Digital Commons Network^™

Shutdown Creates Widespread Uncertainty, Mary-Esther Leblanc, The Rattler

The Rattler

Vol. 144 Iss. 4

Hayley Williams, New Musical Era With “Ego At A Bachelorette Party”, Isabella Pizzerrato, The Rattler

The Rattler

Vol. 144 Iss. 3

Using The Diary–Interview Method With Time-Constrained Professionals: The Case Of Journalists And Harassment, Ilmari Hiltunen, Reeta Pöyhtäri, Kaarina Nikunen

The Qualitative Report

This article presents a methodological reflection on the diary–interview method’s value and application when used with professionals whose schedules are both demanding and unpredictable, drawing on the authors’ insights from a study examining the harassment and intimidation of journalists. Our experiences demonstrate that combining solicited diary entries with recurring interviews can yield substantial advantages over using either method alone. Diaries are particularly well suited to capturing rich, situated data and individual perspectives, adding distinctive value especially when exploring sensitive or personal issues. Interviews that probe these accounts and revisit incidents in greater depth, in turn, enhance understanding of participants’ emotions, …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 8, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Just City And Racialized Media: How A Non-Profit Provokes Policy And Fights Criminal Injustices, Isabella L. Wollfarth

LSU Master's Theses

This study explored the intersection of racialized media narratives, nonprofits, and penal policy through a case study of Just City, a nonprofit criminal justice organization located in Shelby County, Tennessee. Through the lens of Just City, this study explored how nonprofits resist racialized media narratives regarding crime and how in turn this contributes to penal policy reforms. This is accomplished using a thematic analysis to draw larger conclusions from coding Just City’s Instagram and through extensive interviews with Just City staff and local Shelby County and Tennessee politicians. These methods are guided by framing theory, an ideological framework that explains …

From "Come Talk", The Rattler

The Rattler

Vol. 114, Iss. 2

Generation Z'S Rising Interest In "Grandma" Hobbies, Isabella Pizzoferrato, The Rattler

The Rattler

Vol. 114, Iss. 2

The Rattler (Volume 114, Issue 1), Rosa M. Deyo, The Rattler

The Rattler

The Rattler

Using The Misinformation Exposure-Trust Framework For Audience Segmentation: Predicting Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among U.S., Jing Zeng, Jinxu Li, Nan Yu, Xi Cui, Anli Xiao Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

This study examines whether individuals’ exposure to and trust in COVID-19 vaccine misinformation can be used to segment audiences and explain variations in vaccine hesitancy and health beliefs. Using k-means clustering, a survey of 819 U.S. college students (March–May 2021) identifies four subgroups based on combinations of high or low misinformation exposure and trust: misinformation-shielded (low exposure, low trust), misinformation-vulnerable (low exposure, high trust), misinformation-resistant (high exposure, low trust), and misinformation-accepting (high exposure, high trust). These subgroups differ significantly in political ideology, vaccine hesitancy, and health beliefs. The misinformation-shielded subgroup reports more liberal views, lower hesitancy, and higher perceived efficacy, …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 7, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Why We Must Commune: Rethinking The Role Of Marketing Communications In Turbulent Times, Javier Garcia

Publications and Research

“Communications” is often thought of as a noun, representing the messages we receive on a daily basis from people, brands, and institutions alike. 

"Communications" is also often associated with an industry that exists to produce such messaging in service of capitalism, with a commercial or otherwise actionable outcome desired from its receiving audience. 

This presentation, hosted by two-time CCNY graduate and senior marketing communications professional and Assistant Professor Javier Garcia, will examine the urgency and opportunity in rethinking the value and study of marketing and communications. 

In his presentation, Professor Garcia will offer suggestions on how to guide students towards …

The Disproportionate Impact Of Hiv On Young Women In Durban: Exploring Gendered Vulnerabilities And Socioeconomic Barriers, Adrian A. Nolasco

Capstone Collection

South Africa has a high rate of HIV, with young women in Durban especially affected due to social, economic, and cultural challenges. This study looks at the experiences of young women living with HIV and the views of healthcare professionals caring for them in KwaZulu-Natal. Using a qualitative, phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five women and three medical professionals to explore how HIV affects their lives, the challenges they face, and how they cope.

The findings show that both structural and personal barriers make it hard for young women to stick to treatment. Long waits at clinics, limited …

The Normal Gem, November 1889, Vol. Ii, No. 2, Florence State Normal School

Documents

Two pages of the November 1889 edition of The Normal Gem newspaper.

The Normal Gem: A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Interest of Education in Alabama existed as one of the University of North Alabama’s earliest student news publications. The publication derives its name from the university’s designation as the Florence State Normal School, the first state-supported teachers' college south of the Ohio River, which existed from 1872 through 1928 until the name was once again changed to Florence State College. The newspapers within the collection feature reflections on student life and education from October of 1889 through November of …

The Normal Gem, N.D., 1889, Florence State Normal School

Documents

Four pages of an unknown month in 1889 edition of The Normal Gem newspaper.

The Normal Gem: A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Interest of Education in Alabama existed as one of the University of North Alabama’s earliest student news publications. The publication derives its name from the university’s designation as the Florence State Normal School, the first state-supported teachers' college south of the Ohio River, which existed from 1872 through 1928 until the name was once again changed to Florence State College. The newspapers within the collection feature reflections on student life and education from October of 1889 through …

The Normal Gem, November 1891, Vol. Iv, No. 2, Florence State Normal School

Documents

Four pages of the November 1891 edition of The Normal Gem newspaper.

The Normal Gem: A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Interest of Education in Alabama existed as one of the University of North Alabama’s earliest student news publications. The publication derives its name from the university’s designation as the Florence State Normal School, the first state-supported teachers' college south of the Ohio River, which existed from 1872 through 1928 until the name was once again changed to Florence State College. The newspapers within the collection feature reflections on student life and education from October of 1889 through November of …

The Normal Gem, December 1889, Vol. Ii, No.3, Florence State Normal School

Documents

Four pages of the December 1889 edition of The Normal Gem newspaper.

The Normal Gem: A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Interest of Education in Alabama existed as one of the University of North Alabama’s earliest student news publications. The publication derives its name from the university’s designation as the Florence State Normal School, the first state-supported teachers' college south of the Ohio River, which existed from 1872 through 1928 until the name was once again changed to Florence State College. The newspapers within the collection feature reflections on student life and education from October of 1889 through November of …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 6, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 13 - February 5, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 13 - February 5, 2026. 20 pages.

The Role Of Mass Media In Reportig Natural Disastersn: A Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis Of Gunther-Kress Photojournalism Of The Great Eastern Japan Disaster In The Yomiuri Shinbun Daily 11-13 March 2011, Moh Gandhi Amanullah, Faruk Faruk, Budi Irawanto

International Review of Humanities Studies

This article examines the role of the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shinbun in covering the great East Japan disaster on March 11-13, 2011. This study uses a quantitative and qualitative approach, with content analysis methods and Gunther-Kress multimodal critical discourse analysis methods on 98 photos published by the newspaper. The results show that the newspaper published a special edition twice, with photos that did not show photos of the deceased victims, creating a distance between the reader and the subject. Most of the photos were taken from a distance, indicating a lack of interaction and showing that the victims did not …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 12 - January 29, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 12 - January 29, 2026. 16 pages.

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 11 - January 22, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 11 - January 22, 2026. 20 pages.

Framing Addiction In The Age Of Vaping: A Journalism-Focused Reporting Toolkit, Jessica L. Riley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This project addresses a critical gap in journalism practice: the lack of accessible, evidence-based guidance for reporting on addiction. Particularly as it relates to nicotine, tobacco and vaping. Journalists play a key role in shaping public understanding of substance use, yet existing resources often focus on opioids, lack specificity, or fail to keep pace with rapidly evolving nicotine products and scientific research. As a result, reporters may struggle with inconsistent terminology, unclear risk communication and the potential for unintentionally stigmatizing language.

Grounded in media effects theory, health communication and stigma research, this project examines how journalistic language and framing influence …

Community Resilience Drives Change, Andrew Thomas Solt

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The opioid crisis has impacted many Americans. From 1999 to 2023, approximately 800,000 people have died due to opioid overdose (CDC, 2025). What began as overprescriptions of painkillers has quickly evolved into a complex social health issue that is now further worsened by stronger synthetic drugs like fentanyl. Fentanyl and fentanyl analogs (synthetic opioids that are very similar chemically to fentanyl) are often found in illegal drug supplies and in counterfeit pills (CDC, 2025). Thus, individuals who might have been initially overprescribed painkillers might now be pushed towards illegally produced drugs that are significantly more potent than what they were …

Covering The Coast: Local News Frames And Journalist Perspectives On Sea Level Rise In Rhode Island, Mackensie Dupont Crowley

Open Access Master's Theses

Local news outlets are well positioned to communicate and localize sea level rise for communities facing significant risk, yet coverage of the issue remains understudied. This thesis examines coverage of sea level rise in local Rhode Island news and the factors shaping it. A mixed-methods approach was used following the collection of nearly 1,000 articles published between 2014 and 2024, including a content analysis of issue-level frames and semi-structured interviews with local journalists to contextualize coverage patterns. The analysis revealed that stories focusing on infrastructure and property, politics, governance, and law, and natural hazards dominated coverage, while stories about recreation …

Provoking Generative Ai Futures: Merging Theory And Praxis, Regina M. Luttrell Ph.D., Nick Bowman

Media Studies - All Scholarship

An accessible exploration of the myriad applications and challenges of generative AI for media and communication students, scholars, and practitioners alike.

The latest emergence of increasingly low-cost and scalable AI technologies presents a point of both celebration and concern for the contemporary media and information ecosystem. To this end, this edited volume gathers media and communications scholars and practitioners to engage in discussions and exchange ideas about current trends and developments in the field. Questions this volume asks include: What are the essentials of generative AI from a media and communication perspective? How has generative AI influenced research and scholarship? …

The Role Of Media Literacy In Shaping Campus Student Leaders’ Perceptions Of Media Activism, Online Risks, And Social Support, Srivi Ramasubramanian, Minnie Mcmillian, Shumaila Bhatti, Shannon Burth, Julius Matthew Riles, Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz, Melody Wilson

Media Studies - All Scholarship

Campus activism by student leaders has historically played a significant role in social movements. Within contemporary contexts, media is an important site through which campus student leaders raise awareness, share relevant information, distribute online petitions, and shape public discourses on various social issues. Media literacy is an essential skill for student leaders to be effective in their activist initiatives and be able to cope with the inevitable pushback through trolling and cyberbullying that such activism would likely bring up. This survey (N = 855) with college student leaders across three universities explores how they rate themselves on media literacy skills, …

Addressing Algorithmic Bias In Ai Journalism: A Toolkit For More Equitable Coverage Of Marginalized Communitie, Sierra Monet Worden

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This project addresses a critical gap in journalism reporting concerning the use of artificial intelligence (AI) when covering stories on marginalized communities. Partially as it relates to the bias that exists in artificial intelligence algorithms, and the lack of training that exists for the implementation of these tools. Journalists play a crucial role in providing accurate and fair information on marginalized communities, yet the implementation of AI presents a set of all new challenges and allows opportunities for more bias to make its way into news coverage. Existing resources for reporting focus more on ethics and less on how to …

After Decades Of Service, Immigrant Caregivers Leave Under Threat Of Deportation, Jonathan Calixto, Gabriela Flores

Capstones

This capstone features an undocumented nanny named Sandra Robles, who left the United States in response to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts. Her story reflects the experiences of several undocumented immigrants who fear encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its aggressive removal proceedings.

Robles is one of over 200,000 foreign-born domestic workers living in New York City. This article also covers the labor and immigration challenges she and other undocumented nannies face while working in the United States.

More Nyc Households To Qualify For Energy Efficiency Upgrades Under Tweaked State Program, Elise Robley

Capstones

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's EmPower+ program aims to provide low- and moderate-income households with energy-efficient upgrades. These upgrades help lower people's energy costs, especially how much it costs to heat and cool their homes. Starting this year, more low-income households in New York City will be eligible to apply for the program's benefits. This piece looks at this history of the EmPower+ program, why it's so beneficial to low- and moderate-income New Yorkers, and the potential positive impact the program's tweaks could have on local communities of color that might be dealing with high energy …

For 600,000 New Yorkers, Toxins Are In Their Tap Water: A New York Focus Analysis Of State Inspection Data Shows Key Toxins Are In Public Water Systems From Long Island To The Adirondacks, Posing Risks For Cancers And Other Diseases. Millions Are Being Spent To Fix Problems, But Even Well-Planned Efforts Have Faced Delays. Poorer Towns Wonder If They Can Afford To Fix The Problem., Shuchi Shah, Hayden Betts, Aurora Martinez, Rebecca Mccray

Capstones

The story stems from an analysis of New York State data on drinking water contaminants. The state inspection data shows key toxins are in public water systems from Long Island to the Adirondacks, posing risks for cancers and other diseases. Millions are being spent to fix problems, but even well-planned efforts have faced delays. Poorer towns wonder if they can afford to fix the problem.