I Love You, But I’Ve Got To Cancel You: Psychological Determinants And Consequences Of Cancel Culture Participation,
2025
Chapman University
I Love You, But I’Ve Got To Cancel You: Psychological Determinants And Consequences Of Cancel Culture Participation, Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster, Daniel H. Spitz
Communication Faculty Articles and Research
This study explores how individuals react to celebrities who take a political stance that contradicts and threatens their social identity. An online experiment examines these questions in the context of the Israeli war against Hamas in the wake of the October 7 terror attack. Israeli Jewish participants who were led to believe that a beloved celebrity fully embraced the Palestinian’s narrative and condemned Israel experienced more negative and less positive emotions and had a greater intention to cancel the celebrity. However, writing a comment or a social media post (particularly if the comment bashed the celebrity) partially buffered these emotional …
An Analysis Of Data Journalism In Kenyan Newsrooms During Kenya’S 2022 General Elections,
2025
Aga Khan University
An Analysis Of Data Journalism In Kenyan Newsrooms During Kenya’S 2022 General Elections, Poshia Syindu Musesya
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
Data journalism allows journalists to present balanced, accurate, and relevant news, thereby greatly improving the quality and credibility of the news. Data in this context refers to facts, statistics, or pieces of information and journalism refers to the occupation of reporting, writing, editing, photographing, broadcasting news, or operating a news organization. This thesis uses a mixed-method approach to assess the use of data journalism in the 2022 Kenyan general election across three media houses, namely: the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Nation Media Group (NMG), and Royal Media Services (RMS). The approach used combines qualitative and quantitative methods to address research …
The Adoption Of Ai In Zimbabwe’S Newsrooms: A Case Of Zimpapers And Alpha Media Holdings,
2025
Aga Khan University
The Adoption Of Ai In Zimbabwe’S Newsrooms: A Case Of Zimpapers And Alpha Media Holdings, Muchemwa Silence Mugadzaweta
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has changed the face of journalism in many ways. Newsrooms across the world are deploying AI in various aspects of news gathering distribution and creation. Many newsrooms are also at different stages when it comes to AI adoption. The general objective of this study was to examine the adoption of AI in two media houses in Zimbabwe: Zimpapers and Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), from newsroom operations and insights from journalists and editors to understand their perception and views on the future of journalism in the wake of AI technologies as well as documenting the status thereof. This …
Analysing Government Communication Strategies In Combating Information Disorder On Social Media: A Study Of Uganda’S Tax Monitoring System,
2025
Aga Khan University
Analysing Government Communication Strategies In Combating Information Disorder On Social Media: A Study Of Uganda’S Tax Monitoring System, Simon Tumwine Mugisha
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
This research provides an analysis of the communication strategies that government communicators are utilising in a bid to counter wrong narratives on the Ugandan social media space, using the Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT). The study focuses on the nature of information disorder that revolved around the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS), introduced in January 2021 by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and how it was stemmed. Through extensive content analysis of social media posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, 2 Key Informant interviews (KIIs) with key URA officials and 2 two In-depth interviews (IDIs) with tax and …
Nmg’S Post- Covid Monetization Efforts: The Case Of Nation Africa,
2025
Aga Khan University
Nmg’S Post- Covid Monetization Efforts: The Case Of Nation Africa, Veronica Wanjiru Kiarie
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
Revenue sources for traditional media houses have been decreasing and media houses need to be able to find alternative ways to increase revenue. The Kenyan media industry is struggling to generate revenue due to shifts in business models where advertisers are targeting potential customers directly instead of using traditional media. This study adopted a qualitative research approach and utilized a case study research design to fulfil its research objectives: (i) To identify key factors influencing successful monetization on NMG’s platform. (ii) To analyze the successes and failures of NMG monetization strategies during the past five years, and (iii) To develop …
The Rise Of Influencer Marketing And Its Implications On Kenyan Legacy Media Houses' Revenues,
2025
Aga Khan University
The Rise Of Influencer Marketing And Its Implications On Kenyan Legacy Media Houses' Revenues, Stephen Onjwaya Mbego
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
The growth of social media influencers popularity has substantially disrupted traditional media and advertising landscapes, redefining audience engagement, brand marketing strategies, and revenue streams for legacy media houses. This study investigates the implications of influencer marketing on Kenyan legacy media, exploring shifts in audience preferences, financial impacts, and factors influencing advertisers toward influencer marketing. Building on the disruptive innovation theory and qualitative data from interviews with media professionals, influencers, advertisers, and audiences, the study reveals a fundamental shift in content consumption and advertising dynamics. Findings show that social media influencers thrive in direct audience engagement, authenticity, and niche targeting, catering …
Investigating Media Relations Strategies Used By Ugandan Universities To Enhance Corporate Image: A Study Of Four Higher Education Institutions,
2025
Aga Khan University
Investigating Media Relations Strategies Used By Ugandan Universities To Enhance Corporate Image: A Study Of Four Higher Education Institutions, Walter Wekongo Washika
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
A strong corporate image is crucial for organization's to thrive in a competitive market. Discrepancies between corporate image and corporate identity can lead to confusion among stakeholders, potentially resulting in crises that harm the institution's brand. Effective media relations strategies are essential for shaping stakeholder perceptions and strengthening corporate image. This study aimed to investigate how four universities (two public and two private universities) in Uganda use media relations to enhance their corporate image, focusing on the media relations strategies used, their effectiveness, and the challenges faced. Using Grunig's Excellence Theory from 1985, it employed a qualitative approach with in-depth …
Individual Determinants Of Premium Content Subscription Decisions In Kenya: A Case Of Nation Media Group,
2025
Aga Khan University
Individual Determinants Of Premium Content Subscription Decisions In Kenya: A Case Of Nation Media Group, Lisa Wagethi Kamau
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
The transformation in the media industry from traditional platforms of TV, radio and print to digital media platforms had necessitated a shift in business models. Traditionally, media organizations depended on circulation and advertising to generate revenues and fund their journalism, however, the revenues from these models have been dwindling, leading to massive layoffs and company closures. Many media organizations are now adopting the subscription model as a possible revenue earner, but this move has been difficult to implement. The main challenge facing the news subscription business model is that audiences have become used to free news content on the internet …
An Analysis Of The Star Newspaper Online Subscribers’ Willingness To Pay For Content,
2025
Aga Khan University
An Analysis Of The Star Newspaper Online Subscribers’ Willingness To Pay For Content, Lordrick Oswald Mayabi
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
Newspaper publishers in Kenya continue to amass and grow numbers of online consumers having migrated to social media in the wake of the digital disruption. Despite the huge following online, newspapers continue to give out most of their content for free. But with the continued loss of advertising and sales revenue for the newspapers, some have started to seek ways of supplementing the lost revenue through charges on some of the content on their platforms. The objectives of this study were a) To analyse and understand The Star Newspapers online consumers, b) To establish the pay structure that is most …
The Influence Of Artificial Intelligence On Journalism: Exploring Ethical Considerations For Kenyan Newsrooms,
2025
Aga Khan University
The Influence Of Artificial Intelligence On Journalism: Exploring Ethical Considerations For Kenyan Newsrooms, Manny Grace Anyango
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
The 21st century is defined by rapid technological advancements, among which artificial intelligence (AI) stands as a transformative force. AI's integration into journalism has redefined traditional workflows, offering unprecedented automation, efficiency, and audience engagement opportunities. However, these advancements raise significant ethical concerns, including biases, transparency, accountability, and privacy. This study examines AI's integration into journalism, focusing on Kenyan newsrooms Tuko News, Nation Media Group, and BBC to explore its impact on journalistic practices and ethics. Employing a qualitative approach, the research captures insights from journalists, editors, and technical staff, examining the specific AI tools in use, their impact, ethical challenges, …
The Uptake Of Digital Communication Tools In Corporate Communications Functions At Safaricom Plc,
2025
Aga Khan University
The Uptake Of Digital Communication Tools In Corporate Communications Functions At Safaricom Plc, Melline Norleah Myendo
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
Digital communication tools have revolutionized corporate communications. These digital communication tools have come to enhance communication efficiency, but the reality for corporates in Kenya reveals a complex web of challenges not just in uptake but also in how these tools have made corporates leverage the digital platform to tell their own stories without the gatekeeping rigors of legacy media. The primary objective of this study was to explore how corporate communication functions have optimized the uptake of digital communication tools. The specific objectives of the study were to explore the uptake of digital communication tools in corporate organisations’ marketing communications, …
Factors Informing The Transition From Journalism To Corporate Communications,
2025
Aga Khan University
Factors Informing The Transition From Journalism To Corporate Communications, Muyanja Robert
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
This study investigated the shift of journalists to corporate communications, motivated by economic instability, professional obstacles, and the changing dynamics of the media sector. The study sought to evaluate the present work conditions of journalists, investigate the challenges encountered during their move to corporate communications, and analyse the motivations behind this career change. Decreasing earnings, unstable job security, and escalating workloads in conventional journalism have driven numerous journalists to pursue stability, professional advancement, and improved work-life balance in corporate positions. This transition presented problems, such as adapting to new professional standards, inter-role conflicts, and substantial emotional and identity upheavals. The …
The Influence Of Social Media Usage On Traditional News Consumption In Uganda: A Case Study Of Vision Group Uganda,
2025
Aga Khan University
The Influence Of Social Media Usage On Traditional News Consumption In Uganda: A Case Study Of Vision Group Uganda, Owor Daniel
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
This study investigated the influence of social media usage on traditional news consumption in Uganda focusing mainly on Vision Group Uganda. The study was guided by the Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT) and the Theory of Consumption Value (TCV) the research explored how motivations perceived value and social media engagement affected the reliance on traditional media for news. The goals included studying platform choice, evaluating the influence of interaction on news habits, and investigating the connection between social media usage frequency and conventional news consumption. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study included interviews with 18 Vision Group employees in addition …
Comparing Funders' Altruism Versus Self-Interest: Leveraging The Context Of Crisis,
2025
James Madison University
Comparing Funders' Altruism Versus Self-Interest: Leveraging The Context Of Crisis, Dan Liu, Guangzhi Shang, Cynthia Fan Yang
Journal of International Technology and Information Management
While reward-based crowdfunding has widespread popularity, the motivations driving funders, balancing self-interest and altruism, have remained puzzling. Prior research has been constrained by examination methods and produced mixed findings regarding the weight of altruism versus self-interest among funders. Our study takes a fresh perspective, delving into funder behavior amid a major crisis—the tumultuous backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings reveal that funders not only display an increased willingness to contribute but also significantly amplify their contributions, particularly to projects in crisis-affected regions, irrespective of external incentives like rewards. This underscores the prevalence of altruistic motives among funders in challenging …
The Legend Of Taylor Heinicke: An Autoethnography Of Unexpected, Passionate Fandom,
2025
Old Dominion University
The Legend Of Taylor Heinicke: An Autoethnography Of Unexpected, Passionate Fandom, Brendan O'Hallarn
Communication & Theatre Arts Faculty Publications
Passionate fandom is not a novel phenomenon in the field of sport. The fervor of fans builds stadiums and has allowed the sport industry to grow exponentially in the past few decades. Scholars have examined the passionate fan through many theoretical lenses, but comparatively little scholarship has looked at sport fandom fervor from inside. An autoethnographic examination of my unexpected journey as a fan of journeyman National Football League (NFL) quarterback Taylor Heinicke demonstrates how fandom can stir passions and create rituals in sport followers. A multimedia diary of Heinicke's unexpected ascension to starting quarterback of the Washington Commanders provides …
Examining The Status Of Ai Use Guidelines In Editorial Policies Of Kenyan Digital Media Houses And Challenges In Their Formulation And Implementation In Newsrooms,
2025
Aga Khan University
Examining The Status Of Ai Use Guidelines In Editorial Policies Of Kenyan Digital Media Houses And Challenges In Their Formulation And Implementation In Newsrooms, Nickson Mwirigi Mbaabu
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
Integrating AI in Kenyan digital media houses presents opportunities and challenges, underscoring the need for formal guidelines in newsrooms. This study examined the status of AI use guidelines in the editorial policies of Kenyan media houses, along with the challenges involved in formulating and implementing these guidelines. Semi-structured interviews served as the primary data collection method, conducted with editors and reporters from four purposively selected media houses: Nation Media Group (NMG), Kenyans.co.ke, Nairobileo.co.ke, and Sauce.co.ke, all based in Nairobi. A total of 14 journalists were interviewed. Additionally, editorial policies of the selected media houses were analysed to assess if AI …
The Media Framing Of India’S Nuclear Weapons Discourse,
2025
Pandit Deendayal Energy University
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 …
Player 2 Has Entered The Culture War: Discourse, Ideology, And Narrative In Gamergate 2.0,
2025
University of Kentucky
Player 2 Has Entered The Culture War: Discourse, Ideology, And Narrative In Gamergate 2.0, Ashley C. Mccann
Theses and Dissertations--Communication
My thesis addresses the ever-evolving landscape of Gamergate 2.0. Once a reactionary misogynistic harassment movement dedicated to attacking women in video games, the new iteration of Gamergate has evolved into an entirely new community. In its new iteration, Gamergate is even less ostensibly concerned with video games and more with reactionary content, mixing together nerd media, general pop culture, and right-wing politics. To study this community, I approach the Gamergate 2.0 community as an anti-fandom and reactionary affinity space. I argue that GamerGate 2.0 exists as its own powerful reactionary community that creates a worldview consisting of the desired destruction …
Gender Moderation On Students’ Adoption Of Whatsapp For Learning-Support Communication In Sub-Saharan Africa,
2025
University of Professional Studies, Ghana
Gender Moderation On Students’ Adoption Of Whatsapp For Learning-Support Communication In Sub-Saharan Africa, Douglas Yeboah, Paul Nyagorme, Brandford Bervell, Godfred Yaw Koi-Akrofi, Awo Esaah Bempong
Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)
Gender moderation in students’ adoption of WhatsApp for supporting distance learning has not been explored. This study applied the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model to analyze the moderation effects of gender on students’ adoption intentions of WhatsApp for learning. Multi-stage sampling techniques were used to obtain 273 participants. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results showed that gender significantly moderated the effects of(a) performance expectancy on behavioral intention such that the effect was stronger for males than females, and (b) social influence on behavioral intention such that …
Exploring Television Portrayal Of Gender-Based Violence In Uganda: A Case Of Ntv And Bukedde Tv,
2025
Aga Khan University
Exploring Television Portrayal Of Gender-Based Violence In Uganda: A Case Of Ntv And Bukedde Tv, Nakagolo Racheal
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism
The study used NTV and Bukedde TV as a case of how television in Uganda portray gender-based violence to address the critical issue of how television framing impacts societal understanding and response to gender-based violence. The research adopted the framing theory as its conceptual lens and employed a mixed-methods approach combining content analysis of television news programs with in-depth interviews with newsroom staff. The findings reveal that Ugandan television predominantly employs victim-centered narratives, focusing on physical and sexual violence while often neglecting psychological violence and systemic contributors such as entrenched patriarchal norms. The human-interest frame emerged as the most utilized, …
