Communication Commons^™

How Spokesperson Rank And Selected Media Channels Impact Perceptions In Crisis Communication, Jieun Lee, Sora Kim, Emma K. Wertz

Faculty Articles

This study examined the impact of spokesperson’s rank and selected media channels in crisis communication by employing different ranks (i.e., CEO and communication director spokespersons) and media channels (blogs, websites, and newspapers). Findings indicated that CEO spokespersons were more effective in terms of lowering publics’ crisis responsibility attributions than communication director spokespersons and that blogs were more effective in lowering crisis responsibility attributions than websites and newspapers.

Winona Currents Annual Report 2014, University Advancement - Winona State University

Winona Currents

This magazine published by Winona State University’s University Advancement was intended to inform WSU Alumni, students, faculty, staff and the greater community about Alumni and the university. Winona Currents Annual Report for 2014.

The Future Will Require Learning How To Exist In A Multicultural Society, Vanessa Lopez-Littleton

UCF Forum

Why should I have to tell my sons to respect the police?

The Year, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

As years go 2014 was an interesting one in sportsworld. Some might characterize it as depressing while others may look back on it as exhilarating. Whatever the case may be we know that at some point in the future we will look back on the year 2014 with nostalgia and/or perhaps a year of pivotal change. Maybe even historic, whatever that means.

The Meaning And Relevance Of Video Game Literacy, Jeroen Bourgonjon

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

In his article "The Meaning and Relevance of Video Game Literacy" Jeroen Bourgonjon argues that video gaming deserves scholarly attention as a social practice and a site for meaning-making and learning. Based on an overview of contemporary trends in literacy and cultural studies, he argues that video games cannot be approached like traditional text forms. He contends that video games serve as an important frame of reference for young people and call for informed decision making in the context of culture, education, and policy. Bourgonjon provides an integrated perspective on video game literacy by employing theoretical insights about their distinctive …

Gender Matters: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Media Coverage And Images Of Female Politicians, Katherine Virginia Ross

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The representation of women in media, specifically the way in which political women are represented in news coverage, can have a significant impact on how consumers view political women. This study analyzed the online newspaper articles and images of two women who are active in politics, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton. While there are many women in the political arena, these two are perhaps the most well-known. This study is grounded in the theory of framing, and also applies Tuchman’s (1978) theory of symbolic annihilation. This study used coding, image analysis, and critical discourse analysis to attempt to uncover gendered …

Introduction

Cultural Encounters, Conflicts, and Resolutions

No abstract provided.

Latino Catholicism And Indigenous Heritage As A Subfield Of Latino Studies: A Critical Evaluation Of New Approaches, Elizabeth C. Martinez Ph.D.

Cultural Encounters, Conflicts, and Resolutions

Posed through critical theory on "third-space," and a brief history of Latin American Studies, this article pursues analysis of recent interdisciplinary scholarship in English, to delineate the emergence of a new subfield in Latina/o Catholicism, connected to greater understanding of Indigenous legacy. The article also demonstrates the path of study toward creation of a themed academic issue.

Religiosity In Constitutions And The Status Of Minority Rights, Brandy G. Robinson

Cultural Encounters, Conflicts, and Resolutions

Minority rights and religion have never been topics that are simultaneously considered. However, arguably, the two have relevance, especially when combined with the topic and theory of constitutionalism. Historically and traditionally, minorities have been granted certain rights and have been denied certain rights under various constitutions. These grants and denials relate to cultural differences and values, arguably relating to a culture’s understanding and interpretation of religion.

This article explores the relationship and status of minority rights as it relates to religiosity and constitutionalism. Essentially, there is a correlation between these topics and research shows where certain nations have used religion …

Immigrant Social-Economic Landscape Changes And Ethno-Racial Border Formation In Columbus, Ohio, David M. Walker Dr., Jack Schemenauer

Cultural Encounters, Conflicts, and Resolutions

In this study we analyze new immigrant gateways in the U.S. and the role African and Latino immigrants play in reinventing urban spaces while culturally and economically regenerating neighborhoods juxtaposed to orthodox city planning practices. Through this research we aim to further understand how urban space is produced at divergent scales in the era of heightened globalization. Through this understanding we analyze how the contestation over how urban space is used and consumed leads to distinctive forms in the production of urban space and the subsequent unintended formation of newly perceived cultural borders, often based upon race and ethnicity. Through …

The Representations Of Arab-Muslims Through The Language Lens, Abed El-Rahman Tayyara

Cultural Encounters, Conflicts, and Resolutions

The article examines the use of Arabic as a sociolinguistic marker in American films that were released around the time of the events of 9/11/01 and investigates the extent to which stereotypical factors have been continuing in the same vein as in the past. Specifically, this study is a textual analysis of the application of Arabic in five recent films: Three Kings (dir. David O. Russell, 1999), Hidalgo (dir. Joe Johnston, 2004), Kingdom of Heaven (dir. Ridley Scott, 2005), Syriana (dir. Stephen Gaghan, 2005), and Body of Lies (dir. Ridley Scott, 2008). The article demonstrates that …

Table Of Contents

Cultural Encounters, Conflicts, and Resolutions

No abstract provided.

Cultural Concept: Is Silence Golden?, Jessica Mico-Wentworth

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This research examined how some of the graduate students and instructors from a small western university interpreted the meaning of online silence and how this concept affected their overall online academic experience. This thesis used an organizational ethnographic study in which the graduate students and instructors formed subcultures in the overall online graduate program. The Cultural Approach to Organizations was used as the theoretical basis to discover the meanings attributed to this topic from the perspective of the members of this community. Previous research of this topic primarily focused on comparing online educational classes to face-to-face classrooms. These perspectives focused …

Blurring Group Boundaries: The Impact Of Subgroup Threats On Global Citizenship, Stephen Reysen, Iva Katzarska-Miller, Phia S. Salter, Caroline Hirko

Cultural Encounters, Conflicts, and Resolutions

We examined the outcomes of an extinction threat (possible discontinuation of a group’s symbolic or actual existence) to one’s nation on global citizenship identification and related prosocial values. In Study 1, participants showed a drop in global citizenship identification when America was threatened (vs. absence of threat). In Study 2, participants reported lower global citizenship identification when America was threatened (vs. absence of threat) and the perception that one’s normative environment did not support a global citizen identity mediated the relationship between threat and identification. Furthermore, the threat was shown to indirectly predict lower endorsement for prosocial values and behaviors …

School Choice As Means Of Social Change, Derryce Howzell

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Parents and politicians have debated the topic of school choice for more than 20 years. The argument has changed slightly while also allowing more options to families. Rather than require students to be subject to de facto segregation, school choice offers the opportunity for students to interact with a more diverse population of students. As students interact with other students of diverse background they develop a better understanding of the world. Research suggests these students are also more likely to attend higher education and ultimately upgrade their socio-economic class. These interactions coupled with access to greater resources allow minority students …

Effective And Ethical Sales Communication For Pharmaceutical Representatives, John Paul Recinto

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

There are so many different communication styles utilized by pharmaceutical sales representatives. This thesis handles the quandary of whether those communication styles are not only effective among the interactions with medical providers, but whether those effective means of communicating are embedded with ethical communication as well. The theory of symbolic interactionism and the philosophical basis of persuasive speech expound on the methodology pharmaceutical sales representatives implement with the people he or she encounters. Medical providers also need to perceive that their encounters with pharmaceutical sales representatives are congruently effective and ethical interactions, which is revealed by qualitative research methods in …

Much Of Society's Unrest Caused By Barrage Of Negative Stereotypes In Films, Anthony Major

UCF Forum

Everybody has a perception about what the image of art should say – or not say – but few have an informed opinion. The power of the communicative arts transcends the mere power to inform. That power is used in film, television, newspapers, radio, art, magazines, music, theatre and the new social media network as a means of influencing and shaping attitudes by providing images and opinions.

Exploring The Efficacy Of Speech-Act Theory In Biblical Literature, Emory David Dively

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Celebrities In Popular Culture: How Their Use Of Social Media Contributes To Their Success, Caleb Lamont

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

It is amazing to see the potential impacts social media can have on an individual. If used effectively, social media can transform the way ordinary people live into instant celebrity status. If individuals with talent are not media literate and do not have the knowledge to use the Internet and use social media platforms to showcase their abilities for the world to see, their talent could be going to waste. Social media allows media literate individuals to connect with the world and satisfy any needs or desires that they may have.

Digital Democratic Voices: Intersecting Student Research, Twitter, And Presidential Debates, Adam W. Tyma

Communication Faculty Publications

Courses: Mass Communication and Public Opinion, Political Communication

Objectives: Often, there are media events (e.g., local and national elections, the Super Bowl) that match up with what we hope to accomplish in a particular class. The purpose of this semester-length project for students was threefold: (1) to read and comprehend literature related to communication studies, media, and political strategy; (2) to collect and analyze data; and (3) to participate in civic engagement by taking part in Presidential DebateWatch events, both as an audience member and through the use of Twitter.

Website Blocked: Filtering Technology In Schools And School Libraries, Jennifer M. Overaa

School of Information Student Research Journal

This paper investigates the impact of filtering software in K-12 schools and school libraries. The Children's Internet Protection Act, or CIPA, requires that public schools and school libraries use filtering technology in order to receive discounted rates on technology. As a result, nearly all public elementary and secondary schools today use filtering technology. While the provisions of CIPA narrowly define the content to be blocked, filters are often set to block much more than is required. Filtering technology is often ineffective, and many unobjectionable sites end up being blocked, including Web 2.0 sites and tools needed to educate students in …

Research Brief: "The Potential For Health-Related Uses Of Mobile Phones And Internet With Homeless Veterans: Results From A Multisite Survey", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the use of mobile phones among homeless veterans for medical appointment reminders, and other health services provided by healthcare practitioners. In policy and practice, social workers and counselors should determine whether mobile communication would benefit homeless veterans with whom they work and should identify certain barriers to mobile communication that could exist; the VA should expand its mobile notification efforts and look for programs that reduce barriers to regular access to mobile communication. Suggestions for future research include expanding the sample of homeless veterans to include those who are living on the streets or in a …

Bowling, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

Every few years I like to take inventory of the Bowl Games. Each football season concludes with these loss leaders for intercollegiate football teams. Almost without exception teams who have been honored with an invitation to a bowl game will lose money with the cost of bowling exceeding the payouts for bowlers. The theory is that the exposure is worth more than real budgetary dollars.

Understanding Bystander Behavior In Cyberbullying Encounters: An Application Of Bystander Apathy Theory, Jodie M. Bowers

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Cyberbullying consequences are increasingly turning tragic with the victims committing suicide. Cyberbullying is carried out through computer mediated communication and due to public nature of social media platforms, it is natural to believe any number of individuals are witnessing any and all acts of communication. This becomes especially problematic during cyberbullying encounters because the victim is vulnerable to hurtful communication from anyone who views the attack. The victim is also subject to humiliation because of sharing capabilities that computer mediated communication provides. However, it has been proven that bullies will typically back down in face-to-face situations if a witness intervenes, …

Increasing Women's Body Satisfaction Through Dialogue, Suzanne Michelle Burdick

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This qualitative study investigated how and to what extent dialogue can serve to increase women’s sense of satisfaction with their bodies. It is based on Martin Buber’s philosophy of “being” versus “seeming” in dialogue. Its theoretical basis consists of Cognitive Dissonance Theory, Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory, and Dialogism. For the research, two sessions of the Body Project’s Body Acceptance Class, a small-group discussion-based eating disorder prevention program, were facilitated. Participants were surveyed before and after to assess their levels of body satisfaction. Participant observations and intensive interviews were conducted to explore if, how, and to what extent participation in …

The Rhetorical Goddess: A Feminist Perspective On Women In Magic, Laura C. Bruns, Joseph Zompetti

Faculty Publications - Communications

Although female magicians have existed since the rise of entertainment magic, women have faced difficulty in entering the “fraternity” of the magic community. As an art form largely based around persuasion, it is useful to study the performance of magic as a text. It is additionally useful to study female magicians within this context of rhetoric. Not only will examining the rhetoric of female magicians provide insights on the rhetoric of women in this unique arena, but also of women in a historically gendered and underrepresented field. Research into this area may disclose other details regarding the communicative differences between …

No Longer Can We Keep Our Eyes Closed To Human Trafficking All Around Us, Richard Lapchick

UCF Forum

You may have read in early December that 61 people were arrested across Florida in a four-day human-trafficking sting operation. If you haven’t followed the dramatic increase in stories about human trafficking in the United States, this news may have caught you by surprise.

The Actual Cost Of Cell Phones, Kelsey Engelhardt

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Actual Cost of Cell Phones

Style Shifting In First-Encounter Conversations Between Japanese Speakers, Kenichi Shinkuma

Dissertations and Theses

This study examines style shift between formal and informal styles in first- encounter conversations between Japanese native speakers and demonstrates how the speakers shifted the speech style in the context. Many researchers have studied this type of style shift and demonstrated that style shifts occur within a single speech context where social factors, such as differences in age, status, and formalness remain constant (e.g., Cook, 2008; Geyer, 2008; Ikuta, 1983; Maynard, 1991; Okamoto, 1999). This study contributed support to these previous studies. In this study, both quantitative and qualitative analyses focusing on Japanese native speakers' use of style shifting in …

Transferential Poetics, From Poe To Warhol, Adam Frank

Literature

Transferential Poetics presents a method for bringing theories of affect to the study of poetics. Informed by the thinking of Silvan Tomkins, Melanie Klein, and Wilfred Bion, it offers new interpretations of the poetics of four major American artists: Edgar Allan Poe, Henry James, Gertrude Stein, and Andy Warhol. The author emphasizes the close, reflexive attention each of these artists pays to the transfer of feeling between text and reader, or composition and audience— their transferential poetics. The book’s historical route from Poe to Warhol culminates in television, a technology and cultural form that makes affect distinctly available to perception. …