motivational profiles. The results show that intrinsic motivation and …

The Migrant As A Pilgrim: Decolonising Identity And Belonging, Susan Nemec

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper responds to pilgrimage scholar George Greenia’s assertion that meaningful intersections exist between pilgrimage and various forms of displacement, such as migration or involuntary exile due to famine, war, or political unrest. Greenia proposes that vulnerable, displaced individuals might find shelter, both conceptually and emotionally, within the framing of pilgrimage. By extending concepts of pilgrimage, it can be understood as a deliberate and intentional journey, simultaneously emphasising the transformative potential inherent in migratory movement. By adopting a working definition of pilgrimage as ‘any form of travel that is intentional, purposeful, or transformative,’ the paper considers how migrancy, particularly within …

Talk, Talk, Talk: Is There Such Thing As Too Many Podcasts?, Malcolm Summers, The Rattler

The Rattler

Vol. 114, Iss. 2

Recycling Starts With You: Sustainability On Campus, Mary-Esther Leblanc, The Rattler

The Rattler

Vol. 114, Iss. 2

Social Media Influencers Turned Reality Television Stars?, Isabella Pizzoferrato, The Rattler

The Rattler

Vol. 114, Iss. 2

Influence By Design: A Network Strategy For Integrated Deterrence, Robert S. Hinck

Joint Force Quarterly

Confronting the complexity of the future security environment requires new concepts to coordinate efforts for maximum effect. The 2022 National Defense Strategy appropriately identifies integrated deterrence as the centerpiece of these efforts but criticisms regarding its strategic application remain. While integrated deterrence is associated with one set of national security strategies, its points of emphasis will endure. This essay addresses current limitations of the concept by offering a tangible and theoretically grounded approach connecting the ends, ways, and means by which the Joint Force and interagency, in combination with US allies and partners, can enact integrated deterrence across the spectrum …

History Does Not Repeat Itself, But It Often Rhymes: Comparing The Messaging Of Adolf Hitler And Donald Trump, Elaina Varney

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

With the growing divide between the left and right, many on the left have raised alarms that Donald Trump is a fascist. My research paper compares Donald Trump’s messaging to Adolf Hitler’s messaging to find any similarities between the two in order to determine if Trumpism is a precursor to fascism. This study begins by looking at previous scholars’ research into whether or not Trumpism is a precursor to fascism and then I proceed to draw on primary sources such as speeches, Mein Kampf, and Trump’s TruthSocial posts, particularly those related to immigration and minorities, attacks on and suppression …

Human First: How Journalists Employ Ethics Of Care And Empathy When Covering School Shootings, Grace M. Ficara

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

School shootings have become a regular part of the news media cycle in the 21st century. Now, more than ever, journalists are needing to find innovative, yet empathetic, ways to deal with such crises as they navigate their own professional boundaries. Using the Ethics of Care model, this research intends to showcase how journalists have, willingly or unwillingly, utilized an empathetic approach when covering school shootings and how they use these tools to comfort their sources and themselves. Through semi - structured interviews of 9 participants, this study seeks to connect the practice of journalism with the one thing journalists …

Mismatched Music And Meams: Short-Form Social Media Videos And Social Attitude Messaging, Kaitlyn M. Serafin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

“If the formative power in the media are the media themselves, that raises a host of large matters” (McLuhan, 1964, p. 10). Famed communications theorist Marshall McLuhan stated this all the way back in the 60s to explain how technology can act as a formative force in the messaging of media. This is because the medium in which they communicate the messaging can act as its own force, shaping the message like clay. The dominant media at the time of this theory was television; however, in the past decade social media and short-form social media videos have become dominant forms …

Is There No Such Thing As Bad Pr? A Case Study Analysis Of Influencer Pseudo-Events, Authentic Crises, And Crises As Opportunity, And Paracrisis, Sofia Aparicio-Gallagher

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There's no such thing as bad PR, and any publicity is good publicity are phrases coined by 19th-century P.T. Barnum, a showman and businessman known for his circus hoaxes (Hiergesell, 2025). The idea implies that all media attention, whether negative or positive, is beneficial to the organization or individual. The purpose of this study is to evaluate three brands; Tarte, Poppi, and Shein during a brand event to determine whether it was a pseudo-event created to gain awareness, or a genuine, unplanned crisis. Another purpose of the study was to determine if the event was used as an opportunity for …

Framing Power: The “Deep State” In Georgian Populist And Conspiratorial Rhetoric Introduction, Salome Tsetskhladze

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates how the concept of the “deep state” is used in contemporary Georgian political communication. The term traditionally refers to hidden networks of power that function within state institutions. However, in Georgia, it has become a political narrative that interprets international criticism, delegitimizes domestic opposition, and derails political accountability. The study analyzes how this concept is constructed and mobilized in the political discourse.

The research employs a qualitative inductive-deductive thematic analysis. It examines 125 statements made by Georgian public officials between August 2024 and February 2025 referring to the “deep state.” The analysis integrates framing theory, populist communication …

Lindenwood Digest, March 11, 2026, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

• Key Events: The "Rise and Run: Running for School Board-Lunch and Learn" on March 19 features a panel on public service governance; the "Annual Assessment and Planning Summit" will recognize faculty and staff for excellence in data-informed strategies and assessment innovation. 

• Primary Figures: Panelists Karen Bernstein (University City), Jamal Bailey (Ferguson-Florissant), and Sarah Oekle (Francis Howell) will be moderated by former State Senator Jill Schupp; Athletic Coordinator Griffin Manning is recognized for supporting student-athlete travel to beach volleyball. 

• Date/Location: Events are scheduled between March 11 and April 3, 2026, primarily occurring at the Spellmann Center AB Leadership …

  ---

  Go to article

Building Trust And Credibility In Business-To-Business Relationships: The Role Of Content Marketing Formats, Janice A. Yates

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The increasing reliance on digital channels in business-to-business (B2B) purchasing has elevated content marketing as a central mechanism for building vendor relationships and influencing buyer behavior. Grounded in Relationship Management Theory, this study examines how informational quality and interactive engagement in B2B content marketing contribute to relational outcomes—trust and credibility—and subsequent purchase intent.A quantitative survey was administered to B2B professionals to assess perceptions of common content marketing formats and their influence on vendor evaluation and purchasing decisions. A total of 76 responses were collected, with 63 usable cases retained after data screening. Established multi-item scales were used to measure informational …

They Find A Way: The Transnational Practices And Experiences Of Diaspora Conflict Journalists, Grace E. Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As global tensions continue to rise, media landscapes are changing. Diaspora communities play an integral role in this shift, as they search for verifiable news with a global perspective to keep them informed on crises in their home countries. In order to keep their communities informed, diaspora journalists step up to localize coverage, creating transnational networks to bridge home and host countries. They often work through intense situations, sacrificing normalcy for information. Building on the framework from Ogunyemi’s (2018) diasporic media observations, Fraser’s (1992) counterpublics theory, and D.K. Thussu’s (2006) contra-flow in global media theory, this study explores how diaspora …

Do We Think Globally? A New Journal, 75 Years In The Making, Nicholas David Bowman

Media Studies - All Scholarship

In an editorial ending their tenure as editor of Critical Studies in Media Communication, Steiner (2007) warned of the scourge of journal proliferation, invoking a concern that increasingly, these new journals mostly benefit individual careers and publishing house profits. Meanwhile the “just-planted crop [of manuscripts] is generally bringing diminishing returns to the field” (p. 384) because we are publishing far more than we can read, evaluate, ­integrate, and engage. Steiner is hardly alone in her critique. Others call out the invisible labor of editorial stewardship, showing for example how inefficient systems not only exploit scholars (Chalmers & Solomon, …

Framing The Pressure: Mental Health Representation In Olympic Athletes Through The Weight Of Gold, Daniel B. Gearin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how the HBO documentary The Weight of Gold constructs meaning around athlete mental health through narrative and visual framing. Grounded in framing theory, the purpose of this research is to identify the key themes presented in the film and analyze how cinematic techniques shape audience understanding of mental health in Olympic athletes. The rationale for this study stems from a gap in existing research, as most scholarship focuses on psychological outcomes rather than how media representations construct those meanings. Using a qualitative approach, the study applies thematic analysis to 17 scenes of the documentary, supported by a …

Fire And Ice: Partisan Media Coverage Of 2025 Ice Mass Deportations, Rachael A. Lawrence

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how partisan media outlets strategically frame U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), revealing how the same events are portrayed as fundamentally different depending on the outlet’s ideological position. Using Entman’s framing theory and qualitative frame analysis, this research analyzed 150 digital news articles from conservative-leaning (e.g., Fox News & New York Post), liberal-leaning (e.g., CNN & Associated Press) and neutral (e.g., The Hill & Newsweek) outlets over a six-month period following President Trump’s executive order expanding ICE’s operational scope.

The analysis reveals sharp partisan divides and highlights the prominence of media bias. Conservative outlets emphasized security frames …

Building A Better Landscape For Research Dissemination, Scott Horowitz

Chemistry and Biochemistry: Faculty Scholarship

Let’s take a moment to think about where we’ve come to in scientific publishing. Once upon a time, journals and their publishers played an absolutely critical role in science’s growth and successes.  Many journal publishers are for-profit enterprises, and they still want to make profits even if they no longer serve an important purpose. By controlling the information, they can still force people to pay for services that are obsolete and manipulate the system in ways that stymie progress to maintain their market. Open access did not have the power to change this. Altogether, things are in bad shape. I …

Renata Zarazua: Rompiendo Techos De Cristal, Paloma Villarreal, The Rattler

The Rattler

Vol. 114 Iss. 1, Spanish

Comic Book Heroes In Theatres: Is “Superhero Fatigue” Real?, Malcolm Summers, The Rattler

The Rattler

Vol. 114 Iss. 1, Opinion