The Final Boys' Club: Conceptualizing A Final Boy Of 1980s Horror,
2026
Eastern Illinois University
The Final Boys' Club: Conceptualizing A Final Boy Of 1980s Horror, Ej Newton
Masters Theses
Carol J Clover’s (2015) Final Girl, the female slasher protagonist who survives to the end of the movie, has become a staple of horror scholarship, providing insight into the function of gender within the genre as well as our cultural beliefs surrounding femininity. Given the attention paid to horror’s leading ladies, however, another fascinating figure has gone unexplored: the Final Boy. This project analyzes nine horror films from the 1980s with young male protagonists in order to conceptualize and critique this previously unidentified trope. Utilizing McKerrow’s (1989) critical rhetoric as a guide, this research not only provides a thorough definition …
It Takes A Village: Residents’ Perceptions Of Mount Prospect’S Place Branding,
2026
Eastern Illinois University
It Takes A Village: Residents’ Perceptions Of Mount Prospect’S Place Branding, Jenna Strauss
Masters Theses
The Village of Mount Prospect has heard a fair share of negative critiques about the village’s branding; however, officials have not yet taken the initiative to rebrand. As stated by a village official, the village needs to understand what residents think about the branding before considering a rebrand. This knowledge offers valuable insight into what branding elements are liked/valued by residents, but also whether a rebrand would cause resistance or a mini crisis. Place branding literature highlights that residents determine the authenticity of a place brand (Braun et al., 2013), so Mount Prospect officials seek to make future branding decisions …
Artificial Intelligence Adoption Among Future Journalism And Mass Communications Professionals: A Tam-Based Approach To Students’ Generative Ai Adoption Intent,
2026
University of South Carolina
Artificial Intelligence Adoption Among Future Journalism And Mass Communications Professionals: A Tam-Based Approach To Students’ Generative Ai Adoption Intent, Chinwendu P. Akalonu
Journal of Communication Pedagogy
As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries, journalism and mass communications professions are slowly adapting to these technologies. This study employs the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and AI-TAM frameworks to examine predictors of AI adoption intent among college students preparing for careers in the field. Survey results reveal that perceived usefulness, trust in AI output quality, organizational requirement, ethical awareness, and certain sociodemographic factors such as race predict AI adoption intent. Additionally, the study highlights differences in adoption intent among students in different subfields of mass communication, including journalism, advertising, and public relations. It underscores the importance of expanding traditional TAM-based …
Vaccine Hesitancy In Arabic Discourse: A Multi-Method Social Media Study,
2026
University of Central Florida
Vaccine Hesitancy In Arabic Discourse: A Multi-Method Social Media Study, Nada Dimashkieh Chehab
Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026
Vaccine hesitancy — the state of uncertainty about vaccination — poses global public health challenges, undermining efforts to prevent infectious diseases. It is also a contextual phenomenon, shaped by social and political forces. While survey-based research on vaccine hesitancy is abundant both globally and in the Arab world, humanities-oriented approaches using discourse analysis remain limited especially in Arabic on social media: some have tracked trends on Twitter, but virtually none have done so on Facebook. This dissertation addresses these gaps through a multimethod design combining Textual and Trend Analyses and Critical Discourse Study. It examines vaccine-related trends and discourses among …
Performing The Digital Identity: A Media Discourse Analysis Of Online Identity Construction,
2026
University of Central Florida
Performing The Digital Identity: A Media Discourse Analysis Of Online Identity Construction, Dalya Qasem
Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026
This dissertation investigates how news media construct narratives about TikTok and its role in shaping digital identity. While existing scholarship has examined issues such as privacy, marketing, and entertainment, less attention has been given to how identity is represented, negotiated, and understood within public discourse. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) combined with computational text analysis through Voyant Tools, this study analyzes a corpus of 111 news articles published between 2020 and 2025 that explicitly reference TikTok and identity. The analysis identifies prominent keywords, topics, and rhetorical patterns across media texts. Furthermore, the research demonstrates a critical analysis of popular understandings …
Critical Feminist Editorial Praxis: My Tenure As The First Journal Editor Of Color Of Communication Monographs,
2026
Syracuse University
Critical Feminist Editorial Praxis: My Tenure As The First Journal Editor Of Color Of Communication Monographs, Srivi Ramasubramanian
Media Studies - All Scholarship
In this essay I theorize about Critical Feminist Editorial Praxis, which envisions journal editing as a site for scholar-activism. I use the term activism because to counter the hegemonic whiteness and coloniality of Communication knowledge requires active efforts to go against the taken-for-granted processes and practices. Journal editing is a significant location for interventions because this is often where we learn what is considered cutting-edge scholarship within our discipline. This significance is especially clear when the journal in question is a flagship publication of a leading professional organization. As I end my tenure as the first editor of color of …
The Role Of Media Literacy In Shaping Campus Student Leaders’ Perceptions Of Media Activism, Online Risks, And Social Support,
2026
Syracuse University
The Role Of Media Literacy In Shaping Campus Student Leaders’ Perceptions Of Media Activism, Online Risks, And Social Support, Srivi Ramasubramanian, Minnie Mcmillian, Shumaila Bhatti, Shannon Burth, Julius Matthew Riles, Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz, Melody Wilson
Media Studies - All Scholarship
Campus activism by student leaders has historically played a significant role in social movements. Within contemporary contexts, media is an important site through which campus student leaders raise awareness, share relevant information, distribute online petitions, and shape public discourses on various social issues. Media literacy is an essential skill for student leaders to be effective in their activist initiatives and be able to cope with the inevitable pushback through trolling and cyberbullying that such activism would likely bring up. This survey (N = 855) with college student leaders across three universities explores how they rate themselves on media literacy skills, …
“He Will Always Love Me”: Authentic Romance And Reciprocal Love In Otome Games,
2026
Syracuse University
“He Will Always Love Me”: Authentic Romance And Reciprocal Love In Otome Games, Elena Yifei Zhao, Nick Bowman
Media Studies - All Scholarship
This study investigates how players construct and articulate emotionally meaningful relationships in otome games. Drawing from 293 open-ended responses from Chinese players, a thematic analysis identified six recurring themes: authentic romance, companionship, shared experience, integration into daily life, game features, and personal growth. The most dominant theme, authentic romance, reveals that players often describe otome boyfriends as emotionally responsive partners who provide validation, support, and affection. Functional descriptions of gameplay mechanics were notably disconnected from other themes (primarily emotional engagement themes). A follow-up analysis of the most popular otome games in the same …
You Are Your Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams: A Journey Beyond The Lens Blueprinting The Influence And Impact Of Media And Podcast Pedagogy On Black And Brown Creatives In Higher Education And Beyond,
2026
West Chester University
You Are Your Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams: A Journey Beyond The Lens Blueprinting The Influence And Impact Of Media And Podcast Pedagogy On Black And Brown Creatives In Higher Education And Beyond, Diamond N. Morgan Dr.
West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects
Explores the influence and impact of media and podcast pedagogy on Black and Brown creatives (BBC) in higher education. Grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT), the Black Creative Educational Experience (BCEEs) framework, and the conceptual lenses of sociological and public podcasting, this study examines how podcasting functions as a transformative pedagogical and sociocultural tool for storytelling, identity development, creative expression, and community building within collegiate environments. Utilizing a convergent parallel mixed methods design, the study integrates quantitative survey data from 65 participants with qualitative focus group discussions to provide a holistic understanding of participant experiences across personal, professional, academic, social, …
Media Literacy Meets Language Education: Fictional Science (Fisci) Promotes Skills To Identify And Refute Fake News,
2025
University of Graz, Austria
Media Literacy Meets Language Education: Fictional Science (Fisci) Promotes Skills To Identify And Refute Fake News, Stephan Schicker, Jürgen Ehrenmüller, Melanie Hendler, Victoria Reinsperger, Natalia Kubai, Lucia Miškulin Saletović, Bettina Steinbauer, Sabine Schmölzer-Eibinger
Journal of Media Literacy Education
This article presents the theoretical and conceptual foundations of the interdisciplinary didactic concept of Fictional Science (FiSci), which is positioned at the interface between media and language didactics. Based on reference concepts such as epistemic vigilance, inoculation, lateral reading, and media literacy in education, FiSci aims to promote secondary school students’ skills in dealing with fake news. While course 1 of FiSci (Activating the Fake News Radar) sensitises students to false information, course 2 (Verification of Information) teaches strategies for identifying false information that are also used by professional fact-checkers, and course 3 (Refutation) focuses on refuting false information.
Digital Texts And Diversity-Sensitive Foreign Language Teaching,
2025
Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
Digital Texts And Diversity-Sensitive Foreign Language Teaching, Anne-Marie Lachmund, Manuela Franke
Journal of Media Literacy Education
Digital reading differs significantly from reading on paper, posing several challenges, especially for students learning a second or third foreign language. The complexity of engaging with authentic digital sources is further intensified by the diversity within learner groups. First, the objectives for developing digital reading proficiency in a foreign language are explored, identifying the skills necessary for competent digital readers. Building on these objectives, the paper then addresses the diverse needs of learners, taking into account neurodiverse students in diversity-sensitive teaching environments. The focus lies on the field-specific dynamics of digital reading, particularly those impacting learners with ADHD, dyslexia, and …
Media Literacy In Language (Teacher) Education. Introductory Remarks From The Guest-Editors,
2025
University of Münster; Germany
Media Literacy In Language (Teacher) Education. Introductory Remarks From The Guest-Editors, Ricardo Römhild, Julia Sgolik
Journal of Media Literacy Education
This editorial sketches the conceptual foundations for this special issue on media literacy in language (teacher) education. It contextualises this special issue’s focus on language (teacher) education with critical media literacy theory, highlighting the special role of language education in media literacy development both in terms of the subject’s methodology and goals. With its inherent focus on texts and media, language education pursues the goal of empowering learners to become active participants in global – oftentimes digital – discourses. Providing a frame for the contributions to this special issue, this introduction echoes calls for an already observable shift in language …
Data Storytelling For Reputation Management: A Multiple Case Study Of Formula 1, Patagonia & Spotify,
2025
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
Data Storytelling For Reputation Management: A Multiple Case Study Of Formula 1, Patagonia & Spotify, Michael O. P. Lowsley-Williams
Student Theses and Dissertations
This thesis investigates data storytelling as a reputation management strategy by examining how organizations leverage data narratives to enhance brand identity, build stakeholder trust, and reshape public perception. Through analysis and comparison of three qualitative case studies of Patagonia, Formula 1, and Spotify, this research explores how these companies construct and utilize data-driven narratives to address reputational challenges across distinct industry contexts. Drawing on elements of framing, situational crisis and stakeholder theories as well as the concepts of encoding and decoding, this study analyzes narrative structures, framing devices, and audience engagement tactics within reports, campaigns, and multimedia content from 2015-2025. …
Human Moderators Behind The Ai: Unseen Costs And Hidden Consequences,
2025
Lipscomb University
Human Moderators Behind The Ai: Unseen Costs And Hidden Consequences, Jacy Stricker
Student Scholar Symposium
This presentation is about AI-driven content moderation and the ethical and legal concerns surrounding the human moderators who oversee it. While AI helps filter content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, it often fails to catch nuanced violations, exposing human moderators to harmful material with serious mental health consequences.
The Trust Equation: Users, Companies, And Safety In The Online Dating World,
2025
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
The Trust Equation: Users, Companies, And Safety In The Online Dating World, Hayley Solomon
Student Theses and Dissertations
Digital dating platforms have become essential to modern-day relationship formation, yet concerns about user safety, harassment, deception, and accountability have intensified distrust, particularly among women. This study explores (1) how women’s personal experiences of danger shape their perceptions of dating apps’ trustworthiness, (2) how women explain the nature of trust and distrust in these digital environments, and (3) how communication professionals can design messages that promote safety and strengthen trust on dating platforms. Using a qualitative study design, four focus groups with three participants each were conducted with heterosexual cis-gender women aged 18–50 who had used Hinge, Tinder, or Bumble …
Fake News Y Redes Sociales: Cómo El Algoritmo En Torno A La Migración Afecta La Salud Mental,
2025
Cuny Graduate School of Journalism
Fake News Y Redes Sociales: Cómo El Algoritmo En Torno A La Migración Afecta La Salud Mental, Maria F. Alarcon
Capstones
Las redes sociales son la principal fuente de información para migrantes latinos en Estados Unidos, pero también son un terreno fértil para fake-news que afectan la salud mental y desinforman.
Media Disparity? Analyzing The Media Coverage Of Violent Vs. Non-Violent Crimes In Central Arkansas,
2025
University of Arkansas Little Rock
Media Disparity? Analyzing The Media Coverage Of Violent Vs. Non-Violent Crimes In Central Arkansas, Alicia Dorn
Theses and Dissertations
The media's disproportionate coverage of violent crimes compared to non-violent crimes may create a skewed public perception of crime rates and safety in Central Arkansas, potentially influencing policy decisions and community relations. This research examines whether news outlets in Central Arkansas cover violent crimes more frequently than non-violent crimes and compares this coverage to actual crime statistics from law enforcement agencies. The study aims to understand the potential impact of media representation on public perception of crime. The study employed a mixed-methods content analysis of three major Central Arkansas newspapers (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Pine Bluff Commercial, and Hot Springs Sentinel Record) …
Trust, Influence, And The Two-Step Flow Of Communication: How Msu Jmc Freshmen Navigate Information Networks In The Digital Age,
2025
Murray State University
Trust, Influence, And The Two-Step Flow Of Communication: How Msu Jmc Freshmen Navigate Information Networks In The Digital Age, Caroline Blakeman
Honors College Theses
This study examines how Murray State University students in the Journalism and Mass Communications department engage with information and interpersonal trust through the lens of the Two-Step Flow of Communication. Using a quantitative survey, participants reported how they receive and evaluate information across six domains: politics, healthcare, education, international conflict, religion, and campus news. The survey also explored participants’ own perceptions as “opinion leaders” within their social networks. Findings reveal that coworkers, family members, and religious associates were consistently rated as high-trust sources of information. In particular, trust in religious associates showed a notable pattern: participants who expressed higher levels …
Tonight’S Top Story: Analyzing English And Spanish-Language National And Local Newscasts For Content Differences,
2025
St. Mary's University
Tonight’S Top Story: Analyzing English And Spanish-Language National And Local Newscasts For Content Differences, Esteban N. Serrano
Honors Program Theses and Research Projects
Spanish-language media alongside its equivalent English-language counterpart, assumingly operate with reporting facts truthfully. However, no studies have compared the accuracy of equitable reporting between English and Spanish-language news, particularly television newscasts. Limited existing research claims that differences, such as the structure of news stories and their placement in a broadcast, may skew a narrative for those who prefer to absorb Spanish-language news in comparison to those who absorb English-language news. In this study, through use of mixed methods, U.S. market’s English and Spanish broadcast news-affiliated stations are examined to draw conclusions on whether or not there are differences in news …
The Consequences Of Fear: How Media Literacy Teachers Adapt To Teaching In An Autocratic Regime,
2025
Media Education Lab, Rhode Island, USA
The Consequences Of Fear: How Media Literacy Teachers Adapt To Teaching In An Autocratic Regime, Sait Tuzel
Journal of Media Literacy Education Pre-Prints
While media literacy education experienced significant growth in Turkey during the early part of the decade, since the attempted coup on July 15, 2016, Turkish educators have struggled with uncertainty and social mistrust generated by the disappearance of independent journalism and the arrests of many thousands of educators, judges, and researchers. This longitudinal study of media literacy teachers in Turkey examines the professional challenges that media literacy teachers experienced between 2015 and 2020 as they adapted to increased fear and the risks associated with teaching about media. Unable to use media materials beyond the state-sanctioned textbook, teachers now evaluate the …
