Communication Commons^™

Fandom And Activism: Experimenting With Memetic Communication Appeals About Human Rights Issues During The 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Alicia Mason, Elizabeth Spencer, Tricia Combs, Tanner Glenn, Brooklyn Peterson, Isaac Lewis, Emerson Tice

Faculty Submissions

In the sports context, activism is a popular focus of inquiry. In fact, scholars have posited that sports present an ideal platform for human rights and political activism and protest (Agyemang, Singer, & DeLorme, 2010; Coombs & Cassilo, 2017; Kaufman & Wolff, 2010). This study aims to analyze the persuasiveness of memetic communication in the global sports context by investigating the influence of exposure to social advocacy memes on issue importance and general attitudes toward global human rights. This experiment relied on MTurk participants in an online experiment using Qualtrics software hosted by the Communication Research Lab at a Midwest …

College Athletes As Endorsers: A Study Of Nil Advertising, Zach Johnson

Master's Theses

The objective of this study is to determine how effective the newly enforced NIL deals among college athletes are in terms of social media advertising. With the rise of social media and the amount of people using social media daily, it is imperative for advertisers to understand various ways of promoting brands on social media. A 2x2x2 mixed experimental design was used to investigate the effects of college athletes-sponsored Instagram posts among college students, specifically source relevance, product relevance, and message authenticity. Findings suggested positive effects of using college athletes as sponsors. Source relevance, product relevance, and message authenticity played …

The Crusading Days Of Jackie Stewart: Evaluating The Development Of Safety In Motor Racing During The 1960s., Alex Twitchen

Journal of Motorsport Culture & History

This article critically evaluates the contribution of Jackie Stewart in making motor racing a safer sport for competitors. It challenges the validity of the popular assumption that Jackie Stewart by himself developed a ‘culture of safety’ that transformed the sport. Instead, the role of other individuals are identified alongside the importance of three social processes. These processes are identified as the changing balance of power between different masculine identities, the development of commercial sponsorship and a growth in the coverage of the sport on television.

The development of motor racing from the 1960s onwards as a safer sport in which …

Book Review- Racing With Rich Energy: How A Rogue Sponsor Took Formula One For A Ride., James Miller

Journal of Motorsport Culture & History

No abstract provided.

Book Review: I Was A Nascar Redneck: Recollections Of The Transformation Of A Yankee Farm Boy To A Southern Redneck In The Golden Era Of Nascar And Beyond., Quinn Beekwilder, Daniel Dean

Journal of Motorsport Culture & History

No abstract provided.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald: Our Changing Hill, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period September 5 - October 4, 2023.

• Anderson, Alexandria. Letter from the Editor – Change
• Dobberstein, Molly: The Hill Going Forward: Campus Changes & Improvements
• Anderson, Alexandria. WKU Innovation Campus Rethinks Business Development
• Reed, Bailey. New Courses on the Hill – Child Welfare, Mock Trail, Disability in US
• Murray, Debra. I Feel Really Lucky – Katherine Lennard
• Stone, Damon. Photojournalism Program to Change Curriculum

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

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU men's basketball team from August to December 2023.

Ua19/16/2 Women's Basketball Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU women's basketball team from August to December 2023.

Ua12/2/2 Talisman: Dimension, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Fall 2023 Talisman:

• Johnson, Katelyn . Flora & Fauna - Biology
• Pollard, Evynn. Inked Imagination
• Booth, Pandora. Sowing Grace - Mothers
• Murray, Debra. Shapes of Beauty
• Bivens, Emily. The Life Lesson
• Figures of Fall
• Meyers, Jeffrey. Level Up - eGames
• Walsh, Aidan. Unsung Heroes
• Sandlin, Ellie. Place to Be - Habitat for Humanity, Hotel, Inc.
• Youngers, Joel. An Endless Starry Sky
• Muscutt, Carson. True Colors - Queen Venus Knight
• Drury, Faith. Innovative Mind - Concrete Canoe, Steel Bridge
• Ousley, Rachael. One Man's Treasure - Matt Tullis
• Haines, Lily. Chuck Close
• Thompson, Sarah. En Pointe
• Hunt, Janie. Open Your Eyes
• Halstead, …

Ua3/10 President's Messages - Fall Semester, Wku President's Office - Caboni

WKU Administration Documents

President's Message emails sent by Timothy Caboni to faculty & staff during fall semester, 2023.

• Cheryl Stevens
• Enrollment / Recruitment
• Fall Semester Preview
• Homecoming
• National Philanthropy Day
• Parent & Family Weekend
• Presidential Speaker Series
• Regional Campuses
• Semester Kickoff
• Semester Review
• Summer Review

Research Project Poster Presentation: Cultural Normalization Of Risk?: Exploring Brain Injury In The National Football League Using Sociocultural Analysis, Ali V. Willing, Jafra D. Thomas

Kinesiology and Public Health

Background. This presentation began as an undergraduate end-of-term course project focused on sport, media, and American popular culture (April to June 2023). The poster presentation was originally presented at the 2023 annual conference of the Southwest Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (SWACSM), following peer-review acceptance of the project summary statement (i.e. abstract) for conference presentation.

Purpose. The presentation is published here to Cal Poly Digital Commons as a resource to future students and professionals studying topics covered in the presentation (e.g. sociological theories, cultural values and risks, sports ethic).

Resources. This webpage has several resources described below. …

A Guide For The Everyday Woman Surfer: How Surf Culture's Patriarchy Marginalizes Ocean Lovers, Alexis S. Di Stefano

Women's, Gender and Queer Studies

Humans are naturally drawn to the water by wind and tide. It is a place of solace that we have a desire to know deeply, yet we have kept one another from experiencing it through biases that perpetuate inequality. White-supremacist hegemony has historically kept communities of color from coastlines, women from lineups, and queer communities from participating in surf culture. As more people from all social groups return to the water through surfing in the 20th century, surf culture needs to adapt to become more inclusive. This paper outlines surf culture's historical transition into whiteness and how female beauty standards …

Professional Athletes Tell All: Communication Techniques To Assist In A Successful Podcast, Wilnir Louis

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

An increasing number of athletes are utilizing various mediums to communicate to fans. A rising medium that athletes are adopting is podcasting. While there are studies that discuss the benefits of podcasting, there is limited research that provides individuals, specifically athletes, with the proper knowledge on how to effectively communicate on a podcast platform. This project investigates what athletes can do to make their podcasts engaging for viewers and listeners. A case study was conducted that included textual and content analysis of the top episodes of two successful athlete-driven podcasts. Findings from the research guided the creation of a visual …

Du Undergraduate Showcase: Research, Scholarship, And Creative Works, Caitlyn Aldersea, Justin Bravo, Sam Allen, Anna Block, Connor Block, Emma Buechler, Maria De Los Angeles Bustillos, Arianna Carlson, William Christensen, Olivia Kachulis, Noah Craver, Kate Dillon, Muskan Fatima, Angel Fernandes, Emma Finch, Colleen Cassidy, Amy Fishman, Andrea Francis, Stacia Fritz, Simran Gill, Emma Gries, Rylie Hansen, Shannon Powers, Jacqueline Martinez, Zachary Harker, Ashley Hasty, Mykaela Tanino-Springsteen, Kathleen Hopps, Adelaide Kerenick, Colin Kleckner, Ci Koehring, Elijah Kruger, Braden Krumholz, Maddie Leake, Lyneé Alves, Seraphina Loukas, Yatzari Lozano Vazquez, Haley Maki, Emily Martinez, Sierra Mckinney, Audrey Mitchell, Kipling Newman, Audrey Ng, Megan Lucyshyn, Andrew Nguyen, Stevie Ostman, Casandra Pearson, Alexandra Penney, Julia Gielczynski, Tyler Ball, Anna Rini, Christina Rorres, Simon Ruland, Helayna Schafer, Emma Sellers, Sarah Schuller, Claire Shaver, Kevin Summers, Isabella Shaw, Madison Sinar, Claudia Pena, Apshara Siwakoti, Carter Sorensen, Madi Sousa, Anna Sparling, Alexandra Revier, Brandon Thierry, Dylan Tyree, Maggie Williams, Lauren Wols

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

DU Undergraduate Showcase: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Works

Watching Sports Online: Evaluating The Viewing Motivations Of Sports Streaming Service Users, Jordan Dove

LSU Master's Theses

With millions of viewers tuning in to sporting events each year, there are many different motivations to analyze as to why there are such a large amount of people involved. More recently, sports streaming services have become a second option for viewers to watch sporting events, creating even more popularity for the sports market. New highs of streaming viewers have been seen with each passing year, as new media continues to take over old traditional media like network television. In 2022, for instance, streaming service viewership surpassed cable tv and broadcasts (Nielsen, 2022), creating a turning of the tide. Many …

Ua12/2/2 Talisman: Surreal Issue No. 14, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Spring 2023 Talisman:

• Broekema, Gabi. Surrealism
• Hunter, Leah. Surreal
• Cox, Samantha. Surrealism
• Plescia, Audrey. Horoscopes
• Booth, Pandora. Dreamscapes
• Ousley, Rachael. Body & Soul – Yoga, Susan Tutino
• Coles, Jack. Tool for the Future – Artificial Intelligence
• Sandlin, Ellie. Altered Minds – Drug Experimentation
• Neidlinger, Heather. Little Dipper
• White, Peyton. Pure Adrenaline – Rodeo, Skateboarding, Boxing, Rock Climbing
• Plescia, Audrey. The Hill is Haunted
• Richer, Cailyn. Threads of Expression – Fashion
• Jefferson, Reginald. Momentum
• Bruck, Lasikka. At Death’s Door – Yenni Gonzalez, Zoe Avery, Hannah Smith
• Meyers, Jeffrey. Voice in Movement – Theatre & Dance, National Dance Education Association
• Surreal Playlist

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

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU men's basketball team from January to July 2023.

Ua19/16/2 Women's Basketball Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU women's basketball team from January to July 2023.

Ua3/10 President's Messages - Spring Semester, Wku President's Office - Caboni

WKU Administration Documents

• President's Message emails sent by Timothy Caboni to faculty & staff during spring semester, 2023.
• Commencement
• Curriculum
• Gordon Ford College of Business
• Innovation Campus
• Semester Kickoff
• Semester Review
• Spring Break
• Strategic Plan – Climbing to Greater Heights
• Student Retention / Recruitment

Ua12/2/1 Let's Talk About Sex, Vol. 98, No. 5, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

College Heights Heraldmagazine regarding sex and students.

• Murray, Debra. Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby
• Murray, Debra. This is Definitely Changing Sex
• Anderson, Alexandria. This is the Best Place to Start – Sexual Health
• Stephens, Grace. It’s Okay to Be Sexy
• St. Clair, Molly. The Impact of Title IX on Intercollegiate Athletics

The University Look: How Sun Belt Conference Athletic Officials View Their Standing In The Collegiate Sports World, Jake Williamson

Student Theses and Dissertations

It is a beautiful Saturday morning in October. You wake up and turn on your television to ESPN. It’s football season, and you have on your team’s gear, knowing that kickoff is just a couple hours away. As you begin to search for your team’s channel, you discover that your team won’t be airing on television today. Your team has been off to a great start, and today’s game might push you into the Associated Poll (AP) top 25 rankings. You then go to the team’s official website to figure out what channel is airing their game. The website says …

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

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU football team in 2023.

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

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and match statistics for WKU tennis team in 2023.

Ua19/16/2 Track & Field Press Releases, Wku Athletic Media Relations

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and match statistics for WKU track & field team in 2023.

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

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and statistics for WKU golf teams in 2023.

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

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU softball team in 2023.

Ua35/3 Memoranda, Wku Provost

WKU Administration Documents

2023 memoranda issued by the WKU Provost to faculty & staff via email.

• Provost's Message
• First Gen Initiative Success
• Congratulations to Our University Distinguished Professor & University Faculty Award Recipients
• Associate Provost for Research & Graduate Education Transition
• October 13th Guest Speaker James Lang

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

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases and game statistics for WKU soccer team in 2023.

Mental Health In Sports Media, Samuel Ridgley

Communication & Media Studies | Senior Theses

This paper looks at the increasingly popular conversation surrounding mental health in sports. It provides a glimpse into how common the struggle of mental health can be for many high-level athletes while also examining the narrative and expectations that society and the media have created. The paper also provides examples of prominent athletes from a variety of different sports and delves into their personal mental health experiences in the eyes of the media. The goal of this paper is to show the progression and change of how the media portrays mental health amongst athletes in today’s ever-changing world.

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

WKU Administration Documents

Press releases regarding general activities of the WKU Athletics Department for 2023.