Digital Commons Network^™

From Guns To Mental Health And Accountability: Decoding Media Narratives And Audience Reactions In Public Mass Shootings, Maurice Emelu, Brent Brossmann

2025 Faculty Bibliography

Public mass shootings pose a critical safety challenge in the U.S. This study investigates how media framing relates to public online engagement, focusing on gun regulation, mental health, and individual and political accountability across five major TV networks: ABC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and NBC. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research analyzes 678 news reports and 7605 audience comments. Findings reveal significant differences in audience engagement based on framing, and in key variables show audiences taking opposite positions to their news network’s narratives. ABC, CNN, and NBC’s thematic framing, highlighting systemic failures, elicits more balanced responses, whereas Fox News and …

Framing The Moment, Shaping The Movement: News Narratives And Public Response To George Floyd’S Death, Madison B. Hall

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigates how national and local U.S. news outlets framed George Floyd, Black Lives Matter protesters, and the surrounding protests in the immediate aftermath of Floyd’s death. Through a qualitative content analysis of YouTube news broadcasts posted between May and June 2020, coupled with thematic analysis of popular comments that viewers posted in response, this research explores media narratives and public understanding of a pivotal moment of an ongoing racial justice movement. Drawing on framing theory and construal level theory, the study identifies a range of frames (i.e., pro-accountability, anti-accountability, raw perspective, neutral, episodic, riot) used by both local …

Media Framing Of The Local And National News Coverage Of The East Palestine Train Derailment, Lauren Delo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research examined digital news coverage of the East Palestine train derailment to determine the frames and dominant frames used in both local and national coverage of the disaster, and whether these frames differed over time. Specifically, this research used a content analysis of digital newspaper articles from five media outlets—three national level and two local level—and applied the frames identified from Colistra’s (2010) study of print news coverage of the 1972 Buffalo Creek mine disaster. Results revealed significant differences between the most frequently used frames between local and national coverage, shifts in frame usage over time within each media …

Climate Change In The Local News: The Role Of Community Characteristics In Shaping Themes And Diversity, Hyerim Jo

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Despite widespread recognition of climate change and its localized impacts, research on how local media cover this topic remains limited. The first study of this dissertation analyzes 15,788 opinion articles published from 2013 to 2020 by 391 local newspapers in the United States to examine their volume, topics, and thematic emphases. Using automated text analysis methods, including Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and Analysis of Topic Model Networks (ANTMN), the study identifies 11 topics and three overarching themes. Findings indicate that the volume, topics, and themes evolved over time, likely influenced by the severity of climate-induced hazards and political and socioeconomic …

Examining The Media’S Roles And Responsibilities, An Evaluation Of Nigeria’S Development Toward The Sdgs, Kelvin Inobemhe, Tsegyu Santas, Aminat Trust Ogbesoh

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

This paper examines the roles and responsibilities in the country’s development toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The media in any society is fundamentally a development partner. Whether combating diseases or disseminating critical messages about development plans and actions to the public, the media is a key stakeholder. In Nigeria, the government, in collaboration with development agencies and other relevant stakeholders, has actively sought pathways to actualize the SDGs. The media are among these important stakeholders. The Nigerian press and media to serve the people and development across the nation present a good opportunity. However, this study observes that after …

Framing Palestine Celebgrams On Instagram Social Media Post The Events Of October 7 2023, Labiq Yafuz, Subaidi Subaidi

Journal Of Middle East and Islamic Studies

This research examines the framing conducted by Palestinian influencers on the social media platform Instagram following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The study analyzes how these influencers use the platform to convey information about the conditions in Gaza after the attack. The methodology used is content analysis of several Palestinian influencers' accounts to observe differences in their content presentation. The findings indicate that the content uploaded by these influencers focuses on daily life, social impacts, and geographical conditions post-attack. This content aims to provide information and education to viewers about the current situation in Gaza. The …

Feeding Jersey: A Fresh Look At Food In The Garden State, Zachary E. Zawila

Capstones

New Jersey is the Garden State. The food business is in its nature. But how the state's foodways work, and particularly how they shape the cities of North Jersey, brings vitality to some neighborhoods while leaving others behind. The cities of Orange, Elizabeth, and Paterson have especially interesting food pasts, and particularly promising food futures.

https://sites.google.com/view/feeding-jersey/home

More Inland Homeowners Are Experiencing Floods, But Few Have Flood Insurance, Julian Tiburcio

Capstones

Wherever it rains, it can flood. More inland homeowners who never expected to see their homes flood are finding themselves inundated by rain as climate change intensifies extreme storms and weather patterns. Many homeowners decide to buy homes not realizing that flooding isn’t limited to coastal areas, so they forego flood insurance coverage, leaving their biggest asset at risk.

Queens Residents, Sex Workers At Odds Over What It Means To Keep The Community Safe, David L. Paiz-Torres, Mia Hollie, Asad Jung

Capstones

Exploring the Impacts of Operation Restore Roosevelt Avenue.

On October 15, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams announced a 90-day operation along Roosevelt Avenue, Queens, targeting sex-workers, unlicensed vendors and “other quality-of-life offenses.” This year, nearly 30% of all arrests for sex-work related offenses occurred on Roosevelt avenue, according to NYPD data released in late October.

Our project sought to explore the impacts the operation has had on sex workers and business owners - we also spoke to local residents to get their opinions on the operation. We also looked at arrest data, laws regarding sex-work, previous efforts to crack down on …

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 10 - December 12, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 10 - December 12, 2024. 20 pages.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 100, No. 2, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period November 11 - December 5, 2024.

• Wilborn, Price. Letter from the Editor – Homecoming
• Vickers, Abigail. Homecoming Royalty – Milie LeJeune, Sarah Burke, Katie Burch, Jennifer Smith, Alice Waddell
• A New Era for Social Sciences at WKU – Society, Culture, Crime & Justice
• Steps from WKU, Miles of Charm – Walk2Campus
• Wilborn, Price. Martha Sales Reflects on Life, Leadership & Growth
• Leasing Agents Lending a Friendly Face & Helping Hand – Columns
• Smith, Kane. How Local Businesses Prepare for Homecoming Crowds
• Downtown Bowling Green – Restaurants & Businesses
• Home Sweet …

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 9 - December 5, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 9 - December 5, 2024. 16 pages.

Fostering The Forum: Examining The Progress And Challenges In Cultivating A Free Speech Campus At Western Michigan University, Kalloli Bhatt

Honors Theses

The First Amendment’s breadth has narrowed on college and university campuses. Students, once staunch defenders of free speech, have become the censors themselves. In fact, there have been so many incidents of speaker disinvitations and scholars under scrutiny that the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, otherwise known as FIRE, has amassed years’ worth of data documenting these occurrences. This phenomenon has been so widespread for so long that scholars have been sounding the warning bells since 1987 (Bloom, 1987). While it may seem as if these problems occur at bigger universities, events that have violated First Amendment rights of …

Picking Corn, Aaron Sanderford

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Theses

Nebraska’s shifting media landscape, marked by the decline of newspapers and traditional broadcast viewership, has created an opportunity for innovative, local storytelling. My professional project, Picking Corn, is a podcast that gives voice to Nebraska’s political conversations, focusing on in-depth, long-form interviews with key political figures. Inspired by successful models like The New York Times Daily and NPR Politics Pod, this podcast aims to engage audiences by prioritizing thoughtful questions and meaningful dialogue.

In its first year, Picking Corn reached over 3,300 listeners across platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and SoundCloud. The podcast achieved a 72% episode completion rate—far exceeding …

A Native American Free Press: The Opportunities And Threats To Press Freedom In Indian Country, Bryan Pollard

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tribal media – media outlets often operated by a tribe for a Native audience – are an indispensable public service to their communities. They are relied upon for news and information about current events and governmental actions, and often reinforce cultural and community values. These outlets are often financially subsidized by the tribal government if the operation is too small or geographically remote to generate the revenue necessary for financial independence. Herein lies a central dilemma: Can tribal media, under the influence of tribal governments, serve as an independent voice free of political interference and capable of fair and truthful …

Sands Of Change In The Mississippi Delta: How Local Newspapers Prevent News Deserts From Silencing Their Communities, Sophia H. Lapalme

Honors Theses

This thesis analyzes the results from four interviews conducted with media professionals working in the Mississippi Delta to determine the risks news deserts pose in the Mississippi Delta. The interviewees represented The Yazoo Herald, Greenwood Commonwealth, The Panolian, and The DeSoto Times-Tribune. The Mississippi Delta is the poorest region of the poorest state in the United States of America, increasing the likelihood of news deserts since they form in poor and rural areas. The interviewees answered thirteen questions that addressed changes in the newspaper industry, the roles journalists fill in society, the future of journalism, and their concerns about news …

The Rattler (Volume 113, Issue 4), St. Mary's University

The Rattler (Previous issues)

Founded in 1919, The Rattler is the student voice of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. The newspaper documents campus life, academic and social issues, student opinion, and local and national events as they relate to the University community. Content typically includes news articles, editorial commentary, arts and culture coverage, sports reporting, and advertisements.

The Current (Including Special Section) - Volume 35 Issue 6, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 8 - November 21, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 8 - November 21, 2024. 16 pages.

Conglomeration, Digital Disruption, And Covid-19: Upheaval-Driven Changes To The Roles Of U.S. Local Television News Directors, Suzanne Lysak, Keren Henderson

Film and Media Arts Faculty Articles and Research

This mixed methods study analyzes how broadcast news directors renegotiate their roles under organizational and cultural times of change. Even before COVID-19, local television news directors, one of the two predominant groups of journalism managers in the United States, were experiencing shifts in roles related to their growing work responsibilities. These changes were the result of long-term workplace upheavals including conglomeration and digital disruption. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, news directors found themselves managing through this additional, short-term upheaval. The authors of this study sought to discover how industry upheavals impact broadcast newsroom management roles.

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 7 - November 14, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 7 - November 14, 2024. 16 pages.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 100, No. 1, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period October 9 - November 11, 2024.

• Wilborn, Price. Letter from the Editor – Elections
• Ivory, Larkin, Cameron Shaw, Libby Simpson & Abigail Vickers. How WKU Students Are Approaching the Ballot Box
• Todd Alcott Shares Vision for Bowling Green

• Freidhof, Natalie. A College Student’s Guide to the Swing States
• Reed-Whalen, Bradlee. What Is Amendment 22? – School Funding
• Di Palermo, Dominic. More to Accomplish – Todd Alcott, Bowling Green Mayor
• Todd Alcott for Mayor In His Own Words
• Patti Minter for Mayor In Her Own Words
• Randolph, Eli. A Day in …

Using News To Start Class: How Small Daily Interactions Affect Larger Classroom Interactions, Laura M. Dumin

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

In 2013, I added an extra credit assignment to my freshmen composition classes encouraging students to bring in news stories each class period; this assignment was designed to encourage students to be more willing to participate in classroom discussions. We then spent the first few minutes of each class discussing the stories they brought. After using this assignment for a few years, I had anecdotal evidence to suggest that my students were generally more talkative in class after the first week or two of sharing news. These experiences made me want to see if I could measure some change or …

Echoes Of Exiled Journalists From Africa: Motivation, Resilience, Values And Innovation Of Global Journalism, Gregory Gondwe, Elodie Viale

Communication Studies Faculty Publications

This study examines the motivations, resilience and innovative contributions of

exiled journalists from sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on those from the Democratic

Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

It categorises these journalists into voluntary exiles, who leave due to a commitment

to journalistic integrity and dissatisfaction with censorship and corruption,

and involuntary exiles, who flee threats, violence or imprisonment linked to their

investigative work. Through in-depth interviews with 32 exiled journalists, the study

explores their adaptation strategies in host countries, their persistent motivations

despite significant challenges and their use of new communication technologies and

online platforms …

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 6 - November 7, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 6 - November 7, 2024. 16 pages.

A Book Review Of Speed Capital: Indianapolis Auto Racing And The Making Of Modern America. By Brian M Ingrassia. Urbana, Chicago, And Springfield, Il: University Of Illinois Press, 2024., Paul Baxa

Journal of Motorsport Culture & History

No abstract provided.

Euphemism In Ai Discourse As Colonial Harm & Effect: Learnings From Subaltern Puerto Rico, Jacqueline Oquendo

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Through three integrated studies, this dissertation explores complex human-AI interactions by comparing the perceptions of two groups of U.S. citizens: subaltern Puerto Ricans and stateside Americans’ interactions with ChatGPT. This corpus-assisted Critical Discourse Analysis or CLCDA, triangulated with 1:1 semi-structured interviews, validates scholars’ concerns about the biases inherent in generative AI. Contributing to those concerns, this dissertation reveals that ChatGPT deploys discourse strategies that, when executed, facilitate digital colonialism. Euphemistic language is prominent among its discourse strategies, replacing controversial words, phrases, and topics with more palatable ones. When prompted on events of historical significance, I find that ChatGPT’s discourse obscures …

0892: The Gregg Family Papers, 1940-2024, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Anna Catherine “Kay” Kelly Gregg was born in 1920 in Dawson, West Virginia, to Aldridge James Kelly and Mary Leah Lowry. She was raised in Huntington, West Virginia, alongside her four siblings: James Thompson Kelly, Franklin C. Kelly, Bonna Kelly Paul, and Jeanette W. Kelly Scheerer. Kay enrolled at Marshall College in 1940 and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Teachers College on September 12, 1944.

Harrison “Harry” Humphreys Gregg was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Daniel B. Gregg and Rebecca Humphreys. He attended the University of Cincinnati and later met Kay Kelly while visiting Huntington. The two …

The Rattler (Volume 113, Issue 3), St. Mary's University

The Rattler (Previous issues)

Founded in 1919, The Rattler is the student voice of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. The newspaper documents campus life, academic and social issues, student opinion, and local and national events as they relate to the University community. Content typically includes news articles, editorial commentary, arts and culture coverage, sports reporting, and advertisements.

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 5 - October 31, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 5 - October 31, 2024. 20 pages.