Digital Commons Network^™

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 3 - February 8, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 3 - February 8, 2024. 24 pages.

Reducing Loneliness And Improving Social Support Among Older Adults Through Different Modalities Of Personal Voice Assistants, Valerie Jones, Changmin Yan, Marcia Shade, Julie Blaskewicz Boron, Zhengxu Yan, Hyeon Jung Heselton, Kate Johnson, Victoria Dube

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Faculty Publications

This study examines the potential of AI-powered personal voice assistants (PVAs) in reducing loneliness and increasing social support among older adults. With the aging population rapidly expanding, innovative solutions are essential. Prior research has indicated the effectiveness of various interactive communication technologies (ICTs) in mitigating loneliness, but studies focusing on PVAs, particularly considering their modality (audio vs. video), are limited. This research aims to fill this gap by evaluating how voice assistants, in both audio and video formats, influence perceived loneliness and social support. This study examined the impact of voice assistant technology (VAT) interventions, both audio-based (A-VAT) and video-based …

Chimes: February 5, 2024, Calvin University

Chimes

Calvin student raises awareness with award-winning documentary by Ashley Hamons

Women's acrobatics and tumbling will begin its inaugural season in 2025 by Dillion Baumchen

Speaker series leans into learning with compassionate conviction by Ewan Parker

The Calvin 50: A fundamental part of chapel worship services by Nolan Cowan

Construction progresses smoothly by Savannah Shustack

Engineering students talk about Calvin's next steps in becoming carbon-neutral by Jacob Westra

Elections 2024: How international students follow politics from home while at Calvin by Ethan Meyers

No Ela Without Ella: Understanding The Naming And Crafting Of Gendered Subjectivities In Puerto Rico, Carmín Quijano Seda

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

At the beginning of the 20th century, the official metadiscourses about gendered job titles sedimented the idea that names or indexes pointing to women should be interpreted as unskilled, cheap, or even free labor in Puerto Rico (Azize, 1985; Muñiz Mas, 1998; Baerga-Santini, 1999). For this reason, Puerto Rican women organized and fought for equality in work settings. Furthermore, they became more active in politics and the government. Nevertheless, the Estado Libre Asociado (ELA) and local media discourses and interpretations about women’s labor discouraged them from participating in more senior positions (Acevedo Gaud, 2012).

However, this interpretation seemed to have …

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 2 - February 1, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 2 - February 1, 2024. 20 pages.

The Rattler (Volume 112, Issue 5), 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.

Pro-Environmental Behaviour Of Two Norway's Mainstream Mass Media, Mohammad Farras Fauzi, Henny Saptatia Drajati Nugrahani

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

This research aims to analyze the critiques of mainstream mass media in Norway in response to the plastic waste issue in the Nordic region based on pro-environmental behaviour.. The study will also examine the constraints or challenges faced by mass media in Norway in their agenda to combat plastic waste. In this process, the research will identify the strengths and weaknesses of mass media in shaping perceptions and driving positive actions in plastic waste management. The study will also analyze how mass media engages stakeholders, including the government, non-governmental organizations, and industry, in efforts to combat plastic waste in Norway. …

When And Why Do Arabs Verify? Predicting Online News Verification Intention During The 2023 Gaza War, Menna Elhosary

Theses and Dissertations

Guided by the network gatekeeping and secondary gatekeeping theoretical frameworks, this study employed a 2 (news headlines: pro-Palestine/anti-Palestine) x 2 (news sources: the Times of Israel/Al-Jazeera English) experiment embedded in an online survey on a purposive sample of Arab social media users (N= 452), aiming to understand the antecedents of online news verification during the 2023 Gaza War1. The study investigated the motives that might have encouraged or discouraged Arabs from verifying the war-related news circulated on social media. A model was proposed to examine the role of confirmation bias in shaping perceptions about sources and messages, thereby impacting online …

Solutions Journalism And Climate Change Journalistic Narratives: Comparative Insights From Egypt And The United Arab Emirates, Nouran Nour Abdelghaffar

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the heavy nature of the climate crisis, climate change news tends to be massively negative. Too much negative information can cause severe psychological impacts and spur news avoidance. Along these lines, solutions-focused climate change reporting presents a juncture for introspection. Solutions journalism is rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems. Focus on the positive while not ignoring the negative; a solution approach could help expand climate coverage by changing the traditional depressing narrative and sharing stories of effective responses. Despite the academia’s growing interest in solutions journalism, there is not an abundance of literature available in …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period November 6, 2023 - January 29, 2024.

• Arnold, Emilee. WKU Memorabilia – Big Red, Hilltoppers
• Wilborn, Price. Renee Shaw Inducted into Hall of Distinguished Alumni
• Dobberstein, Molly. WKU’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni – Claude Bloch, Charles Reynolds, Amir Zaheri
• Costellow, Ali. LGBTQ+ WKU Alumni Share Stories from the Hill – Karen Stewart, Georgena Brackett, Spencer Jenkins, Seth Church
• Homecoming Hotspots – Restaurants
• Abney, Shayla. Veterans & ROTC Cadets Share Experiences on the Hill
• Edmonds, Luke & Jake McMahon. Home Field Advantage – Football Fans
• Dobberstein, Molly & Maggie Phelps. Who’s …

Chimes: January 29, 2024, Calvin University

Chimes

Invigorated by last year's momentum, Rangeela continues to grow by Maya Oeverman

Men's volleyball team kicks off their first season by Dillion Baumchen

Math Circle introduces local middle schoolers to mathematical thinking skills by Ethan Meyers

A rivalry for the common good: Calvin's SLC wraps up blood drive against Hope by Ewan Parker

Josh Steinberg wins gold with Team USA in Argentina by Lauren Nyong

A different kind of changing season: A conversation about the liturgical calendar by Nolan Cowan

Creating a tradition: The history of Calvin's January Series by Savannah Shustack

Sarah J. Maas's success comes at the expense …

The Current - Volume 34 Issue 7, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 1 - January 25, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 1 - January 25, 2024. 16 pages.

The Impact Of Interaction Time And Verbal Engagement With Personal Voice Assistants On Alleviating Loneliness Among Older Adults: An Exploratory Study, Changmin Yan, Kate Johnson, Valerie Jones

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Faculty Publications

Background: Loneliness in older adults is a critical issue that negatively affects their well-being. The potential of personal voice assistant (PVA) devices like Amazon’s Alexa Echo in reducing loneliness is an emerging area of interest, but it remains under-researched. Objective: this study aims to investigate the effect of interaction time and verbal engagement with PVA devices on reducing loneliness among older adults living alone. Method: In this experiment, individuals aged 75 and older (n = 15), living alone, were provided with Amazon Alexa Echo devices. They were instructed to interact with the device at least five times a day …

Arab Journalists Have No Place: Authorities Use Digital Surveillance To Control Investigative Reporting, Miral Sabry Alashry

Faculty Journal Articles

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent of digital surveillance by Arab authorities, who face risks and threats of surveillance, and how journalists seeking press freedom use tools and techniques to communicate securely, such as open source in journalism. These journalists share and rely heavily on an opensource data ideology. With novel methods and tools, they integrate a new set of actors, competencies, and technologies into journalistic practice, renegotiating and transcending professional boundaries. The methodology of the study was based on in-depth interviews from Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Libya, and Tunisia with a selection of journalists …

Focus Group Discussions With Rural Women In Yobe State On Information Services For Community Engagement On Development Issues In Nigeria, Aondover Eric Msughter, Mohammed Khalid Idris

Journal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies

In this information age, it is recognized that women's active participation is an essential component of community engagement, and sustainable development. Within this context, this study examined information services for community engagement on development issues in Nigeria with rural women in Yobe State. Qualitative method of data generation was adopted. Focus Group Discussion was carried out with women from the four (4) selected communities. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to select 24 participants for the FGD. The tenets of Source Credibility Theory served the study goal. Based on the findings, it is apparent that most of the women in these …

Ua19/16/2 Athletics Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases regarding general activities of the WKU Athletics Department for 2024.

Actionable Advocacy Journalism: Embracing Bias And Empowering Audiences With Calls To Action, Megan T. Schiffres

Richard T. Robertson School of Communication Student Scholarship

This thesis outlines the principles of actionable advocacy journalism, a new theoretical framework designed to empower audiences to take action in their communities. This framework proposes an update of journalistic ethics including the elimination of objectivity and demonstrates the positive impact of biased journalism on improving audience trust and strengthening community ties. It explores the historical roots of advocacy in journalism, examines the factors that led to the journalistic philosophy of objectivity, and explains its fundamental flaws. This thesis also outlines strategies for transforming news into a practical resource. These strategies combine the principles of solutions journalism with evidence-based persuasion …

Identifying Youth Appeals In Alcohol Alternative Social Media Content Through Framing, Melina Oneal

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Proposed regulations for alcohol advertising prevent beverage companies from targeting people under the legal drinking age. However, similar regulations for alcohol alternative beverages are less explored, which could allow alcohol alternative products to create awareness for alcoholic beverages among youth. Alcohol alternatives beverages, including no-alcohol and low-alcohol products, are increasing in popularity and can function as compliments to alcoholic products to decrease the total alcohol volume consumed or as substitutes for alcoholic products. Framing theory can be operationalized through the Content Appealing to Youth Index, an index of content elements found in research literature to be appealing to youth, to …

Long Covid And Political Party, Renee Franzini

Comm-entary

The essay discusses how the two major US political parties use presence and framing to represent long covid, as well as if these representations differ over time. Through this, we can more easily see the similarities and differences between representations of the condition.

Aadej Comm 10 2 2024

AADEJ - The Communicator

The Communicator is the official journal of the American Association of Dental Editors and Journalists (AADEJ). It is published quarterly, distributed digitally via email to members, and posted on the Association's website, AADEJ.org. Each issue includes regular updates from the editorial team and AADEJ board, as well as feature articles on current issues in the field.

Mapping The Ferment: Mediated Communication Research In Cios-Indexed Journals From 1970-2020, David J. Atkin, Kenneth A. Lachlan, Timothy D. Stephen, Carolyn Lagoe

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This study profiles scholarly publishing in the domain of mediated communication, based on an analysis of media-themed communication journals—as indexed in the CIOS’s ComAbstracts database—from 1970–2020. Analysis of 22,300 articles from media-themed scholarly journals paints a portrait of scholarly publishing configurations across the domains of Journalism and Communication. Criterion articles were subjected to cluster analysis that yielded a comprehensive unified field portrait of interlinkages among topical pairings encompassing 58 topical categories. Results suggest that just 7 of our 37 criterion journal outlets date to the 1970s, 6 additional titles were launched in the 1980s, 10 more in the 1990s, and …

When Ballots Are Blank: Write-In’S Serving Local Government And The Implications For A Healthy And Vibrant Democracy, Thomas J. Ruter

School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations

Our democracy depends on having a supply of candidates running for elected office, but in some instances, no one wants to run. This phenomenological study asks what the effects on a healthy and vibrant democracy are if ballots are blank and the seat is filled through write-in or appointment. Rooted in democratic theory, this study explores small, rural city elections where write-ins won election. Understudied, local governments are responsible for decisions affecting the lives of millions of people each day. Workforce scarcity, the alienation of young Americans from politics, government bashing, nasty campaigns, threats of physical harm, and other barriers …

The State Of Women In The Media: Representation, Coverage And Framing Of Women In East African Media, Aga Khan University, Graduate School Of Media And Communications

Graduate School of Media and Communications

This research examined the representation of women in East African news media organisations and the coverage and framing of women in top East African newspapers, TV and digital platforms. The study is premised on existent literature on the intricate interplay between media framing, coverage dynamics, and the representation of women in newsrooms’ workforce, given the consequential role all these play in shaping public perceptions of gender issues and shifting norms. Through a comprehensive methodology that incorporated content analysis, document analysis and interviews on the responsibilities and assigned roles of women in media organisations, the research presents findings from a content …

The Cause And Effect Of Contemporary Science Communication, Dina Rathke

Comm-entary

No abstract provided.

Shame In A Digital Age, Gianna Anzalone

Comm-entary

This essay dives into the nature of mediated shame, analyzing its implications in various contexts and genres of media. Beginning with an analysis of shame as a disciplinary mechanism, the essay highlights how online platforms perpetuate societal norms through the perception and judgment of others. Drawing examples from reality television, it explores how shame is commodified for entertainment, often at the expense of vulnerable participants. Using shows like "The Biggest Loser" as a case study, the essay examines how media narratives exploit and amplify shame, leading to a spoiled identity. This essay also acknowledges the role of shame as a …

Aadej Comm 10 4 2024

AADEJ - The Communicator

The Communicator is the official journal of the American Association of Dental Editors and Journalists (AADEJ). It is published quarterly, distributed digitally via email to members, and posted on the Association's website, AADEJ.org. Each issue includes regular updates from the editorial team and AADEJ board, as well as feature articles on current issues in the field.

Designing Equitable Media Literacy Interventions For Critical Youth Agency, Bobby Foster, Paul Mihailidis, Patrick R. Johnson, Shannon Burth, Melissa Tully, Srividya Ramasubramanian, Emily Riewestahl

Journalism Faculty Publications and Presentations

In recent years, young people engaged in political discourse and civic action online. U.S.-based social movements centered on equity issues, such as Black Lives Matter, Dreamers, and March for Our Lives, engaged young people in shaping and publicizing the goals of these movements through digital platforms. Increasingly in communities at the margins, young Americans need digital and media literacy skills to supplement contentious education restrictions within the United States, as with many state bills curtailing the teaching of LGBTQIA+ histories and critical race theory. With these considerations in mind, our team conducted a national study of impactful media literacy in …

Doing The Impossible: Dealing With False Beliefs, Yuliya Filippovska

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Fighting false information, propaganda, open lies, rumors, misinformation, and disinformation by attacking it directly and challenging it is the dominant strategy for dealing with false beliefs (Lazer et al., 2018; Maseri et al., 2020; Van Bavel et al., 2021), and it is an important one. Refuting falsity is crucial. At the same time, there are instances when fighting false information does not work (Ardèvol-Abreu et al., 2020; McIntyre, 2018; Van Bavel et al., 2021). One of the reasons is that it denies another’s worldview, belief systems, and, as a result, their identity and even right to exist. Searching for alternative …

Between Wages And Wellbeing: Examining The Role Of Employers In Increasing Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake In The State Of West Virginia, Nathaniel Udoh Godwin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) stretched public health systems globally, with millions of cases confirmed across all continents of the world. The United States health systems struggled as the country grappled with emerging variants of the virus, differing levels of vaccine acceptance, misinformation, and disparity in health outcomes. As COVID-19 vaccines emerged, the U.S. Government sought to bolster uptake through myriad measures, including announcing vaccine requirements for federal employees, which was met with mixed reactions. Accordingly, some employers and businesses adopted a “no jab, no job” policy, while others stopped short of mandates but encouraged and incentivized vaccine uptake …