Social Influence and Political Communication Commons^™

Ada Lobby Day 2026

Bulletin of the Ninth District Dental Association

Dr. Renuka Bijoor recounts her experience representing the Ninth District as part of NYSDA’s delegation for Lobby Day 2026. She expresses her gratitude for the opportunity to "advocate for ourselves, our profession, our team members and our patients" and makes particular note of the engaged and excited students that attended.

2026 Lobby day legislation and issues included:

• ERISA and the Improving Dental Administration Act, H.R. 7931
• Student Loans and Postgraduate Educational Debt, H.R. 2028/S.942
• Protect and Restore the Federal Oral Health Infrastructure

The article discusses to whom and how each topic was presented and concludes with one-page fliers for each.

How Elements Including Location, Time Of Day, And Narrative Structure Influence Audience Engagement And Emotional Connection Within Short Form Video Content, Ashleighe Gibson

Communications and Digital Media Theses

This study examines how TikTok-based digital storytelling communicates urban walking experiences in New York City, focusing on how content strategies influence audience engagement and emotional connection. While both walking and short-form video storytelling have been widely studied, their intersection in shaping perceptions of urban environments remains underexplored. Using a mixed-methods approach, a TikTok account was created to document walking experiences, with content systematically varied by key factors including narrative structure, posting frequency, and environmental context. Engagement metrics, including views, likes, comments, and shares were analyzed alongside qualitative reflections to identify patterns in audience engagement and response. Findings indicate that engagement …

Digital Media, Political Priming, And The Strategy Of Donald J. Trump’S 2024 Presidential Campaign, Emma Dayton

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis applies the priming theory of communications and examines its effectiveness in the political realm, specifically, within the digital strategies implemented throughout the 2024 presidential campaign of Donald J. Trump. It was asked to what extent Donald Trump’s digital political priming on social media influenced the most important issues to voters in the 2024 election. The use and impact of rhetoric, images, and partnerships were analyzed in this study to determine the extent to which Trump was able to influence the issues voters deemed as most important. By comparing Trump’s social media use with polling showing the economy and …

The Impact Of Social Media Algorithms On Information Consumption, Emily Scott

Communications and Digital Media Theses

This research examines the profound impact of social media algorithms on information consumption in an era defined by rapid digital transformation. Social media platforms, powered by sophisticated algorithms, personalize user experiences to maximize engagement. These algorithms raise concerns about the formation of filter bubbles and echo chambers, limiting exposure to diverse perspectives, and reinforcing existing beliefs. This study investigates how algorithms prioritize content, the effects on users, and the influence of AI in distorting news and information. It explores the ethical responsibilities of social media companies in mitigating the negative impacts of algorithmic curation and promoting a more balanced and …

The Impact Of Ai-Generated Celebrity Endorsements In Political Advertising, Ryann M. Richards

Journalism Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examines how celebrity endorsements and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) influence voter perceptions in elections. To study the relationship between celebrity endorsements and AI, I used an experiment embedded in a survey with two conditions: one AI-generated celebrity endorsement and one AI-generated non-celebrity endorsement. Both endorsements were for a fictional candidate running for office on a platform of supporting maximum age limits of elected officials. In the celebrity condition, an AI-generated version of Dolly Parton’s voice was used. Participants then reported their perceptions of favorability, trustworthiness, recognition, fandom, and policy support. The results showed that participants who …

How Does The Rise Of Ai-Generated Media Influence Public Trust In Audiovisual Communication?, Danny Mathew

Communications and Digital Media Theses

This study examines how the rise of AI-generated media influences public trust in audiovisual communication. As artificial intelligence technology advances, they have become capable of producing highly realistic images and videos that challenge traditional assumptions about the credibility of audiovisual media. This research uses a qualitative visual content analysis to compare AI-generated and authentic audiovisual content shared on social media platforms, specifically on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. A dataset of 30 media samples was evaluated using a structured coding framework that evaluated visual realism, facial and visual inconsistencies, contextual presentation, indicators of AI generation, and perceived credibility. The …

How To Talk To Zionists, Samuel Bischof

Theses and Dissertations

This paper offers rhetorical tools for weakening Liberal Zionists' commitment to the Israeli State, including a call to action, a typology of American Zionists, reflections on the author's Zionist upbringing, and an analysis of the pseudo-leftist phenomenon of Decolonial Zionism.

The New Wild West: A Case Study Analysis Of The Communication Methods Surrounding Ai Infrastructure In West Texas, Thomas Sorensen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the past several years, artificial intelligence has taken the world by storm. It has enabled numerous innovations across all sectors, and its usage continues to grow daily. This increase in demand for AI products has led to the development of AI data centers nationwide. Fueled by competition between the public and private sectors, many projects are underway. This study focuses on one such project in West Texas: the Stargate Data Center. This project is being constructed near Abilene, Texas, and has had an instrumental impact on the daily lives of its citizens. This research project seeks to answer the …

Mental Health Representation And Audience Interpretation In Contemporary Streaming Media, Caitlyn Freeman

Communications and Digital Media Theses

This study looks at streaming television as a place where ideas about mental health are shaped and communicated. These shows communicate mental health through storytelling, rather than simply reflected. Instead of viewing series as realistic depictions of psychological struggle, this analysis focuses on different elements to understand how audiences understand mental illness. This study focuses on patterns in how mental health is presented to audiences, including whether it is shown as an emotional conflict, ongoing experience, or a moment of crisis within the story. Using a qualitative analysis, the research analyzes selected episodes from each series through a codebook with …

Identity, Party, And Politics: A Discourse Analysis Of Democratic Elites In Pod Save America, Geneva Lei P. Luteria

All Theses

The rise of popular podcasts has shaped public discourse and influenced millions worldwide on how they ought to think, imagine, and act about controversial subjects. Podcasts create an avenue for stories about power and technology to co-create a narrative that viewers buy into. This thesis analyzes one of these essential podcasts, Pod Save America, in how Democratic elite guests approach identity politics, a phenomenon best described as advocacy based on one position’s in society. I begin the thesis by considering the differences in scholarly interpretation of how identity politics functions conceptually and practically. Then, I integrate ideas about how …

Is Less More? An Analysis Of Microblogs Vs. Discussion Forums As Tools For Understanding The Public, Marco Castillo

Publications and Research

Social media platforms offer valuable tools for public administrators seeking to assess public sentiment on policy issues, especially in urban areas with diverse stakeholder interests. This study investigates how public administrators can leverage social media by comparing communications on Reddit’s discussion forum platform with X’s microblogging platform. I hypothesize that Reddit fosters more subjective, nuanced discussions, providing richer insights into public sentiment. To test this, sentiment and regression analyses are conducted on communications about urban cycling on both platforms. Results indicate that while Reddit facilitates deeper exploration of public issues, X also effectively assesses public sentiment. The study concludes by …

Platform Affordances, Produsage, And The Attention Economy: From Red (Taylor’S Version) To The Life Of A Showgirl, Angela Rose Asuncion

The Manuscript: Journal of Taylor Swift Studies

Social media platforms increasingly operate as infrastructures of visibility, shaping the conditions under which cultural content is produced, circulated, and recognised (van Dijck et al.; Nieborg and Poell). This article examines Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) and The Life of a Showgirl as two distinct visibility configurations emerging from the affordances and algorithmic logics of TikTok and Instagram. Drawing on platform studies (Abidin), celebrity theory (Dyer; Marshall; Marwick), and participatory culture and produsage (Jenkins; Bruns), the study employs a QCA-inspired configurational approach (Ragin) to analyse how clusters of affective cues, aesthetic strategies, parasocial signals, and circulation patterns generate contrasting visibility …

Media Framing Of The Bawku Conflict In Ghana: An Analysis Of Cultural Biases, Narratives, And Peacebuilding Implications, Falilatu Saaka

Master of Arts in Media and Communication Plan II Graduate Projects

This research examines the media framing of the Bawku conflict in Ghana, focusing on how cultural biases shape the portrayal of ethnic disputes and influence public perception. Utilizing a qualitative discourse analysis grounded in Framing Theory and Afrocentric critique, the study analyzes ten news reports from major Ghanaian media outlets to identify patterns of bias, narrative construction, and ideological positioning. Findings reveal that media coverage predominantly emphasizes security and stability, often at the expense of addressing deeper political, economic, and historical factors. Language, imagery, and sourcing choices tend to reinforce stereotypes, skewing public understanding towards ethnic dichotomies, particularly between the …

Between The Middle Kingdom And The Middle Way: An Analysis Of State Power And Sacred Authority In The Sino-Tibet Conflict, Madison M. Berry, Aimee N. Ebeling, Jayden A. Hanson

Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research

This research paper addresses the growing concerns of the Sino-Tibetan conflict by analyzing the relationship between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) through an intercultural communication and negotiation lens. By analyzing historical relationships between the two parties and comparing them to similar contemporary situations, this paper examines the sinicization of the Tibetan people. By exploring the “Old Tibet” and “New Tibet” narratives, while acknowledging the centrality of the Dalai Lama to both parties, it also addresses territorial disagreements and the contrasting understandings of sovereignty and modernization, which fuel the conflict. Finally, a policy framework …

Current Situation, Problems, And Countermeasures Of Science And Technology Societies In China Under Global Technology Governance, Yangyang Li, Yaoyu Nie, Xiaoxiao Xiong, Guangxi He

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The “15th Five-Year Plan” period presents both opportunities and challenges for scientific and technological societies in China, meaning that they shall further refine their functional positioning beyond traditional academic exchanges and provide full-chain services. Since the reform and opening up, the development of science and technology societies in China has flourished, and their governance capacity has been continuously enhanced, playing a sustained role in gathering scientific and technological talent, participating in national and social governance, and driving multi-dimensional innovation. Nevertheless, there are also problems such as low management efficiency, insufficient integration into the national innovation system, and overall low level …

How Has The War On Drugs Influenced American Political Discourse, Fabiola Gamez-Lopez

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

The War on Drugs was a political initiative designed to eliminate illegal drug use and trafficking through law enforcement and punitive legal measures. Early policies marked a shift from relative deregulation in the early 1900s to a transition to “zero tolerance” policies. Over time, American political discourse has evolved from a strict legal enforcement frame to raising awareness of drug addiction as a public health concern, with growing attitudes of reformation of the previous frame. The methodology used in this study consisted of a qualitative analysis of existing literature, including historical policy documentation, political rhetoric, and scholarly research. By comparing …

Why Don’T Young People Vote?, Mia Diaz

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

This presentation explores the causes of young people's lower voter turnout compared to older adults, a crucial problem for democratic representation. The gap is caused by several important issues, which will be discussed. First, getting information about voting is frequently a major obstacle. Young voters may find it difficult to learn about candidates, policy, and the voting process, which could cause them to lose interest and not cast a ballot. Second, poor civic education in schools and colleges, and complicated voter registration procedures. These obstacles can include complicated registration paperwork and difficult deadlines to meet, particularly for first-time voters. Another …

Protecting Free Speech And Promoting Civility: The Dueling Responsibilities Of American Colleges And Universities, Tara N. Parsons

International Journal on Responsibility

Freedom House estimates that 75% of the world’s population lives in countries that experienced a democratic decline in 2020. Even in long established democracies, liberal democratic values have been shaken. As democracy requires an enlightened citizenry cultivated by a college education, many American universities and colleges adopt civic instruction and engagement as a core responsibility and mission. However, growing anti-intellectualism has drawn increased scrutiny and suspicion towards the programming, curriculum, and core values of universities. Powerful political figures regularly accuse universities of stifling conservative voices and discouraging free speech. The tension between free speech and civic dialogue requires a reframing …

Hungary For More? Russian Storm-1516 Narratives And Engagement Tactics Targeting Hungary’S 2026 Parliamentary Election., Ella Murray, Darren Linvill, Patrick Warren

Media Forensics Hub Reports

This report identifies and analyzes a coordinated influence operation aligned with the Russian Storm-1516 ecosystem and targeting Hungary’s 2026 election. The campaign leverages a network of inauthentic social media accounts to disseminate fabricated narratives, amplify political attacks, and undermine trust in Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar and the TISZA party. The campaign reflects a broader evolution in Russian influence operations, combining established narrative laundering techniques with new amplification strategies. These include the use of fabricated media outlets, paid influencers, and a network of commercial marketing accounts with links to Africa. The campaign leverages likely compensated influencer accounts as well as …

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 …