Communication Commons^™

Talking With Als Patients: An Exploratory Study Of Patient Attitudes Toward Mass Messages About Als, Kamden Kuhn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the attitudes and opinions of ALS patients toward mass messages about their condition. Six focus groups of ALS patient support groups viewed and responded to public relations messages, charity advertisements, and a news story. Results suggest that mass messages remind participants of the need for public ALS awareness. Participants also said they shared in the narratives and identify closely with the characters in the messages they viewed, and participants expressed concern with disease depictions. These concerns included a tension between positive and realistic portrayals, identification of message inaccuracies, and a desire for more specific disease information. The …

Usf's Coverage Of Women's Athletics: A Census Of The Usf Athletics Home Web Page, Laura Ann Lebeau

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the coverage of women’s athletics at USF provided through photographic representations on the university’s Athletics Internet home web page during the 2009–2010 academic year. Findings from this census of five areas that comprise the USF Athletics Internet home web page revealed that, consistent with recent research on coverage of female athletes and women’s athletics on university web pages, women, compared to men, were underrepresented in the majority of the five areas of the home page analyzed. The difference in the number of overall total photographs of women and men was not that large—48% and 52%, respectively, not …

The Construction Of Adversarial Growth In The Wake Of A Hurricane, Beverly Lynn Mcclay Borawski

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study employed a qualitative approach to explore the factors that contribute to positive change and growth following a natural disaster. The qualitative methodology included narrative interviews and family group interviews that were conducted with six families in Florida that had experienced two or three hurricanes within six weeks in 2004. Narrative analysis and thematic analysis were used to discover what factors contributed to participants experiencing positive growth.

Participants described the experience of surviving and coping with the hurricane. Participants reported that preparation before a hurricane was a three-part process that involved physical, mental, and emotional preparation. Four actions were …

Giving Meaning To Grief: The Role Of Rituals And Stories In Coping With Sudden Family Loss, Julia Janelle Barnhill

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, I seek to better understand the sensemaking process among surviving family members after a tragic loss of a teenage or young adult child. Using social constructionism (Gergen, 1991) as a theoretical framework, I focused on how meanings of loss are constructed through the use of language and other symbols. I specifically looked at the role of family stories and rituals in making sense of the sudden loss as well as how a survivor's role as a sibling or parent may impact the grieving process. The participants in my research were all members of families in which a …

Corporate Speech: A Frame Anaylsis Of Cnn, Msnbc, And Fox News Coverage Of Citizens United V. Fec, Emma Rachel Brown

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, and CBS portrayed the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision from the time of the decision, January 21, 2010 until the mid-term elections November 2, 2010. The broadcast transcripts were read for emergent frames to see how the stations framed coverage. The cable channels had the most coverage. MSNBC, ABC, NBC, and CBS framed the decision negatively, Fox News portrayed it positively, and CNN was neutral to negative in coverage.

A Focus Group Study Of Baby Boomers' Processing And Interpretations Of Fear Appeals In Health Care Reform Political Advertising, Allyson Dawn Calandro

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study describes the processing and interpretations of "Baby Boomers" in response to fear appeals from two health care reform political advertisements. Research suggests that scholars continue to disagree on the audience's interpretations of fear appeals, based on studies comparing different levels of fear, emotions, and interpretations by specific members of the population. However, little is known about how "Baby Boomers" interpret fear used in health care reform advertising. The method included six focus groups. Thematic analysis revealed five key themes: "Baby Boomers'" processing produced a range of emotions, they demand more facts, the fear expressed was fear …

The Hero Soldier: Portrayals Of Soldiers In War Films, Gavin Davie

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The mythos of the hero has existed within the stories of humanity for as long as we can remember. Within the last hundred years film has become one of the dominant storytelling media of our culture and numerous films, especially war films, about heroes and their inspirational actions have been made. This study focuses on war films and the hero soldiers and their actions portrayed in those films. It uses a narrative analysis of five war films to accomplish this. The findings suggest that the hero soldier has become more human and fallible over time and that heroes are a …

The Need For Foreign Correspondents: A Cost Benefit Analysis, Haley Petersen

Journalism

This paper includes an examination of the decline in foreign news coverage, the factors contributing to the decline, the implications of decreased coverage in a democratic society, the market for international news, and an explanation of various models of foreign correspondence in relation to the quality of work produced contrasted against the cost of production.

Jour 4120/6120: Reporting Public Issues (Syllabus), Candy Justice

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Analyzing and writing news reports about government, courts, energy, economy, taxes, education, environment, medicine and science; emphasis on relationship between current issues and public’s need to be informed; topics vital to large urban society.

Jour 4130/4330/4430/4630/7600: Internship (Syllabus), Lurene Kelley

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Work in practical assignments at local media under supervision of qualified practitioners.

Jour 4327: Media Planning (Syllabus), Sandra H. Utt

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Procedures for analyzing the advertising situation, writing advertising and media goals, and setting advertising appropriations. Use of a microcomputer program to develop and evaluate optimum advertising media schedules.

Jour 4420: Public Relations Case Study (Syllabus), Erin Willis

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Case studies and typical public relations problems; planning and preparation of communications materials for various media; application of public relations techniques.

Jour 4500/6500: Web Publishing I: Html/Css (Syllabus), Grant Smith

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Creation and development of journalism/mass media web sites; incorporation of target audience analysis and web usability; application of information products' conceptualization and layout.

Jour 4500/6500: Web Publishing I: Html/Css (Syllabus), Jin Yang

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Creation and development of journalism/mass media web sites; incorporation of target audience analysis and web usability; application of information products' conceptualization and layout.

Jour 4560/6560: Interactive News/Flash (Syllabus), Jin Yang

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Creation and development of interactive news story for web using Flash and its ActionScript; integrating writing, reporting, designing and presenting audio, video, slideshows elements in production of multimedia story.

Jour 4440: Public Relations Campaigns (Syllabus), Darrin M. Devault

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Application of theory, research data, and problem-solving techniques in the development of comprehensive public relations strategies.

Jour 4716/6716: History Of Mass Communication (Syllabus), Thomas J. Hrach

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Major events, stories, personalities, and issues shaping development of mass communication with special emphasis on the history of American journalism, from advent of printing to the age of the Internet.

Jour 4900/6900: Multimedia Mass Communication (Syllabus), Andrew A. Smith

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Using computers to learn process/software/production design concepts involved in multimedia primarily designed for computer communication; digital editing of still images, off-line video editing, animation and production techniques for assembling all into a single CD or video to convey advertising, public relations, or news editorial concepts.

Jour 4500/6500: Web Publishing I: Html/Css (Syllabus), Jin Yang

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Creation and development of journalism/mass media web sites; incorporation of target audience analysis and web usability; application of information products' conceptualization and layout.

Jour 4998: Multimedia News Lab (Syllabus), Lurene Kelley

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Applied skills in writing, videography, editing and studio work to present a multi-media product.

Jour 6708: Mass Media Ethics (Syllabus), Otis L. Sanford

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: In this course, you will learn how to analyze ethical dilemmas of media practice. First, you will learn elementary principles of moral philosophy. Second, you will apply those principles to professional decisions. Third, you will analyze ethical dilemmas faced by media professionals. In particular, you will analyze ethical dilemmas in gathering and disseminating news and practicing public relations and advertising. Objectives of this course include learning how to tolerate disagreement, increasing respect for ethnic and gender diversity, and developing sensitivity to the ethical dimensions of your professional practice.

Jour 4708/6708: Mass Media Professional Ethics (Syllabus), David Arant

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: In this course, you will learn how to analyze ethical dilemmas of media practice. First, you will learn elementary principles of moral philosophy. Second, you will apply those principles to professional decisions. Third, you will analyze ethical dilemmas faced by media professionals. In particular, you will analyze ethical dilemmas in gathering and disseminating news and practicing public relations and advertising. Objectives of this course include learning how to tolerate disagreement, increasing respect for ethnic and gender diversity, and developing sensitivity to the ethical dimensions of your professional practice.

Jour 4639: Television News Producing (Syllabus), Joe Hayden

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Producing, writing, editing and using electronic equipment to assemble a television newscast. Emphasis on performing the various tasks in a newsroom.

Jour 7000: Media Writing & Editing (Syllabus), Thomas J. Hrach

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Information gathering, writing, and editing skills necessary for any field within journalism and mass communication through lectures, discussions, and exercises that meld theory to technique; both laboratory writing and field assignments.

Jour 7000: Media Writing & Editing (Syllabus), Otis L. Sanford

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Information gathering, writing, and editing skills necessary for any field within journalism and mass communication through lectures, discussions, and exercises that meld theory to technique; both laboratory writing and field assignments.

Jour 4629: Television News Reporting (Syllabus), Lurene Kelley

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Gathering, writing and presentation of news for television. Students will shoot, write, edit, and voice packages for use in both the reporting and producing classes.

Jour 7015: Precision Language For Journalists (Syllabus), David Waters

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Designed to help students become more precise as well as versatile writers by diagnosing their writing, polishing their grammar and editing skills, and teaching them to write with clarity, cohesiveness, and conciseness.

Jour 7025: Law Of Mass Communication (Syllabus), Elinor Kelley Grusin

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: The study of laws and regulations affecting mass media with attention to the social and political forces that shape the law; exploration of First Amendment theories as well as the constitutional framework of the legal system; in-depth legal research in the student's selected area of interest.

Jour 7050/8050: Mass Communication Theories (Syllabus), Carrie Brown-Smith

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Key concepts and development of theories offered to explain operation and effects of mass communication media; multidiscipline overview of theories dealing with advertising, broadcasting, print, and public relations messages, media, and effects.

Jour 7075: Mass Communication Research Methods (Syllabus), Rick Fischer

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Familiarization with content analysis, survey research, data analysis, and field studies as practiced by reporters, editors, and public relations decision makers; modern research techniques and class project using computer analysis.