Mass Communication Commons^™

News Media Coverage Of Measure Ula: How The Story Of La’S Big Project To Address Homelessness And Affordable Housing Got Sidetracked By The Story Of Big Real Estate, Christopher R. Martin

Faculty Publications

“Measure ULA,” named after United to House LA, was approved by voters in Los Angeles in 2022 to create a dedicated, long-term funding source for solutions to homelessness in LA, including funding the construction of affordable homes and preventing homelessness by helping tenants stay in their homes. The funding would come from a new tax on the most expensive real estate transactions in L.A. (i.e., mansion tax), and would affect fewer than 4% of all property transactions. At the end of three years of local news coverage about Measure ULA from the Los Angeles Times and LAist, the news audience …

Reporting The Unverifiable: Ethical Journalism And Disinformation About North Korea, Alexandra M. Pasto

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Journalists face significant challenges reporting on North Korean information due to restricted access, state-controlled media, and pervasive amounts of disinformation. This study includes a qualitative content analysis of journalistic practices and existing academic frameworks related to verification and reporting in highly restricted information ecosystems. The findings suggest and recommend that competitive media pressures often encourage the circulation of sensational or unverified claims, particularly in coverage of highly controlled media states like North Korea. In response, this argues that journalists must adopt a verification-centered approach to reporting that prioritizes accuracy, minimizes sensationalism, and clearly communicates uncertainty. This research highlights the growing …

The Sensationalizing Of Presidential Assassinations In Mass Media Throughout American History, Lindsay E. Smith

Undergraduate Theses

This project explores how mass media has shaped the public response to presidential assassinations across American history. By examining the deaths of Abraham Lincoln (1865), James A. Garfield (1881), William McKinley (1901), and John F. Kennedy (1963), we can trace how evolving media technologies – such as newspapers, yellow journalism, radio broadcasts, and live television coverage – have sensationalized violence, politicized tragedy, and transformed periods of national mourning into mass spectacles. The thesis analyzes reporting methods, narrative framing, and the news industry to show how each has influenced emotional response, political landscapes, and eventual presidential legacy. Ultimately, we find that …

Refugees In Egypt: State Framing, Ministerial Narratives, And The Politics Of Representation On Social Media, Habiba Kohail

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines Egyptian government discourse on refugees in 2024, a year characterized by heightened regional displacement and the enactment of Egypt’s first Asylum Law (Law No. 164 of

2024). Using a multidisciplinary framework that combines framing analysis with van Dijk's socio-cognitive approach, the study systemically analyzes how the government construct refugees on social

media and sets the boundaries of their inclusion in Egypt.

The thesis analyzes the Egyptian government discourse on refugees across official social media platforms from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, a period that witnessed an increase in the government engagement in the refugee issue …

Peeling The Onion: A Study Of Audience Reactions To Anti-Classism Satire, Charisse Corsbie-Massay, Martina Santia, Luvell Anderson

Media Studies - All Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Digital Diplomacy And Activism: Sustaining Institutional Legacy Through State-Proxy Discursive Competition In The Aftermath Of The Usaid 2025 Suspension, Maryam Alaa Elprince

Capstone and Graduation Projects

This study examines how the 2025 suspension of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) transformed the arena of U.S. foreign-aid diplomacy by eliminating the agency’s operational capacity and erasing its digital presence, thereby redistributing discursive authority across a fragmented communicative field. The research aims to determine how diplomacy adapts when a bilateral institution central to American soft power is dismantled through top-down decision, and whether discursive power exercised online can extend institutional relevance and legitimacy beyond structural collapse. Using an interpretivist qualitative design that combines digital-forensic reconstruction, document-based content analysis, and elite interviews  with top ranking officials, the …

Communication Monographs Fall 2025 Newsletter, Shannon Burth, Srividya Ramasubramanian

CODE^SHIFT Research

No abstract provided.

Call For Editor, Volumes 39-41 (2027-2029), Angela M. Hosek

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Call For Manuscripts For Volume 38, Angela M. Hosek, Elina Nikolskaya

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Forum Response — Beyond Gatekeeping: Narratives And Infrastructures For Inclusive Foundational Courses, Sergio Fernando Juárez, Ana Isabel Terminel Iberri

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Reimagining The Basic Course: Integrating Asian And African Storytelling Traditions In Public Speaking Pedagogy, Dious Joseph

Basic Communication Course Annual

Public speaking courses often reflect Eurocentric rhetorical traditions, focusing on argumentation, logic, and individual presentation styles. This essay proposes a redesign of public speaking curriculum by incorporating storytelling traditions from Asian and African cultures. These traditions emphasize communal narratives, moral lessons, and audience engagement through relatable stories, offering a richer, more inclusive approach. The essay contrasts the communal and narrative-focused traditions of Asian and African storytelling with Western argumentation and rhetoric. It advocates for integrating these storytelling techniques into public speaking courses to make them more representative of global perspectives, benefiting both international and domestic students. Such integration would prevent …

Is Seeing Believing? Comparing Students’ Mediated Social Learning About Public Speaking Anxiety Using Audio-Only Or Audio-Visual Instruction, Peter B. Gregg

Basic Communication Course Annual

This study examines how mediated instruction affects public speaking anxiety (PSA), self-efficacy, and motivation. Grounded in social cognitive and multimedia learning theories, 137 students viewed or listened to a brief lecture on PSA control. Results showed significant improvements in self-efficacy, reduced PSA, and increased motivation, with no significant differences between audio-only and audio-video formats. These findings suggest that audio-only instruction can be as effective as video-based content, offering an accessible alternative for diverse learners. The study highlights the value of brief, mediated interventions for improving public speaking outcomes in both traditional and online learning environments.

Reimagining "Public Speaking" Projects: A Creative And Inclusive Experience, R. Brandon Anderson, Jennifer A. Butler

Basic Communication Course Annual

This article advocates for an inclusive approach to public speaking instruction by incorporating Universal Design for Learning (UDL). We describe an alternative assignment—“Telling Your Story”—that emphasizes narrative and multimodal expression through a gallery walk format. Designed to support neurodivergent students while benefiting all learners, the assignment reframes traditional speech models and offers a flexible, creative way to enhance public speaking skills. We argue that inclusive design should be viewed as pedagogical best practice, not merely accommodation.

Basic Course Forum Introduction, Angela M. Hosek

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

From Public Speaking To Multimodal Communication: A Reevaluation Of The Basic Communication Course, Stephanie Medden, Brian Myers, Kristin Roberts-Raymond, Maik Stanitzke

Basic Communication Course Annual

This article contributes to ongoing discussions regarding the evolution of the basic communication course. The authors detail the multi-year process of redesigning their institution's basic communication course, now centered on multimodal communication, and share insights from its implementation. Emphasizing the need to respond to increased cultural and linguistic diversity, a high prevalence of speaking anxiety, and the need to development multimodal communication competencies, the course redesign underscores the necessity for communication educators to adapt proactively to changing cultural, educational, and professional landscapes. Drawing from data collected through faculty and student surveys and focus groups, the authors highlight how incorporating linguistic …

Editor's Page, Angela M. Hosek

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Cover And Front Matter, Volume 37

Basic Communication Course Annual

Cover, editorial board, table of contents

Communication Monographs Spring 2025 Newsletter, Shannon Burth, Srivi Ramasubramanian

CODE^SHIFT Research

No abstract provided.

Advertising To Children: A Content Analysis Of Ryan's World, Cora Denny

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Ryan’s World is a children's toy review YouTube channel with over 36 million followers and features kid YouTuber Ryan Kaji. A qualitative content analysis of the YouTube channel Ryan’s World was conducted to observe the rhetorical strategies the videos employ to sell Ryan’s World products, as well as how those strategies compare to traditional advertising. An analysis of twelve videos resulted in dominant themes of increasing brand familiarity and product performance of Ryan’s World products. These were accomplished through the use of traditional advertising rhetorical strategies such as product placement, special effects, appeals, and more. The study shows that the …

When 'Weird' Means 'Dangerous': Viruses And Firewalls In Affective Polarization, Nathan J. Locke

All Theses

As traditional sources of epistemic authority face declining trust, alternative narratives have gained prominence - often leveraging the emotional and cultural resonance of seemingly simple terms. In the 2024 election cycle, the term “weird” emerged as a potent meme in American political discourse. Using a memetic perspective that incorporates elements of framing theory and Social Judgment Theory, this thesis investigates the use and reaction to “weird” and its role in shaping perception of Donald Trump, his political allies, his followers, and his opposition during and immediately after the 2024 Presidential election. The memetic perspective, which views ideas as units of …

Cripistemology And Creative Practice: Disability, Aesthetics, Digital Art, Generative Ai, Talan Memmott Phd

CLASP Lecture Series

Dr. Memmott’s presentation will showcase “Introducing Lary”—an ongoing AI project that explores the re-invention of the self following life-changing cancer surgery and treatment. This talk profiles the artist’s experience with a laryngeal cancer diagnosis and the medical interventions that follow. Utilizing a variety of AI platforms for both video and image production along with journal entries and medical reports as text prompts, the resulting work is a set of distinctive media that range, in Dr. Memmott’s words, “from the mythic to the horrific; the historical to the speculative.” Though at times the resulting media may emphasize the emergent body horror …

Resilience And Reality: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Qualitative Study., Ahmed F. Alanazi

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study investigated the lived experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. The research examined the intersection of health, social dynamics, and psychological resilience among PLWH, who faced compounded vulnerabilities due to systemic inequities and the dual public health crises of HIV and COVID-19. Through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from diverse backgrounds, the study captured the profound impacts of disrupted healthcare systems, heightened stigma, and social isolation on this marginalized population. The findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities …

The Media Framing Of India’S Nuclear Weapons Discourse, Sitakanta Mishra, Hely Desai

International Journal of Nuclear Security

The Indian media has had an immense role in framing public perceptions of nuclear weapons within the Indian subcontinent. Examining the largely nationalistic tone of news coverage helps analyze how the media has shaped India’s idea of its status as a nuclear weapon state. Examining the sociocultural discourse around the bomb, this paper analyzes the major influence that the Indian media has in information distribution and how that influence translates to the formation of the atomic attitudes of the masses. In situating the Indian media’s approach to nuclear weapons at large, this work studied the framing of domestic nuclear weapons …

Digital Orthodoxy And Political Populism In Eastern Europe: How Orthodox Media Facilitate Political Mobilization, Dmytro Garaschuk, Oleh Sokolovskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the intersection of Orthodox digital media and political populism in Eastern Europe, focusing on how religious institutions utilize digital platforms to facilitate political mobilization, reinforce nationalistic narratives, and undermine democratic institutions. Drawing on a comparative analysis of six countries–Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Georgia, and Montenegro–the study identifies a shared ideological matrix that fuses populist rhetoric with theological motifs. The research highlights the strategic use of digital media by Orthodox actors to construct moral binaries, sacralize political resistance, and disseminate disinformation framed in religious language. Particular attention is given to the role of the Russian Orthodox Church and …

Exploring The Shadows: How Taylor Swift's Music Embodies Dark Sound As A Popular Music Artist, Kristyn E. Cole

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

To challenge the conceptual matter of “dark sound”, this major research paper centers around the popular music artist, Taylor Swift to demonstrate an overarching feminist wisdom in an alternative style of music to identify how Taylor Swift presents and embodies qualities of “dark sound”. Research done by D. Ferrett, Theodor Adorno, Roland Barthes and Paul C. Jasen are used to examine her popular music, and its intersections and influence on our culture and society. Using multimodal critical discourse analysis, this research paper discusses three of Swift’s songs; “willow” (evermore, 2020) for her sound, All Too Well: The Short …

Communication Monographs Fall 2024 Newsletter, Shannon Burth, Srividya Ramasubramanian

CODE^SHIFT Research

No abstract provided.

Do #Blm At The Plantation: A Study Of Plantation Tourism After The Racial Reckoning Of 2020, Denetria N. Lee

LSU Master's Theses

Following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, the widespread public protest of racial injustice created a groundswell that prompted corporate and media responses, so much so that by the end of the summer of 2020, it seemed as if "Black Lives Mattered" everywhere and to everyone. Public response incentivized subsequent corporate response in financial pledges and other commitments to racial justice initiatives until 2020, which became known as the year that America confronted racism or the racial reckoning of 2020. While the public demanded acknowledgment of the many forms of contemporary racial …

Recuperative Rhetorics: A Novel Framework For Rhetorical Analysis, Nicolas Palumbo

Masters Theses (Archived)

This thesis details the creation of the Recuperative Rhetorics analytical framework, which is a scalable, transdisciplinary framework for analyzing rhetorical texts, from individual speeches to societal understandings of legacy and history. It discusses the framework’s theoretical underpinnings, explains how to utilize it in analyzing rhetoric and rhetorical works, and provides examples of the framework in action across multiple mediums. The framework takes inspiration from the theories and praxes of Situationist International, primarily those of the spectacle, ready-made objects, détournement, and recuperation. The framework uses these ideas, and then builds upon more established analytical frameworks to establish a base from which …

Communication Monographs Summer 2024 Newsletter, Martina Santia, Srividya Ramasubramanian

CODE^SHIFT Research

No abstract provided.

Ai And Advocacy: Maximizing Potential, Minimizing Risk, Matthew Salzano, Nicholas Fung, Ada Lin, Sofia Marchetta, Faith Colombo, Kaylah Davis, John Flynn, Carlos Fuentes, Fion Li, Malar Paavi Muthukumaran, Angelica Paramoshin, Chrisanne Pearce, Vianney Ramos, Charles St. Hilaire, Xi Zheng, Wei Zhuang

School of Communication and Journalism Faculty Publications

New Generative AI tools are revolutionizing writing and communication. This report focuses on AI and advocacy, the act of influencing public policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions. This report identifies three major opportunities and accompanying risks, plus one strong recommendation for advocates considering using AI. We argue that AI can be useful for advocates, but they must be careful to center human judgment and avoid risks that could distract from their important work or even contribute to societal harms.