Communication Commons^™

Maturity As A Way Forward For Improving Organizations’ Communication Evaluation And Measurement Practices: A Definition And Concept Explication, Nathan Gilkerson, Rebecca Swenson, Fraser Likely

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an explication of the concept of “maturity,” as it applies to communication evaluation and measurement (E&M) practice, along with contextualization of recent maturity model adoption within academic and professional communities.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from previous work on maturity models within other fields, recent communication scholarship and industry practice, this paper fills a gap in the literature by offering a theoretical conceptualization of communication E&M maturity, including the construct’s core dimensions and sub-dimensions.

Findings

Communication E&M maturity is conceptualized into four essential elements: holistic approach, investment, alignment and culture. The contribution of E&M …

Integrating Mindfulness Into Ethics Teaching, Practice And Research, Kati Tusinski Berg

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Advocating For Media Law & Policy Education, Erik Ugland

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Side Effects Of Self-Referential Discussion: The Impact And Interaction Of Deductive And Inductive Routes Of Identity, Chandler Macswain

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Studies of group communication and group identity rest on two competing theoretical concepts of the group, one that prioritizes examining the relationships between members and one that examines the group as a gestalt construct. For live groups, it is not always clear which style, individual or gestalt, is most appropriate or provides more insight into any specific group because groups’ identities and communication behaviors are sometimes explicable by both theoretical concepts. This occurs because in real-world groups the formation process typically involves an amalgamation of both influences. In other words, live groups form identities built around both members’ individual traits …

Neutral Reportage Privilege: The Libel Defense Needed In A Struggling Democracy, Christina Mazzeo

Master's Theses (2009 -)

This study aimed to understand the U.S. courts reasoning for either accepting or rejecting the neutral reportage privilege, a libel defense that protects individuals who republish defamatory statements for a newsworthy purpose. A systematic analysis of federal and state court cases regarding the privilege was performed to determine how the courts view neutral reportage and what their rationales were for their decisions. The analysis showed the courts' unnecessary reliance on Supreme Court precedent and an inconsistent application of the privilege. This paper offers a proposal for how the courts, journalists, other citizens, and social media platforms should view and utilize …

Sensemaking And Identity In Complementary Alternative Medicine: Communication Study On Reiki, Caroline Reese

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) is rising in popularity, in particular, the practice of Reiki. While there is substantial research that focuses on the medical benefits of Reiki, little work has been done that addresses what Reiki means to participants and how it impacts an individual's sense of self. This study seeks to fill that void. To explore this, I argue that Reiki practice should be viewed through a communication lens that draws from theories of identity and sensemaking. Results show that identity is not seen as an individualistic concept but rather as a social process that shifts to a more …

Faculty And Staff Members' Awareness Of Inclusive Policies At Higher Educational Institutions, Reece Harty

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The identity of a person has many different layers from sexual orientation to race, morals and values, to even gender. As times progress, many individuals are finding that their identities are not easily defined and that their gender cannot be categorized into the current boxes that society has. This forces many to struggle with discerning who they really are and where they fit into societal structures. As more people explain how one may not subscribe to all of the gender expectations of the one identity, some have decided to identify as non-binary. Non-binary means that a person does not identify …

A Content Analysis Of Caregiver's Computer-Mediated Communication On Loneliness, Meaghan Kaupe

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Loneliness is a mental health epidemic that affects all generations, genders, and cultures. Loneliness is an emotional and social state that requires social interaction to alleviate the symptoms, but meaningful social interaction can be hard to find. Lonely people are stigmatized, which can inhibit self-disclosure, and other stigmatized conditions (e.g., AIDS, depression) can add more barriers in self-disclosure. Communication technologies (e.g., social media, online forums) are positioned to connect remote, isolated people, by providing space for like-minded people to connect. One such group that is vulnerable to loneliness is family caregivers. Due to the inordinate amount of time and energy …

Fair Or Foul: Analysis Of 2017 Baseball Hall Of Fame Voting, Michael Dane Peppers

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Professional baseball writers play the main role in deciding if former Major League Baseball players will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. This time-honored tradition has become more complex now that several players from the “Steroids Era” have become eligible for consideration. This issue has divided writers and baseball fans across the country. In the end, the Hall of Fame offers subjective rules for writers to follow, leaving them to figure it out for themselves and in many ways the entire nation. This study sought to determine how baseball writers legitimized their voting decisions for Barry Bonds and Roger …

Social Media And Forecasting Stock Price Change, Joseph Coelho, Dawson D'Almeida, Scott Coyne, Nathan Gilkerson, Katelyn Mills, Praveen Madiraju

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

The Stock Market is a big influence on both national and international economies. Stock prices are driven by a number of factors: industry performance, company news and performance, investor confidence, micro and macro economic factors like employment rates, wage rates, etc. Stock pricing trends can be gauged from the factors that drive it as well as from the stock's historical performance. As fluctuations in stock prices become more volatile and unpredictable, forecasting models help reduce some of the randomness involved in investing and financial decision making. Users on social media platforms like twitter, StockTwits, and eToro discuss issues related to …

The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same: When Innovation Meets Resistance, Eric D. Waters

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

"Longstanding, Systemic Weaknesses": Hillary Clinton's Emails, Foia's Defects And Affirmative Disclosure, A.Jay Wagner

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

The Hillary Clinton email fiasco demonstrated alarming failures in the procedures of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); derelictions in archive integrity and adequacy of search that an internal report identified as “longstanding, systemic weaknesses” in the FOIA. These procedural gaps pose dire consequences for the future of the FOIA, where requesters query incomplete archives and agencies intentionally desert their search obligations. The abandonment of these duties necessitates that the federal government look toward new mechanisms for access to government records and adopt strong affirmative disclosure principles. There has been little scholarship on the twin failures of archive integrity and …

Expanding Media Law And Policy Education: Confronting Power, Defining Freedom, Awakening Participation, Erik Ugland

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

The changes brought about by the Digital Age have not triggered significant increases in political participation or meaningful reductions in longstanding social power asymmetries, which are now increasingly negotiated in policy contexts that involve mass media (surveillance, big data, net neutrality). At the same time, new technology and communication patterns have opened fissures in public opinion about the limits of free expression while also creating new legal risks for citizen-communicators. This article suggests that universities need to recalibrate their curricula to meet the exigencies of this moment, which should include an increased emphasis on media law and policy courses and …

Take Me Out To The Facebook Page, James Pokrywczynski

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

This analysis examines why fans would visit a professional baseball team’s Facebook page. The broader objective is to understand motivations for using communication channels in social media. Given the popularity of Facebook[A1] , with over 2 billion active monthly users starting in 2017 according to Statista¹, insights from use of this communication channel should provide an important understanding of how digital and social media channels work. The results support a proposed model for understanding fans’ interactions with a sports team’s Facebook page. Team identification related positively with the value fans put on relevant outcomes from visiting the …

Information Seeking Among Women Aged 18 To 25 About The Risk Of Sexual Aggression, James Pokrywczynski, Robert J. Griffin Ph.D., Gregory J. Calhoun

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

Many researchers have studied risk factors related to sexual violence, and few studies have explored what differences account for the various ways women seek information about sexual violence. This study accomplishes this by applying part of the Risk Information Seeking and Processing (RISP) model to sexual aggression among young females (18-25 years). The results from a national survey of females show that negative affect (worry and anger combined) showed a direct positive effect on risk information seeking. Also, binge drinking does not make women feel much more at risk from sexual assault. Some differences exist between women in school and …

Does Your Pr Course Syllabus Excite, Intrigue, And Motivate Students To Learn? Syllabus Designs And Student Impressions Of The Pr Course And The Course Instructor, Daradirek Ekachai, Young Kim

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study is to examine how a format of a syllabus influences student motivation and engagement in a public relations course and students’ impression of the course and course instructor. This study conducted focus group interviews and a lab experiment with undergraduate student at a large university in the Midwestern United States to examine how a format—design or length—of a PR course syllabus can affect student motivation, engagement, and impression of the course and course instructor. Results from the two focus group interviews were mixed, but students’ preferences were geared toward the long version of the visually …

Black Masculinities And The Media: An Interview With Filmmaker And Activist Byron Hurt, Kevin D. Thomas

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

In this interview, Byron Hurt reflects on his career and how he has become a prominent activist, speaker, filmmaker, and writer about media's roles in shaping Black identities and culture, especially constructions of Black masculinity. In addition to detailing his career trajectory, Hurt discusses many important topics: his inspiration to make films, the power of filmmaking to make cultural change, the filmmaker's place within a documentary, changing notions of Black masculinity, the constraints advertising and media place on Black men and boys to define their manhood, Black men's assertion of power over Black women, intersectionality, digital media's possibilities for more …

Mapping The Road To Maturity: Characteristics Of Leading Research, Evaluation & Measurement Programs, Rebecca Swenson, Michael Ziviani, Nathan Gilkerson

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Visible/Invisible: Female Astronauts And Technology In Star Trek: Discovery And National Geographic’S Mars, Amanda R. Keeler

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

This article examines the newest television programme in the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Discovery (2017–) and National Geographic’s part-documentary, part-fictional series Mars (2016–). I argue that Discovery and Mars make visible the depiction of developing technology and a breadth and depth of female astronaut characters, two elements that have been historically marginalised in sf narratives such as Star Trek: The Original Series (1966–9). Discovery and Mars both emphasise the purposeful centrality of female characters and their positions of authority as female astronauts and ship leaders. Each programme also foregrounds the representation and framing of technology, emphasising the not-yet-perfect science …

“Dear Editor: Can You Tell Me What Happened To My Favorite Nbc Program, Dimension X?”, Amanda R. Keeler

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

Over the course of its seventeen-month run in 1950 and 1951, the science fiction anthology radio program Dimension X served as a showcase for many new and established science fiction writers. Dimension X was among several adult science fiction and fantasy shows that debuted on radio in the late 1940s and early 1950s, alongside CBS’s Escape and Mutual’s 2000 Plus. While many listeners celebrated these programs, NBC received letters detailing concerns over the subject matter of three episodes. In addition to providing insight into the reception of Dimension X, the responses from NBC personnel are equally informative. This …

Radio Research As Critical Archival Studies: Cross-Sector Collaboration And The Sound Record, Amanda R. Keeler, Josh Shepperd

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

Radio studies occupies an unusual position within film and media studies. As Journal of Radio & Audio Media Editor, Anne MacLennan (2016) has noted, the area is often recognized as a euphemism for media history. It’s a small sub-discipline that has already been legitimated, yet at the same time has difficulty maintaining visibility within broader media studies discourses. Fewer graduate programs are supporting radio or media history research, with notable exceptions, leading to fewer media historians rising to replace a previous generation that has recently retired. But the work continues and has undergone several recent changes. Radio studies often receives …

Women Creatives And Machismo In Mexican Advertising: Challenging Barriers To Success, Marta Mensa Torra, Jean M. Grow

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

This study explores the experiences of women working as creatives in Mexican advertising creative departments. It is based on 22 in-depth interviews and suggests that these women face significant challenges within the machismo culture, which permeates Mexican advertising creative departments. Mexico plays an important role in global advertising, particularly in Latin America, but in this country female workers only represent five per cent of those working in creative departments. This is the first study focused on Mexican women creatives in advertising, highlighting the confluence of advertising women creatives and Mexican culture. Analysis reveals ten subcategories which articulate the horizontal and …

Introduction To The Special Issue: Increasing Space For Families On The Margins, Lynn H. Turner

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

The Lands’ End Content Marketing Debacle: A Cautionary Tale Of A Retailer’S Inadvertent Foray Into Polarized Politics, Nathan Gilkerson

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

In February 2016, the clothing retailer Lands’ End found itself at the center of a public relations crisis linked to its decision to feature an interview with women’s rights activist Gloria Steinem on the company’s website and in its catalog. As part of a new “Legends Series” of interviews, the profile described Steinem as “The woman who paved the way.” Although the piece didn’t directly reference Steinem’s support for abortion rights, many customers took to social media to express anger at Lands’ End for choosing to feature Steinem. Facebook and Twitter posts accused Lands’ End of glorifying “a pro-abortion feminist” …

Work-Life Balance 2.0? An Examination Of Social Media Management Practice And Agency Employee Coping Strategies In A 24/7 Social World, Nathan Gilkerson, Betsy Anderson, Rebecca Swenson

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

This study examines the work experiences of public relations agency professionals who specialize in social media and digital strategy for clients and those who manage employees tasked with monitoring, updating and responding to social media content. Building upon existing literature focused on work-life balance dynamics for strategic communicators, the research draws from a series of in-depth interviews and correspondence conducted with 26 agency professionals, representing a brand range of the industry. Participants were asked to describe how social media has impacted the nature and volume of their job responsibilities over the past five years, and to discuss how social media …

Insights From Industry Leaders: A Maturity Model For Strengthening Communication Measurement And Evaluation, Rebecca Swenson, Nathan Gilkerson, Fraser Likely, Forrest W. Anderson, Michael Ziviani

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

Much scholarship has been devoted to identifying barriers that prevent the advancement of communication measurement and evaluation. This research focuses on the characteristics, objectives, and practices of chief communication officers (CCOs) with successful measurement and evaluation programs. Three key dimensions of practice emerged from in-depth interviews: communication executives’ measurement practices and evaluation programs were used to adjust communication strategies; were aligned with other business units; and were integrated with business priority plans. Interviewees also focused on the ability of communication measurement practices and evaluation programs to provide insights for executives, to align communication with the work of other business units, …

Crowdfunding And Non-Profit Charities: Crafting Legitimate Profiles, Ashley Krysik

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Crowdfunding has revolutionized non-profit charity fundraising strategies. The development of web-based, crowdfunding platforms has increased direct communication and transparency between non-profit charities and potential donors. The non-profit fundraising marketplace is highly competitive; therefore, organizations must demonstrate their legitimacy in order to raise and maximize fundraising dollars. In order to determine how organizations build legitimacy on crowdfunding platforms, a rhetorical analysis was conducted on 18 donor request profiles from Globalgiving.com, the largest web-based crowdfunding platform for non-profit charities. Non-profit charities soliciting donors through crowdfunding platforms focus their rhetorical strategy on building three legitimacy claims: cause, organization and platform.

The Rhetorical Antecedents To Vietnam, 1945-1965, Gregory R. Olson, George N. Dionisopoulos, Steven R. Goldzwig

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

The Ethics Of Artificial Intelligence: Superintelligence, Life 3.0 And Robot Rights, Kati Tusinski Berg

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

The Highest Form Of Like: Snapchat, College Students And Hyperpersonal Communication, Timothy L. Cigelske

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The purpose of this study explores how college students engaged with others on Snapchat and how that differed from other Social Networking Sites (SNS). Social Information Process (SIP) Theory was applied as a framework for understanding the effects of time-limited (disappearing) messages and extended conversations that can lead to “hyperpersonal” communication, a form of Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) that surpasses the level of affection and emotion of Face to Face (FtF) interaction. In a series of focus groups, college students explained how they used Snapchat and other SNS and the effects it had on interpersonal communication. The participants described emotional …