Journalism Studies Commons^™

Mitigating Identity-Related Anxiety Through Humor And Immersive Storytelling With 360-Degree Video In Virtual Reality: A Study On Microaggressions’ Mental Health Effects, Changmin Yan, Alan Eno, Adam Wagler

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Faculty Publications

Background: Microaggressions are subtle slights that can cause significant psychological distress among marginalized groups. Few studies have explored interventions that might mitigate these effects. Objective: This study aimed to investigate if and how humor-infused immersive storytelling via virtual reality (VR) could reduce identity-related psychological distress caused by microaggressions. Methods: Using a community-based participatory research approach, we developed a 7-min 360-degree VR film depicting scenarios of microaggressions across various identities. Fortysix college students participated in a controlled study where they were exposed to this immersive VR experience. We measured identity-related psychological anxiety, character identification, perceived humor, and perceived …

Police Identity And The Role Of Media In A Contemporary Society: A Look At The Personal And Professional Effect On Law Enforcement, Nedra Lachelle Jones

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Abstract This research study examined the impact of media on law enforcement and the secondary impact of this media on the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. In addition, the study examined whether those perceptions influence police and community interactions and/or behaviors on the daily basis. This study describes the perceptions of police officers both professionally and personally as it relates to media coverage and the changing of their normal police tactics. The specific events that were focused on in this study included the shooting of Michael Brown by police in Ferguson, Missouri in August of 2014, …

Shaping Of News Values And Frames During War: A Content Analysis Of Israeli And Palestinian Short-Form Video, Madison K. Remrey

Master's Theses

This research looks at the use of short-form video as it pertains to wartime journalism. Specifically, Instagram reels posted by both Palestinian and Israeli journalists are assessed for news values (victim, perpetrator, horse race) and news frames (straight news, conjecture, human interest). Much research has been done on news reporting and even news reporting particularly as it pertains to war. However, with recent growth of short-form video and the use of such to report on war, the landscape of digital warfare is changing. This research aims to assess how short-form video is used to report on Israel and Palestine, two …

Understanding Older People’S Voice Interactions With Smart Voice Assistants: A New Modified Rule-Based Natural Language Processing Model With Human Input, Zhengxu Yan, Victoria Dube, Judith Heselton, Kate Johnson, Changmin Yan, Valerie Jones, Julie Blaskewicz Boron, Marcia Shade

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has expedited the integration of Smart Voice Assistants (SVA) among older people. The qualitative data derived from user commands on SVA is pivotal for elucidating the engagement patterns of older individuals with such systems. However, the sheer volume of user-generated voice interaction data presents a formidable challenge for manual coding. Compounding this issue, age-related cognitive decline and alterations in speech patterns further complicate the interpretation of older users’ SVA voice interactions. Conventional dictionary-based textual analysis tools, which count word frequencies, are inadequate in capturing the evolving and communicative essence of these interactions that unfold over a series …

Researching Emotional Experiences As Discursive Elements – A Suggested Qualitative Method, Magnus Danielson

The Qualitative Report

As scholars in the fields of political science, media research, and social psychology endeavor to understand crucial aspects of emotionality in the media, there is a growing need to methodologically address the communicative and discursive aspects of affective constructions in media texts. This article argues that by breaking down mediated emotional experiences represented through language in a set of identifiable elements, such as subject, emotion type, valence, intensity, proposed action, and object, those experiences could be used as workable and potent units of analysis when studying discursive and ideological media constructs of emotionality. By connecting insights from emotion science, the …

Health Infographics: An Examination Of Breastfeeding Infographics From The World Health Organization, Naadiyahtu Iddrisu

Communication ETDs

This thesis employed a qualitative thematic analysis and the representational, interpersonal, and compositional functions of visual analysis approaches to examine the World Health Organization breastfeeding infographics published between 2019–2023 through the lens of two health promotion models: the Enabling Environment for Breastfeeding Model, and the Social and Ecological Model. A total of 59 infographics were analyzed. The findings revealed that breastfeeding infographics have called for creating an enabling environment that supports breastfeeding by emphasizing breastfeeding as a shared or collective responsibility. Again, mothers were the main target audience of breastfeeding infographics. Also, the use of multiple racial colors - White, …

Into The Wild: A Journey Paddling The Lower Mississippi River With Quapaw Canoe Company, Sarah Caroline Crall

Honors Theses

Humanity’s profound relationship with water is undeniable. From our reliance on it for sustenance and transportation to the recreation it provides, water is a fundamental aspect of our existence. Yet, in our contemporary era, we find ourselves increasingly disconnected from this life-giving source that shapes us and our surroundings. The Mississippi River stands as a prime example of this detachment. Often overlooked as a lifeless river, nothing more than the backdrop to our daily lives, its significance as the heart of America is underappreciated and misunderstood by many. This thesis embarks on a journey to share the true reality that …

Columbia Chronicle (05/08/2024), Columbia College Chicago

Columbia Chronicle

Student newspaper from May 8, 2024 entitled The Columbia Chronicle. This issue is 24 pages. Cover story: "The Mental Health Issue: Finding Solutions in a Crisis". Editor-in-Chief: Olivia Cohen.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald: Ways Of The Future, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period April 8 - May 5, 2024.

• Anderson, Alexandria. Letter from the Editor – Science, Technology & Business
• Anderson, Alexandria. Women in STEM Make Advances
• Novoselia, Mariia. Turnover on Fountain Square: Local Businesses Share Concerns & Success Stories
• SOKY Rentals Offers New Apartments
• Walk2Campus: Where Home Meets Community
• Bush, Camden. Can a Baseball Team Reduce Their Goals to a Math Problem?
• Hawkins, Kaylee. Student Business Owners Share Experiences – Gatara Townsend, Andrew Garrett, Brittiny Sadler
• Ivory, Larkin. Bikewalk BG, WKU CHHS Offer Chances for Healthy Lifestyle – Health & Human Services

Media Censorship’S Development In The Information Age: Authoritarian Case Studies In Europe During The 20th And 21st Centuries, Carter R. Linke

Honors Thesis

The Information Age has dramatically changed how people consume information. With the availability of smart devices and the Internet greater than ever before, a population’s ability to receive multiple news reports and instant messaging has continued to prove beneficial to democratic societies. With these same technology improvements, authoritarian governments have been forced to adapt censorship policies to eliminate the Information Age’s push towards the free press. Since the 20^th century, authoritarian countries have introduced policy solutions to the growing connectivity across the globe. From the German Holocaust to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, censorship has aimed to control their …

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 8 - May 2, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 8 - May 2, 2024. 28 pages.

Modern News Consumption Habits Further Exacerbate Bias And Intellectual Isolation Of Audiences, Gabriella Lee Morando

Communication Science and Disorders Honors Theses

Trends show that users continue to turn to social media as one of, if not their only, source for news. Compared to how legacy news media gives consumers a comprehensive overview of information, social media platforms’ recommender systems and algorithms repeatedly feed users tailored sets of news, or what can be perceived as news. A systematic literature review found that users can adopt the same biased views reflected on their social media feeds as they are placed into echo chambers or “filter bubbles” of information. While social media offers users the allure of feeling informed almost instantaneously, the accuracy and …

Putting Forward Sustainability As A Model For Journalism Education And Training, Nancy Booker, Bruce Mutsvairo, Dinesh Baliah, Theodora Dame Adjin-Tettey, Lars Tallert, Jean Mujati

Graduate School of Media and Communications

African journalism practice presents unique opportunities and challenges that require journalists to be equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and values to engage in sustainable journalism. Training institutions play a critical role in ensuring that journalists are not only professionally-ready to execute their mandate but also that they can safeguard and promote ethical values in their everyday work. Some of these values include “truth telling, independence, objectivity, fairness, inclusivity and social justice” (Gade, Nduka, and Dastger 2017, 10). Africa, like other regions of the Global South, has several journalism training institutions that provide an opportunity to challenge “hegemonic epistemologies and …

My Time As An Albany Journalist, Christian Hince

ALL - Honors Theses

With my graduation in May, I’m pleased to say that my experience in journalism across these past four years has been a well-rounded one, and I hope this collection reflects this well. Some of my work came about from internships, such as my WAMC piece on Central Avenue. Some happened as class assignments, like my article on Troy’s No Fun. Some happened as freelance attempts to make a name for myself (i.e. my Times Union piece) and others were the result of consistent work with the Albany Student Press. My time in the journalism program has exposed me well to …

The Constant String Of Crises: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Twitter Responses To Celebrity Crisis Communications, Megan Willman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Celebrity crises are more prominent in today’s social-media-fueled world than ever before. Public relations teams are hired to handle these instances on behalf of the celebrity, but no one can control the discourse that ensues on social media. The end goal of these teams is to restore trust and reputation with stakeholders and fans. Although there have been many studies on crisis communications, there are few studies thus far that have examined the strategy as well as the discourse of such timely crises. The public figures included in this paper are Ashton Kutcher, Lizzo, Luke Combs, Mila Kunis, and Taylor …

“Ufo Reports Swamp Mississippi”: Media Coverage Of The 1973 Pascagoula Alien Abduction, Jane Fort

Honors Theses

On October 11, 1973, Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker reported that they were taken aboard an unidentified flying object (UFO) in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Hickson and Parker’s abduction is now known as one of the most famous extraterrestrial encounters in the United States. In 1973, Hickson and Parker’s story captivated the media’s attention, and fifty years later, in 2023, UFOs are still widely reported on. This thesis utilizes the first-hand narratives from Hickson and Parker’s individual books to provide a detailed retelling of what happened on October 11. This thesis then analyzes the media coverage of the Pascagoula alien abduction in …

Usu Student Association Elections Public Relations Plan, Carter Ottley

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This Honors capstone project is the creation and execution of a public relations plan for the USU Student Association elections for student government positions. The public relations plan includes an analysis of previous elections, strategies of leveraging university communication channels, social media plans, print graphics, events, a schedule of elections week, evaluation of the plan, and creative materials. The public relations plan reached over 260,000 social media users, overall turnout increased 6%, and increased 20% during Executive Leadership Board Elections. This plan serves as a potential outline for future election plans and highlights potential changes for future years.

Narrative Harmony: The Implementation Of Sound Design And Its Immersive Nature, Patrick Joseph Kelly

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sound is the first tool we are given to interact with the world we inhabit. Despite this, most discussion of narrative content revolves around written and visual storytelling. This often means audio is forgotten or overlooked during the production process. A phenomenon which is especially present amongst inexperienced content creators. By combining the transportation imagery model and Narrative Paradigm theories, a formula for analyzing narratives and immersion within the modern setting becomes prevalent. This combination would then lead to the creation of a four-episode podcast series was created where each episode was mixed to highlight a different component in sound …

Exploring The Governmental Intervention, Journalistic Approach, And Theories Involved In Reducing Poverty Journalistic For A Special Project – Feature Story On Non-Profit Organization Called Circles In Northwest Arkansas, Trevor Spencer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over the 60 years since President Johnson declared the War on Poverty, with close to 40 million people currently in poverty nationwide as of 2022, government measures of the issue, like the Federal Poverty Level and Supplementary Poverty Measure, have continued to be significant determiners for who is constituted as poor. Yet, framing of the poor by sociologists has shifted to a more multi-dimensional approach to who constitutes as poor and how to help them. This means that the definition of poverty is beginning to include a larger set of deprivation unaccounted for in a nation where the definition of …

Short Analysis Of Emma Watson's 'He For She' Speech, Emma Darocha

Comm-entary

This case study examines power imbalances within organizations. Like many freshmen, a college student in a new state found himself yearning for a sense of belonging. He made the decision to join a fraternity on campus, but this group did not provide him with this sense of community. Instead, he was hazed and left paralyzed from the pledging process. I decided to conduct my case study on a story that involves hazing on a college campus since, regrettably, it still happens frequently in our nation. Having discussions about these situations can help raise awareness and provide information so that no …