Archives for May 2019

Developing critical consciousness about coverage of Latinx communities: a service-learning approach in journalism education • Alison Burns • In the summer of 2018, a suburban Maryland middle school whose students are from mostly Salvadoran immigrant families became the subject of a barrage of negative press attention. That fall college journalism students in a “Community-Engaged Research and Service” class accepted an invitation to collaborate on journalism-related projects with students at the middle school. This qualitative phenomenological study explores what student reflections during the service-learning experience tell us about the college students’ development of critical consciousness, specifically related to coverage of Latinx communities.

ICTs in Educational Contexts:  Digital Storytelling in Journalism Education • Tao Fu, University of International Business and Economics; William Babcock • This paper examines how digital storytelling (DST) can be used as an educational tool. By experimenting at a Beijing university offering a small English business journalism program where there were no audio/video production courses, this study showed that DST might be used not just in primary and secondary education, but in higher education. Given the high penetration of smartphones and accessibility of mobile Internet in China, DST particularly can be niched in journalism and media studies programs without professional faculty and equipment for audio/video production – limitations shared by countless colleges and universities in developing countries. Thus, this study confirmed how DST instruction might contribute to students’ digital media competence, technology literacy, collaborative learning, and engagement. By producing digital stories, students developed a deeper understanding of the social issues and relevant theories introduced in class. By acquiring video shooting and editing skills, students prepared themselves for future careers that increasingly demand such skills.

Principals and the Press: Factors Affecting Censorship in Scholastic Media • R.J. Morgan, University of Mississippi • Qualitative interviews with practicing school administrators indicate that students’ right to publish content in their school publications is determined more by the values and beliefs of their school administrator than by the guidelines set down by the First Amendment and the U.S. Supreme Court.  Administrators believe their roles as keepers of the peace and arbiters of public sentiment trump the individual rights of student journalists.

Drones on High
Uses and Challenges of Incorporating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Into Higher Education • Jean Norman, Weber State University; Avery Holton, University of Utah; Quint Randle, Brigham Young University • In 2016, Federal Aviation Administration regulations allowed for commercial UAV use including universities. With loosened federal restrictions, commercial registrations of UAVs grew and opportunities for their use in higher education increased. Yet, little is known about UAV adoption into curricula. A survey of 95 U.S. universities finds UAV use grew in 2017 and 2018 and that regulation of use by universities remains unclear. Issues of barriers and opportunity in higher education are discussed.

“Wise Freedom” in Scholastic Journalism: A Case Study of a Free Student Press in an Independent, Catholic High School • Kristin Taylor, Kent State University / The Archer School for Girls • This study investigates the factors that allowed a student-controlled free press to be successful at one independent school. Data gathered from on-site observations and interviews with students, the journalism adviser, and the head of school suggest five factors worked in concert to make this program successful: a direct connection between the school’s mission and press freedom, the program’s strong reputation, a supportive administrator, an experienced adviser who grounded students in journalistic ethics, and highly trained student leaders. Experiencing press freedom in this environment appears to have increased students’ ethical fitness, made their reporting more independent, improved their news judgment and civic awareness, and improved their confidence and preparation for adult life because they felt their voices were valued.

Children’s Views of Media Ratings in the Context of a Media Literacy Program • Erica Scharrer, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Stephen Warren, UMass Amherst; Christine Olson, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Porntip Israsena Twishime • This study qualitatively analyzed sixth-graders’ knowledge about media ratings as part of a Media Literacy Education program on media violence and bullying.  Textual analysis revealed differing opinions, with some acknowledging not utilizing the ratings and others calling for increased content descriptors. The results suggest media literacy programs may inspire increased awareness, knowledge, and critical thinking about ratings, and that the existing ratings are both succeeding and failing at the goal of informing audiences effectively.

< 2019 Abstracts

Doug Newsom Award for Global Ethics and Global Diversity

An Appeal to Shared Values: Faith, Advocacy, and Persuasion in the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Public Relations • Brian J. Bowe, Western Washington University; Derek Moscato, Western Washington University; Mariam Alkazemi, Virginia Commonwealth University • While much attention has been paid to the way news media both represent and misrepresent Muslims, much less work has been devoted to Muslim self-representation in the public sphere. This study examines press releases issued by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to begin to close this gap in understanding of Muslim American self-representation. The study explores four strategic frames related to incident reports, legal responses, public sphere engagement and interfaith solidarity. It also examines the calls to action employed in the press releases. Finally, the findings show that releases also emphasized moral language related to protect the rights of individuals to be fully included in public life.

Open Competition

Toward an Emotional Intelligence Approach to Public Relations • Weiwu Zhang, Texas Tech University; Oluseyi Adegbola • This study provides an overview of the role of emotional intelligence in public relations and assesses the research in this area. Existing research has focused mostly on emotional intelligence as a competency vital to effective leadership. This study calls for further research investigating the role of emotional intelligence in different aspects of public relations such as media and customer relations, as well as methodological pluralism in future research.

Resilient Aging: Examining how AARP Constructs Public Resilience Through its #DisruptAging Campaign • Lindsey Anderson, University of Maryland; Sylvia (Jiankun) Guo • We completed an analysis of AARP’s #DisruptAging campaign to understand how the organization crafts messages about resilience to facilitate successful aging among its publics. We found the campaign reflected the processes of resilience communication, as well as a new strategy—acceptance/appreciation. These findings illuminate the societal role of organizational discourse by showing how inclusive organizational-public communication can disrupt stereotypes; thus contributing to a fully functioning society and marking the future of public relations scholarship.

The role of self-transcendent emotions and empathy in motivating communication about social and environmental issues • Denise Bortree, Penn State University; Michail Vafeiadis, Auburn University; Pratiti Diddi, Pennsylvania State University; Julia Gessner, Penn State University; Virginia Harrison; Yiting Chai, Penn State University • This study examines the role of emotions in situational motivations toward communication. In specific, the study looks at how self-transcendent emotions and empathy predict problem recognition, constraint recognition, involvement recognition and situational motivation in problem solving for two issues – climate change and immigration. A 2×2 experimental study found that self-transcendent emotions increase empathy which significantly influences communication motivators. However, not all self-transcendent emotions work in a positive direction for both issues. Implications are discussed.

Exploring the Influence of Stakeholder Personality on Crisis Response Evaluations and Outcomes • Natalie Brown-Devlin, The University of Texas at Austin; Hayoung Lim; Lindsay Bouchacourt, The University of Texas at Austin; Michael Devlin, Texas State University • While public relations professionals are beginning to utilize psychographic data points for more refined methods of audience targeting, this study proposes a novel approach for understanding stakeholders by examining how their elemental personality traits impact 1) crisis communication outcomes (lessen levels of attributed crisis responsibility, improve individual’s image, and increase positive word-of-mouth) and 2) evaluations of employed crisis response strategies. Stakeholder personality traits provide unique psychographics about the target audience, which may assist public relations professionals by micro-targeting strategic crisis response strategies. This study utilized an experimental design with 368 collegiate participants from two Texas universities. Results suggest that several underlying personality traits predict image repair-outcomes regardless of the communication strategy used, while others are more likely to interact certain strategies that embody certain ideal crisis communication outcomes. Several theoretical and practical implications were provided.

Enhancing Perceptions of the value of public relations through MBA education • Kristie Byrum, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania; Kathleen Rennie Ph.D APR Fellow PRSA Professor, New Jersey City University • The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) launched its MBA/Business School Program in fall 2012 to help MBA programs in the United States introduce strategic communication into the business school curriculum. The leading professional organization in the United States launched the program after finding that MBA curricula do not typically include a focus on communication topics. Since launching the program, the PRSA has engaged 16 colleges and universities across the country as participants in the program, allowing them to offer courses specifically designated to strategic communications. This qualitative study set out to better understand outcomes of the courses, most notably how the course can influence the individual’s perception of the public relations process. The study gauged the impact of the class on the perceptions of students (seasoned business professionals) about the public relations profession and the value of strategic communication. This study reports on the students’ perceptions of the business value of public relations, the use of strategic communication, and why the students’ perceptions are meaningful.

(Re)centering human experience: A provocation for a critical humanistic orientation for public relations • Erica Ciszek, University of Texas at Austin • The article reflects on the contemporary status of public relations, highlighting the tensions between functionalist traditions and emergent critical perspectives. It presents critical humanism as an avenue for propelling public relations research and practice. This article imagines possibilities for critical humanistic work in public relations, drawing from and building upon research on feminism, queer theory and critical theories of race, advocating for the discipline to function as an avenue for social change.

Personal Influence in Public Relations • Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, University of Colorado Boulder; Jolene Fisher, University of Colorado Boulder • Personal influence plays an important role in the functioning of public relations across all cultural contexts, yet the concept has been neglected in the field’s scholarship. This study presents a review of the origins and use of the term, an examination of the current state of the personal influence model as it relates to the body of knowledge of public relations, and a research agenda that advances understanding of personal influence in public relations.

Assessing the Relationship between Self-Benefit and Other-Benefit Message Framing, Perceived Transparency Effectiveness, and Organizational Trust • Jolene Fisher, University of Colorado Boulder; Toby Hopp, University of Colorado Boulder • The frames used in organizational transparency messages have meaningful implications as they pertain to the formation of organizational trust among publics. Specifically, in this study, we proposed that transparency messages that emphasize an organization’s commitment to the social good are more likely to elicit trust-based gains than transparency messages that emphasize the organization’s value to the self. The results of two experiments supported this contention.

Understanding the Church of Scientology’s Interpretation of Effective Public Relations • Melanie Formentin, Towson University; Cylor Spaulding, Georgetown University • Scientology’s public relations (PR) function is based on research and writing by L. Ron Hubbard, who studied PR and drafted documents directing Church communication strategies. Hubbard had the textbook Effective Public Relations reprinted with annotations for Church practitioners. Textual analysis shows Hubbard selectively adopted PR strategies; he embraced identifying primary publics and using interpersonal communication but eschewed psychological principles and media relations strategies. The findings show how a religious organization has employed industry principles.

How institutional pressure influences corporate crisis communication practice?: A comparative case study from China • Qijun He, School of Journalism and Communication, Shanghai University • This study aims to explore the influence of institutional pressure on corporate crisis communication practice in China. Through comparing six cases in three pairs of crisis type, i.e., victim, accidental and intentional, the study showed that the firms depended on its willingness to conform to institutional pressure and resistant ability to adopt various strategic responses to cope with institutional pressure in crisis, and accordingly adapt their crisis communication strategies and forms of response to satisfy both self-interest and institutional pressure with less communicative strategies yet more invisible strategies, low-profile stance, and a more timely, active and consistent form of response.

Is fake news the new social media crisis?: Examining the public evaluation of crisis management for organizations targeted in viral fake news • Rosie Jahng, Wayne State University; Scott Burgess; Maria Clara Martucci, Wayne State University • This study conducted a mixed-design experiment to test the main effect of intention to damage the brand and political motivation on crisis identification, crisis severity, and audience acceptance of crisis responses was tested. Also, the moderating role of intention to damage the brand in fake news on the proposed dependent variables were further tested. Results indicated that while fake news with high intention to damage the brands are perceived and evaluated as a severe crisis, fake news with political motivation is not considered as a reputational crisis as much. Organizations should make strategic decisions based on the strength of intention to damage the brand reputation and the presence of political motivations when they find themselves as victims of fake news spreading on social media.

Toward A Relational Theory of Employee Engagement: Understanding Authenticity, Transparency, and Employee Behaviors • Hua Jiang, Syracuse University; Hongmei Shen, San Diego State University • Based on the relationship management paradigm in public relations and the job demands-resources model, we proposed a relational theory of employee engagement integrating employees’ immediate supervisors’ authentic leadership behavior and transparent organizational communication as antecedents of engagement and contextual performance behavior and turnover intention as behavioral outcomes that engagement leads to. Results from an employee survey (N = 727) indicated that immediate supervisors’ authentic leadership exchange with employees helped promote transparent organizational communication. Both authentic leadership and transparent organizational communication predicted employees’ level of physical, emotional, and cognitive engagement, which, in turn, largely explained employees’ contextual performance behavior and turnover intention. Moreover, transparent organizational communication was directly associated with employees’ turnover intention, and indirectly related to their contextual performance behavior via employee engagement. Finally, transparent organizational communication and employee engagement directly mediated the relationship between authentic leadership and two behavioral outcome variables in our model. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Social Media Research in Public Relations, 1998 – 2018: Status and Future Directions • Ran Ju; Sandra Braun; Dat Huynh; Sarah McCaffrey • This study examined the development of social media PR research by analyzing 189 articles published between 2008 and 2018 from two leading PR academic journals through quantitative and qualitative content analysis. Quantitative findings suggested a steady increase in scholarly attention on this topic, an international development of social media research, and a shift of perspectives used to examine this topic. Qualitative findings revealed themes on prominent results and practical implications from the examined articles.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Public Relations as A Scholarly Field • Eyun-Jung Ki, University of Alabama; Yorgo Pasadeos, University of Alabama; Tugce Ertem-Eray, University of Oregon • This bibliometric study aims to evaluate the state of the art in the global public relations literature since its inception to 2017. A total of 24,922 citations from 442 articles permit us to conclude that the growth and popularity of global public relations is steady in the scholarship. The literature is still in the process of interdisciplinary borrowing. The topics of interest in the global public relations research can be generally categorized into three groups: culture or cultural dimensions, application of public relations theory or perspective to another country, and public diplomacy.

The Role of Social Distance, Crisis Severity, and Crisis Response Strategy in Crisis Communication: A Construal Level Perspective • Jeesun Kim, Incheon National University; HyunJee Oh; Chang-Dae Ham, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign • Despite growing research on public attributions of crisis responsibility, relatively little is known about the role of perceived social distance to organizations along with crisis severity and crisis response strategies. Applying Construal Level Theory (CLT) to the context of crisis communication, we examine the role of construal fit between social distance, crisis severity, and crisis response strategy in determining crisis responsibility and negative word-of-mouth (WOM) intention. A test of 2 (social distance: close vs. distant) x 2 (crisis response strategy: defensive vs. accommodating) x 2 (crisis severity: low vs. high) between-subjects experiment finds three two-way interaction effects: 1) between social distance and crisis response strategy; 2) between social distance and crisis severity; and 3) crisis response strategy and crisis severity on negative WOM. No interaction effect was found on crisis responsibility, however. The psychological mechanism based on social distance plays a role in drawing different public reactions to crisis response strategies and different levels of severity. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Activating constructive employee behavioral responses in crisis situations: Examining the effects of pre-crisis internal reputation and crisis communication strategies on constructive and destructive employee voice behaviors • Young Kim, Marquette University; Hyunji Lim, Marquette University • This study explores how organizational management can promote employee voice behaviors, as positive behavioral reactions with constructive ideas, in responding to organizational crisis. Using an experimental study (N=640) among full-time employees in the United States, the study found that pre-crisis internal reputation and crisis communication strategies—accommodative response and stealing thunder—positively and directly affected constructive employee voice behaviors in a crisis situation. Furthermore, the study revealed how post-crisis internal reputation mediates the influences of pre-crisis internal reputation and stealing thunder on positive/constructive and negative/destructive employee voice behaviors.

An Ecological View and A Multi-Level Analysis of Public Organizations’ Communication Behaviors on Social Media • Chih-Hui Lai, National Chiao Tung U; Rebecca Yu, National Chiao Tung University • This study applies an ecological view and a multi-level analysis to unpack public organizations’ communication on social media as embedded in the broader environment. Through manual and automated content analysis of 617 public organizations’ one-year Facebook posts in Taiwan, the data reveal the unique patterns of public organizations’ social media communication as manifested in both message function and message content, as well as the association between these two, after controlling for time and organizational influence.

Crisis Response Strategy Differences: U.S. vs South Korea • Soehyeon Lee; Moon Lee, University of Florida • In this study, we compared the types of crisis response strategies in terms of crisis types utilized in two different countries (i.e., the USA and South Korea) and tested the applicability of a major theoretical approach, Situational Crisis Theory, by analyzing 222 actual crisis cases (USA: n = 114; KOR: n = 108) happened during the last decade (from January 2009 to March 2018). Rebuilding strategy was the most often used strategy, regardless of countries. We also found differences between these two countries in terms of response strategies/specifics in organizations’ responses to crises. Theoretical and practical implications are further discussed in this study.

Toward an Integrated Model of Employees’ Communicative Behaviors on Social Media: Individual and Organizational Determinants • Yeunjae Lee; Katie Kim • To advance theoretical understanding of employees’ communicative behaviors on social media, this study proposes and tests an integrative model that incorporates individual and organizational antecedents. The model specifically examines the collective impacts of the social media-related behavioral motivations of individuals and the quality of organization-employee relationship (OER) on their positive and negative information sharing intentions on personal social networking sites and anonymous social media. The results of an online survey with full-time employees in the U.S. showed that OER significantly increases employees’ positive behavioral intentions and social media-related motivations. Further, OER significantly decreases employees’ negative information sharing intentions on anonymous websites but not on their own social media. Considerable and distinct effects of individuals’ positive (i.e., help organization, self-enhancement, enjoyment) and negative (i.e., vent negative feelings, warn others) behavioral motivations on social media are also found. Theoretical and practical implications for public relations and employee behaviors are discussed.

The Value of Public Relations in Enhancing Employees’ Health Information Disclosure Intentions in the Workplace • Jo-Yun Li, University of Miami; Yeunjae Lee • Various mechanisms and processes have been established that lead to employees’ decisions to disclose their health information in the workplace. The existing literature has emphasized individuals’ stigma, privacy, or discrimination but often overlooked the influence of organizations’ internal communication effort. This study focused on organizations’ public relations practices and explored the antecedents of employees’ health-related perceptions, communicative behaviors, and intentions to disclose their health information in the workplace. In particular, this study tested the impact of symmetrical internal communication and the quality of organization–employee relationship (OER) on employees’ perceived risks and benefits of information disclosure and their communication strategies for their health information. The results of an online survey showed that a positive OER increased the employees’ perceived benefits and direct communication behaviors within an organization. In addition, the OER quality decreased the employees’ perceived risks for disclosing their health information to their supervisors but not to their colleagues. Results also found the varying impact of employees’ perceptions and communication strategies on their intention to disclose their physical and mental health problems. Theoretical and practical implications for public relations and health communication were discussed in this study.

Being honest in crisis communication: Implications of pre-crisis engagement and stealing thunder • SANG LEE, 1961; Jiyoung Lee, WVU • This research reports on the buffering effects of two proactive crisis communication strategies: pre-crisis engagement and stealing thunder, which is an organization’s voluntary revelation of crisis information when facing a crisis. The results showed that the effectiveness of stealing thunder was moderated by the pre-crisis engagement with stakeholder petitions such that the effects of stealing thunder were only observed when the organization engaged with stakeholder complaints in the pre-crisis stage. A moderated parallel mediation model explored the underlying mechanism in which crisis responsibility and crisis severity parallelly mediated the interaction effects between pre-crisis engagement and stealing thunder.

Empowered giving: Understanding the role of psychosocial empowerment in charitable giving behavior to mental health organizations • Taylor Jing Wen, University of South Carolina; Jo-Yun Li, University of Miami • Although mental illness constitutes a large part of the burden of disease, it is one of the least funded diseases in the United States. Guided by the theoretical frameworks of giving behaviors and psychological empowerment, this study seeks to understand the effects of individual characteristics (i.e., altruistic personality traits) and contextual factors (i.e., social capital) on individuals’ cognitions of psychological empowerment and individuals’ subsequent donation behaviors. A survey of 604 participants found that individuals’ beliefs about the meanings and impacts of their charitable giving (i.e., meaning and impact) and the control they have over their ability to make such donations (i.e., competence) are the specific dimensions that reinforce the effects of altruism and social capital on donation intentions. The incorporation of different cognitions of psychological empowerment may help mental health organizations and communication practitioners to address the issue of the relative lack of monetary contributions from the public. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Information vetting as a key component in social-mediated crisis communication: An exploratory study • Xuerong Lu, University of Georgia; Yan Jin; Taeyeon Kim • In order to understand publics’ information consumption behavior in current media environment, this study addresses how and why individuals vet information (or not) in crisis situations. Grounded in dual-process model and meta-cognition theory, an initial conceptual framework of crisis information vetting was outlined. An exploratory study, including four focus groups and 13 in-depth interviews, was conducted to investigate: 1) indicators of information vetting behavior according to participants’ self-reported experience; and 2) what motivate and what prohibit participants from engaging themselves emotionally and cognitively in the process of crisis information vetting. Our qualitative data provided evidence for a two-step process of crisis information vetting, namely, primary vetting and secondary vetting. A total of 48 vetting behavior indicators were further rendered, which serve as a strong content base for future scale development and further conceptual model refinement.

Corporate vanguards: The contemporary role of organization altruism • Lincoln Lu, University of Florida; Kalyca Lynn Becktel, University of Florida; Myiah Hutchens, University of Florida • Dramatic influx of brands embracing diplomatic action as part of their strategic marketing and public relations tactics is muddying the definition of corporate social responsibility. This study utilizes the recent Central American migrant caravan as the context to examine participants’ reactions to corporate philanthropy. A 2×3 experimental design was utilized with an online sample. Organizations adopting explicit positions did not increase brand-public relationship, but perceived altruism was increased for all participants regardless of political identity.

The strive for legitimacy? Corporate diplomacy practices of European MNEs in the UAE • Sarah Marschlich; Diana Ingenhoff • Applying a neo-institutional public relations approach, the purpose of this study is to assess to what extent corporate diplomacy in the United Arab Emirates is used as a legitimation strategy. For this, we conducted in-depth interviews with public relations executives (N=20). Our findings imply that companies engage in corporate diplomacy to align with governmental social expectations in their host country, which can contribute to the companies’ moral legitimacy.

A Different Kind of Public Sector Practice: Local Law Enforcement Public Relations • Lindsay McCluskey, SUNY Oswego • Researchers have distinguished between public and private sector public relations, identifying critical environmental factors that influence public relations practices and ultimately organization-public relationships (Horsley, et al., 2010; Liu & Horsley, 2007; Liu & Levenshus, 2010; Liu et al., 2010; Liu et al., 2012). Taking these variables into consideration, scholars created (Liu & Horsley, 2007) and refined (Horsley et al., 2010; Liu et al., 2012) the Government Communication Decision Wheel, a theoretical model. The GCDW studies did not focus on understanding practices and characteristics associated with specific segments of the profession; therefore, they did not account for variables that may be specific to departments or segments within levels of government. Horsley et al. (2010) and Liu et al. (2012) acknowledged such limitations to their research. This study adds to the theoretical understanding surrounding the GCDW by addressing some of the more “nuanced differences” (Liu et al., 2012, p. 237) associated with a segment of public relations practice that shares “similar missions or tasks” – local law enforcement public relations (Horsley et al., 2010, p. 288). This work is based on 20 interviews with local law enforcement public relations personnel across the United States. Several prominent themes emerged regarding the perceived differences associated with local law enforcement public relations. These include demand and being “24/7;” the level of attention paid to, the level of interest in, and the level of media scrutiny associated with local law enforcement; and the inherent nature and complexity of law enforcement interactions and information.

Communication Strategies to Drive Internal Social Media Usage and Relationship Cultivation with Employees • Rita Men; Julie O’Neil, Texas Christian University; Michele Ewing • This study examined the administrative and communication strategies used by organizations to encourage employee participation on internal social media and analyzed whether employees’ internal social media usage engenders increased transparency and relational outcomes. Specifically, researchers proposed and tested a conceptual model that links organizational communication strategies (i.e., strategic information dissemination, two-way symmetrical communication), employee internal social media usage, perceived organizational transparency, and employee-organization relationships. Through an online survey of 1,150 employees from various organizations in the United States that had adopted internal social media, results showed that strategic information dissemination and social-mediated, two-way symmetrical communication both encouraged employees’ use of internal social media, which in turn, led to employees’ perception of organizational transparency and quality relationship outcomes with the organization. The study also found that organizations primarily use internal social media to post information about news and events in order to keep employees informed and updated. Companies most often utilized Facebook to communicate with employees. While majority companies had a social media policy in place, over half of them did not provide social media training. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Exploring the Role of Stakeholder Engagement in Enhancing Resilience in Emergency Communication: A Qualitative Study • Lan Ni, University of Houston; Weidong Shi, University of Houston • This paper explores the role and mechanism of stakeholder engagement in addressing challenges and enhancing resilience in emergency communication. Through qualitative interviews with 16 emergency managers, this study identified four levels of challenges in enhancing resilience (information challenges, expectation challenges, perception challenges, and personnel challenges). Findings also revealed how key stakeholder engagement processes such as stakeholder identification and relationship management can address these challenges and better activate and empower stakeholders to be partners.

A Human Touch and Content Matter for Consumer Engagement • Hyojung Park, Louisiana State University; Yangzhi Jiang, Louisiana State University • This study explores the roles of consumer motivations and brand communication in increasing consumer engagement with a brand on social media. Data from a survey of a quota sample of 691 U.S. consumers indicate that the motivations of entertainment and remuneration are positively associated with consuming and contributing to brand content on social media. In addition, the motive of obtaining information prompts people to consume brand content (e.g., reading a brand’s posts or watching videos), while the motivation for self-expression leads to contributing activities (e.g., conversing on a brand’s account and uploading videos). After controlling for these motivations, brand communication strategy (such as content and tone) appears to influence consumers’ brand-related activities on social media, which subsequently results in consumer intentions in favor of the brand.

Cultivating #Cupfusion: An Exploration of the Unintended Consequences of Communication in a Public Relations Campaign • Timothy Penn, Towson University • This case study is an exploration into the application of Merton’s (1936) typology of unanticipated consequences of purposeful social actions to a public relations campaign. Merton used scientific analysis to understand factors leading to unintended consequences, rather than attributing them to chance or fate. Using qualitative methods,including in-depth interviews, organization-provided document analysis, and content analysis of the Reese’s brand Facebook page, this study found four of his five factors, including lack of foreknowledge, habit, myopia, and values, have proved applicable to the 2016 Reese’s #Cupfusion campaign. Merton’s typology and the idea of unintended consequences has application for public relations theory and practice. The concept of lack of foreknowledge has implications for both chaos and complexity theory, and how they can be applied to unintended consequences and crisis. This research also supports and adds to social media and strategic campaign planning practice, by providing a lens for the analysis and execution of both pre-implementation and evaluation of public relations campaigns.

Activating Audiences: Using STOPS to Predict Engagement with Issues of Women’s Mass Incarceration • Geah Pressgrove; Crisobal Barra, Universidad de Chile; Melissa Janoske, University of Memphis • Rates of women’s incarceration in the United States are growing at an alarming rate leading to a host of negative economic and familial outcomes. Despite this, little attention has been given to the topic and few people know the extent of the issue. Employing STOPS, this study seeks to understand the confluence of factors that might lead to individuals engaging in prosocial action. Qualitative and quantitative findings indicate that both situational motivation and referent criterion predict active communication, however only situational motivation predicts passive communication. Further, passive communicative action is the best predictor of common support behaviors including donating money, volunteering time and participating in policy advocacy. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Bollywood Diplomacy: A critical Analysis of the Role of Hindi Film Industry in International Public Relations • Mian Asim, Zayed University; Azmat Rasul, Florida State University; Muhammad Ehab Rasul • Through the lens of Propaganda Model, this article explores the relationship between the Hindi film industry, Bollywood, and the international public relations strategies devised by the Indian government during the last couple of decades. After receiving the industry status in 1998, Bollywood carefully filtered movie content due to its dependence on the Indian government for tax-relief, foreign direct investment, soft loans from the banking sector, and the government’s ability to produce flak. We focused on flak as a content filter and argued that Bollywood produced films promoting Indian government’s international public relations agenda and the movie-makers followed the official policy for fear of flak from the government. We found that Bollywood, being one of the most significant culture industries in the world, worked closely with the government and, in return, harvested tangible economic benefits (e.g., tax cuts and soft loans) from the Indian government.

Explicating Alumni Engagement: When Conversational Voice Matters More than Openness and Assurances of Legitimacy • Hongmei Shen, San Diego State University; Bey-Ling Sha, San Diego State University • The question of how organizations engage with their stakeholders has seen increasing investigation in recent years, with public relations researchers examining the concept of engagement from cognitive, affective, and behavioral perspectives (e.g., Dhanesh, 2017; Jelen-Sanchez, 2017). This study examined the engagement of university alumni with their alma mater, with data collected from qualitative interviews, a pilot survey, and a main survey. Results identified three dimensions of alumni engagement: instrumental, communicative and affective, and confirmatory factor analysis supported this three-dimensional structure. Structural equation modeling showed that, while conversational voice was conducive to alumni engagement, openness and assurances of legitimacy did not exert any significant impacts. The findings offer concrete ways in which universities can better engage with alumni, as well as conceptual and methodological ways in which public relations scholars might continue to refine the notion of engagement between organizations and their publics.

The Interplay Between Post-Crisis Response Strategy and Pre-Crisis Corporate Associations • Weiting Tao, University of Miami; Baobao Song, Virginia Commonwealth University • How should a company respond to a crisis related to its social responsibility (CSR) by capitalizing on consumers’ existing corporate associations? To answer this question, this study examined the interaction between consumers’ pre-crisis associations with a company and post-crisis response strategies. Results of an experiment render support for the predicted interaction effect. Additionally, results show in dealing with a CSR crisis, a CSR-related response works better than a response that stresses the company’s product expertise.

A Qualitative Study of the Perceptions of Physically Disabled Public Relations Practitioners • Amanda Sebesta, University of Houston; Jennifer Vardeman, University of Houston • This paper explores the perceptions of physically disabled practitioners in the public relations field. Literature about diversity in public relations, workplace discrimination, and feminist theory of disability framed this study. A qualitative study was conducted using open-ended interview questions, talking with practitioners that have a range of disabilities–including wheelchair-bound, amputee and dwarfism. Themes emerged according to structural factors contributing to a limited inclusivity of disabled practitioners in the field, negotiations of power within disability by practitioners, and complicated representation of disabled practitioners. Theoretical and practical implications are presented.

The overlooked public: The role of citizens in countries hosting mega-events • Kelly Vibber; Alessandro Lovari, Università degli studi di Cagliari • This research expands the work that has been done around nation branding and the impact of hosting mega-events (e.g., diplomacy, national reputation, soft power). Previous work has focused primarily on the ways in which hosting mega-events builds, improves or expands the perception foreign and external publics have of the hosting country and external relations. This research instead focuses inward and aims to answer questions about how hosting mega-events is perceived by citizens of the hosting country, how they view their role in interacting with foreign visitors (e.g., person-to-person or sociological diplomacy) and to what extent they communicate in support of, or against, their country’s efforts. A convenience sample of 426 Italian citizens completed the survey. Results indicate that citizens who placed high importance on their interactions with foreigners reported significantly higher scores on attitudes toward Italy hosting the World Exposition, positive megaphoning behaviors about Italy hosting the Expo and perceived themselves as ambassadors during the Expo. The findings highlight the importance of governments engaging with citizens when taking on mega-events. This intentional communication and relationship management with citizens is critical to internal relations during the mega-event, and has the potential to magnify the positive impact of hosting mega-events.

Bridging the Gap between Relationships and Situations: Exploring the Antecedents and Outcomes of Organization-Employee Relationships • Yuan Wang, City University of Hong Kong • Grounded in the frameworks of the relationship management theory and the situational theory of publics, this study examined the effects of employees’ perceived symmetrical and transparent communication on their perceived relationships with their organization and how the relationships influenced employees’ situational perceptions through a national survey of 449 employees working in large organizations in the U.S. This study found that transparent and symmetrical communication were significant predictors of organization-employee relationships (OERs). Another finding was that employees’ perceived symmetrical communication with their organization positively influenced their transparent communication. Furthermore, OERs facilitated employees’ problem recognition and level of involvement as well as weakened their constraint recognition. The theoretical and practical implications of this study were also discussed.

Volunteer motivation fulfillment: The antecedents and outcomes • Anli Xiao; Virginia Harrison; Christen Buckley • The questions of how nonprofit organizations can best fulfill people’s motivations to volunteer and how volunteers’ motivation fulfillment influences people’s supportive intentions to volunteer remain unclear. This study argues that different status of volunteer motivation fulfillment may have different implications on their future supportive intentions. This online survey found that organizations can enhance volunteers’ degree of volunteer motivation fulfillment through effective stewardship strategies. Interesting results involving the effect of volunteer motivation fulfillment were evidenced by data analysis. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

How CEO Disclosure and Gender Affect Perceived CEO Attributes, Relationship Investment, and Engagement Intention • April Yue, University of Florida; Yoo Jin Chung; Amanda Bradshaw; Tom Kelleher, University of Florida; Mary Ann Ferguson • How does a CEO’s social media content disclosure on Twitter affect CEO attributes, relationship investment, and public engagement, and to what extent does the CEO’s gender (male vs. female) moderate how publics evaluate content disclosures? A 2 (CEO gender: male vs. female) X 4 (level of disclosure: 100% corporate vs. 70% corporate and 30% personal vs. 30% corporate and 70% personal vs. 100% personal disclosure) between-subject experimental design was used to address these questions. A random sample of 465 adult participants in the United States was selected. Results showed that posts that featured high personal disclosure did not increase the perceived likability or competence of the CEO. Neither did CEO gender impact these outcomes. However, CEO professional disclosure proved to be an effective means to gain high levels of perceived relationship investment from publics. Finally, publics may hold implicit gender bias when revealing cognitive (i.e., perceived relationship investment) and behavioral evaluation (i.e., engagement intention) toward a female CEO.

Examining the Effects of Internal Communications and Emotional Culture on Employees’ Organizational Identification • April Yue, University of Florida; Rita Men; Mary Ann Ferguson • As one of the first empirical studies investigating the emerging role of positive emotional culture within organizations, we aim to understand how a symmetrical internal communication system and leaders’ use of motivating language contribute to fostering a positive emotional culture featured by joy, companionate love, pride, and gratitude. Furthermore, we examined the linkage between a positive emotional culture and employees’ organizational identification. Through a quantitative survey with 482 full-time employees in the U.S., we found that both symmetrical internal communication and leaders’ use of motivating language induced the perception of a positive emotional culture, which in turn enhanced employees’ organizational identification. Theoretically, the study showcased the value of strategic internal communications at both the leader’s and organizational levels in fostering positive organizational outcomes and added to the body of knowledge on why emotional culture matters. From a pragmatic point of view, the study findings offered strategic insights into how organizations and leaders should communicate to create a benign cultural environment filled with positive emotions and boost employees’ sense of belonging in the organization.

Improve employee-organization relationships (EOR) and workplace performance through CSR: Insights from an electric and energy company in China • Yafei Zhang; Chuqing Dong • This study examined the impact of employee perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) on their employee-organization identification (EOI), corporate ability (CA), employee-organization relationships (EOR), and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Results, based on a survey (N = 248) with employees from a large, private company in the electric and energy industry in China, revealed that employee perceptions of CSR were positively associated with EOI, CA, EOR, and OCB. In addition, there was a positive spillover effect between CSR and CA. Findings also indicated the positive associations between CA and EOR, and EOI and OCB. This study contributes to the scant research on employee-centered CSR and suggests CSR as an effective strategy to cultivate relationships with employees and to increase their job performance in the Chinese context.

Teaching

Demystifying Data: A Constructivist Approach to Teaching Statistical Concepts Using SPSS • Lauren Bayliss, Georgia Southern University • To improve public relations students’ self-efficacy and knowledge of statistics, two hands-on activities were created. One activity used data simulation in the software program SPSS, and the other used printed statistical outputs. Both activities were introduced in a flipped-classroom format as part of a crossover experimental design. The results indicate that knowledge of statistics increased through both activities. However, the activity using data simulation in SPSS led to significantly higher self-efficacy for learning statistics.

Cut Me Some Slack: Simulation, Experiential Learning, and Slack Bots to Teach Crisis Communication • Julia Daisy Fraustino, West Virginia University; Amanda Kennedy, St. Mary’s University • This research explores using the newly popular online collaboration hub Slack (and Slack bots) for in-class crisis simulation. Qualitative direct observation of two simulations—(1) a workshop and simulation shadow experience with a state National Guard and (2) a crisis communication class culminating in simulation—along with textual analyses of simulation responses and student reflections probe findings. This study partially replicates and expands previous simulation research to generate new insights and options for PR instruction based in experiential learning theory.

Media Literacy among Public Relations Students: An Analysis of Future PR Professionals in the Post-Truth Era • Jami Fullerton, Oklahoma State University; Lori McKinnon; Alice Kendrick • This study assessed various aspects of media literacy among a national sample of US public relations students. Definitions of media literacy transcended basic interpretation of messages and extended to higher-level concepts such as understanding and how media organizations operate. PR students considered themselves to be fairly media literate, and had higher estimates of their own media literacy than a sample of advertising students in a previous study. Implications for public relations educators are discussed.

Curriculum Rebuilding in Public Relations: A Multi Managerial-Level Analysis of PR Practitioners’ Expectations of Graduates • Arunima Krishna, Boston University; Donald Wright, Boston University; Raymond Kotcher, Boston University • This manuscript reports on a survey of practicing public relations practitioners about the professional attributes and job skills necessary for those who intend to enter the public relations field. Analyses compared differences and similarities between senior-level, mid-level and entry-level practitioners. Results indicate that writing, listening, and creativity are the three most significant skills aspiring public relations people should have followed by creative thinking, the ability to deal with an online reputation crisis, the ability to communicate effectively in today’s environment of disinformation, and the ability to build a crisis response plan. Results found statistically significant differences across senior management, middle management, and junior level respondents on items measuring these skills and attributes: possessing business acumen, creativity, research/measurement skills, new technologies, digital story telling, and how to best interact with public relations firms.

Creating Career Confidence: Fostering Professional Self-Efficacy Through Student-Run Agencies and Integrative Learning • Jeffrey Ranta, Coastal Carolina University/Teal Nation Communications; Debbie Davis, Texas Tech University; Andrea Bergstrom, Coastal Carolina University • This study investigates integrative learning linkages provided through student-run agencies (SRAs) and fostering professional self-efficacy (confidence). Based on survey results of 182 SRA student participants, this research measured professional self-efficacy in performing 23 communication tasks and measures attributions awarded by respondents to student-run agency experiences in developing that confidence. Results suggest changes to pedagogy and offers evidence of SRA effectiveness in preparing graduates for responsibilities in public relations, advertising, integrated and strategic communication.

Student

A Concept Explication of Stance: The Leading Strategy to an Organization’s Crisis Response • Courtney D. Boman, University of Missouri School of Journalism • The stance, or series of stances, an organization takes following a crisis encapsulates its thinking and influences its response strategies. Following requirements outlined by McLeod and Pan, this paper explicates stance as a critical and deliberate position an organization takes that is influenced by internal and external variables, that leads to response strategies. This conceptualization can lead to a vanguard of a third generation of theory development for contingency theory of strategic conflict management.

Gun Control Debate on Twitter: Social Media Advocacy & Advocacy Communication • Minhee Choi, University of South Carolina • This study explores agenda setting, message framing, and the concepts of social media advocacy and mobilizing information through content analysis of tweets from competing pro-gun and gun control advocacy organizations, the NRA and Moms Demand Action. Findings revealed that the two organizations actively set the gun rights and gun control agenda through issue framing. Tweets from both organizations were more likely to frame the cause and solution as episodic frames. Mentions of mobilizing information were actively used by both organizations. However, the NRA showed more active communication with their followers through use of hashtags, replies, retweets, and likes.

ICTs Intrusion: The Effects of Using Communication Technology after Hours on Employees’ Counterproductive Work Behaviors • Katie Kim, University of Oklahoma • The integration of information and communication technologies (ICTs) at the workplace has brought a new internal communication environment in the organization. In particular, ICTs enabled internal communication to be extended beyond the workplace and after work hours, which led to an intrusion of work into employees’ private domains. The study examines the impact of ICTs intrusion on employees’ counterproductive work behaviors (CWB) in the context of internal communication management. The results showed that the extent of ICTs intrusion is positively associated with CWB toward the organization’s members. Moreover, the effects of ICTs intrusion on CWB are accentuated when individuals perceive higher stress of being always connected to internal members during non-work hours. The findings of the study suggest practical guidance to organizational managers and public relations professionals on how ICTs should be utilized as an effective internal communication tool to promote a healthy and productive workforce.

Why Do Publics Engage in Negative Communication Behavior on Social Media? • Bitt Moon, Indiana University Bloomington; Eugene Kim, The Media School at the Indiana University, Bloomington • This study explored how consumer publics participate in negative communication behavior (NCB): Brand-related information seeking and sharing on social media. We examined the effects of cognitive, relational, and emotional drivers on NCB through an online survey of 475 participants. The results showed that cognitive factors -brand incompetence and irresponsibility- affect relational distrust and brand hate, which in turn lead to NCB. The findings indicated the significant role of brand hate in consumer publics‘ NCB.

Exploring the Social Networks of Environmental Nonprofit Organizations and Public Reactions to Facebook Postings Contingent on Message Types • Jeyoung Oh, University of Alabama; Bumsoo Kim, University of Alabama • Environmental nonprofit organizations (ENPOs) use social media to generate organization-level networks and distribute diverse informational and promotional messages to the public. However, little is known about how they build organization-level networks in social media and what types of environmental messages they mainly provide. To fill these gaps, this study explores 1) how ENPOs are likely to have organization-level networks and 2) what types of environmental messages they have distributed and publics’ reactions to them. To answer these research questions, a quantitative content analysis was conducted. The results showed that ENPOs actively maintain networks with 1) other types of nonprofit organizations, 2) community-building organizations, and 3) various news media companies or websites. Regarding the second research question, the results showed that when ENPOs provide accurate messages with informational context, social media users are more likely to respond to the message. Furthermore, when they employ human voice with informational context, social media users tend to react more to the messages.

Examining the influence of personal discussion network on consumer engagement behavior: An egocentric network study • Yan Qu, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • Consumer engagement has been a central component in corporations’ relationship management with consumers. This study examines the antecedents of consumer online behavioral engagement through an egocentric network analysis approach. Specifically, how structural and compositional traits of consumers’ brand discussion networks influence their engagement behavior online were explored. Data from an online survey indicated that the size, heterogeneity, and density of personal discussion network were associated with certain engagement behaviors. Findings and implications are discussed.

Is the Organization Ever the Victim? Reassessing Crisis Responsibility • Erika Schneider, University of Missouri-Columbia • This research investigates the theoretical concept of crisis responsibility to realign its effectiveness in crisis communication. The revision, proposing crisis responsibility as the failure to prevent a risk, illustrates that crisis responsibility is heavily weighted on organizational deficiencies. Strategies that deny responsibility are less effective for the organization because stakeholder perceptions emphasize the preventable nature of all crises. Implications of this concept explication includes strengthening tools for scholars to measure and evaluate crisis response strategies.

Relative efficacy of differentiation and bolstering in mitigating the negative spillover effect from a rival brand’s product-harm crisis: A study of market leader and market challenger • Jun Zhang, Newhouse School of Syracuse University • In light of a brand’s recall crisis, rival brands can mitigate the negative spillover effect by distancing themselves from the brand in crisis. This experimental research examines the relative efficacy of a rival brand’s using either bolstering or differentiation strategy in mitigating the negative spillover effect. Results showed that bolstering by a market leader and differentiation by a market challenger had an indirect effect on protecting brand attitude and purchase intent through heightened message evaluations.

< 2019 Abstracts

Open Competition

Embracing the visual, verbal and viral media: How post-millennial consumption habits are reshaping the news • Chris Gentilviso, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Deb Aikat, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • The post-millennial or Generation Z constitutes people born in 1997 or after. This study theorizes how news consumption habits of the post-millennial generation are reshaping the news. Based on a 2019 meta-analytical research review of 16 key studies (published between 2017 and 2019) of media consumption habits of post-millennials, this research study delineates news consumption habits of post-millennials. It theorizes how this new generation of media users are embracing the visual, verbal and viral media and, in turn, reshaping news content. The propensity of the post-millennials to participate in the news cycle shapes their rapidly-changing preferences and usage patterns

Written in code: Exploring the negative effects of acronyms and abbreviations in news headlines • Alyssa Appelman, Northern Kentucky University • Through an experiment (N = 131), this study looks at whether the negative effects of acronyms and abbreviations in news articles are based on their presence or their difficulty. In all, it finds support for a presence/absence effect rather than a difficulty/ease effect. Rather than explaining acronyms and abbreviations in news articles, this suggests that journalists should strive to avoid such constructions altogether.

Journalistic compatibility: How social networking sites fit with users’ preferences for consuming hard, soft news • Steve Bien-Aime, Northern Kentucky University; Mu Wu, California State University, Los Angeles • Through a MTurk survey, this study explored whether users perceived Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat as compatible with consuming hard and soft news on those platforms. Participants reported Twitter and Facebook as the most compatible social networking sites in terms of consuming hard and soft news. Additionally, heightened perceived compatibility was significantly positively associated with individuals’ future intentions to use a SNS for news consumption.

(MacDougall Student Paper Award) Newspaper editors’ interactions with journalistic serendipity • Matt Bird-Meyer, University of Missouri • This mixed-methods study explores the information behavior of newspaper reporters regarding their serendipitous encounters with information that lead to story ideas, and how newspaper editors affect their ability to pursue such encountered ideas. As an interdisciplinary examination in human information behavior and journalism studies, behaviors and routines emerged that encouraged and potentially limited certain behaviors and routines. The findings also identify behaviors wherein newspaper editors match reporters with certain traits to certain story assignments.

Misrepresentation of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery in the American and French press • Sandrine Boudana, Tel Aviv; David Boudana • Research on media representation of plastic surgery has focused on American television and magazines to conclude that these media give a distortedly positive image of plastic surgery. Our study tests the hypothesis that, due to a more critically-orientated tradition, the print press rather emphasizes the negative aspects of plastic surgery and raises concerns about the procedures. Extending our study to a comparison with the French press, we also test the hypothesis that, given its polemicist tradition, the French press might be more critical than the American press towards plastic surgery. Content and framing analyses of 500 American and French newspaper articles show that the press is equally – although in different ways – critical of plastic surgery in both countries. However the comparison of media representations with statistical realities reveals that the negative judgment is not based on accurate representations of the realities of the profession.

Conservative News Nonprofits: Claiming legitimacy without transparency • Michael Buozis, Temple University; Magda Konieczna, Temple University • This study is the first examining and categorizing conservative news nonprofits. Using discourse analysis to explore their missions and other public statements, we note that many of these organizations draw on the legitimacy of mainstream journalism outlets while critiquing them, at once associating with and dissociating from them. This enables them to justify their engagement in the kind of activism normally found outside of journalism, even as they obscure their ideological orientations and funding sources.

Understanding the Nonprofit News Landscape in the United States • Monica Chadha, Arizona State University; Jesse Lecy, Arizona State University • This paper attempts to create a landscape of digital nonprofit news sites by examining their categorization as provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) through the use of National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE). The study also used a content analysis to examine the sites’ mission statements and find out which ones emphasized public journalism, investigative journalism, or both, thus providing nuance to scholarship that until now, has highlighted both as nonprofit news offerings.

Framing of the 2016 Presidential Election of Donald Trump from the World Press • Yu-li Chang, Bethel University • The ascent of Trump as the president of the United States after the 2016 election offered an excellent opportunity to look into how the world press opined on this surprising outcome. This study examined the editorials and columns from the English-language world press on the moral judgment frame, that is, the lessons learned from Trump’s election and the future prospects of the Trump presidency. Mixed methods were chosen as the tool for data analysis – a quantitative content analysis followed by a qualitative narrative analysis to dig deeper into nuances in the thematic frames generated from the content analysis. The findings showed that the world opinion framed Trump’s election more unfavorably than favorably.  This study discovered a central narrative relating to the world’s concerns over Trump’s ability to lead the world to solve its pressing challenges and to do so on moral and cultural grounds.  World opinion framed Trump’s unpredictable personality and policy ignorance as the largest sources of uncertainty, horror, cataclysm facing the world.  Trump was viewed not only being incapable of leading the world to solve its problems; he was portrayed as being capable of bringing catastrophe to the already uncertain and dangerous situation.  World opinion also predicted a degradation of the United States as a beacon of freedom, liberty and democracy because of the resurgent racism, bigotry, xenophobia, and misogyny manifested in Trump and his followers.

Do Students Know the Code?  How Coding is (and isn’t) Taught in Accredited Journalism Programs • Jim Foust; Katherine Bradshaw • A census of ACEJMC-accredited journalism programs reveals that less than a quarter require students to learn code. Despite industry desires for journalists with coding skills nearly 40 percent of the units offer no coding classes. Among programs that require code, most rely on a course or courses taught by full-time faculty in the accredited unit. About one third of units that do not require code currently have plans to add it in the future.

Who perpetuates “fake new” in China? Rumor diffusion on mainstream news websites, Weibo, and WeChat • Lei Guo, Boston University; Yiyan Zhang, Boston University • This study examined the diffusion of online rumors on mainstream news websites, Weibo, and WeChat—the three major media platforms for online news consumption in China. The results show that Weibo was most likely to advance rumors, while WeChat performed the best in refuting rumors. Additionally, mainstream news websites set the agenda of Weibo and WeChat in both advancing and refuting rumors. Within social media, governmental accounts took the leading agenda-setting role in refuting rumors.

Examining the Narratives of Syria: A Longitudinal Frame Analysis of the Syrian Conflict • Emily Burns, Texas State University; Michel Haigh, Texas State University • This study examined news coverage of the Syrian refugee crisis from 2011-2018. Specifically, it investigated how various mainstream news publications framed the Syrian refugee story, the overall tone of coverage, and shifts in coverage of the Syrian refugee crisis over time. Refugees were depicted positively. Tone of coverage became more positive over time, and the most common frames employed were the foreign government response frame and the conflict frame.

Political Polarization and Digital Discourse: Cross-National Analysis of Negativity in Facebook News Comments • Edda Humprecht; Lea Hellmueller • Negativity in news comments arguably leads to a polarization of public debates. We examine how commercialization, but also market-orientation and political leaning of media organizations explain negativity. The study content-analyzed comments on Facebook of six news organizations (N = 1800) in the US and Germany. We find that negative sentiments are particulary prevalent in the polarized information environment of the US. Moreover, hyper-partisan outlets in both countries provoke significantly higher levels of negativity.

Does Newspaper Presence in Household Affect Subscribers’ and Non-Subscribers’ Perceptions of Their Buying Behavior? A Mixed-Method Study • Anastasia Kononova; Esther Thorson, Michigan State University; Jef Richards; Kristen Lynch, Michigan State University • With the ascendancy of digital advertising, there have been only a handful of studies of the newspaper free-standing inserts (FSIs), also known as preprint, as an advertising medium. Given the threatened health of America’s newspapers, the value of FSIs as the primary source of revenue is critical. This paper looks at the impact on newspaper presence in subscribers’ and non-subscribers’ households on their self-reported buying behavior. Individuals from two segments: 1) subscribers to a local daily newspaper (N = 60) and 2) non-subscribers (N = 58) participated in a field study, where the newspaper was delivered to their households for 14 days and was put on hold for another 14 days. Each day, participants reported if they used the newspaper and if they bought anything. Subscribers were found to be older, wealthier, more educated, more likely retired, longer-term community residents, and greater comparison shoppers than non-subscribers. They reported more instances of buying behavior than non-subscribers. Paradoxically, participants who received the newspaper during the study reported fewer instances of buying behavior. Newspaper delivery was associated with increased instances of shopping for health and beauty products. Focus groups were conducted to explain the findings, and the implications were discussed using consumer socialization approach.

Newspaper coverage of Colorado’s 2016 End of Life Options Act • Kimberly Lauffer, Ball State University, Department of Journalism; Sean Baker, Department of Journalism, Central Michigan University; Natalee Seely, Ball State University • Since 2014, several states have introduced and passed legislation permitting aid in dying. In Colorado, Proposition 106, the End of Life Options Act, passed Nov. 8, 2016, with 65 percent of Coloradans approving the law. How newspapers cover contentious issues is important because these representations influence public opinion. This study found a relationship between item type and overall stance, as well as a difference in the content produced by journalists and laypersons or columnists.

Approach or Avoid? Emotional Sentiments and Reactions in News of Sexual Assault • Yu-Hao Lee, University of Florida; Mo Chen, University of Florida • We conducted a sentiment analysis on the news headlines and the social media descriptions of 2340 news articles on sexual assault accusations and #MeToo from October 2017 to February 2018. Based on the emotions-as-frames perspective and theories of political ideologies. We examined whether news organizations with more conservative users used more words that signaled anger, anxiety, and sex. Furthermore, we examined to what extent do the news sentiments of anger, anxiety, and sexual-framed messages predict social media engagement behaviors (like, share, comments) among mostly conservative or liberal users. The results showed that news organizations with more conservative users used more emotional sentiments in their headlines and descriptions. Moreover, anxiety sentiments were associated with less engagement while sexual sentiments were associated with more engagement among most-conservative users.

Drowning out the message: How online comments on news stories about Nike’s ad campaign contributed to polarization and gatekeeping • Jinhee Lee; Zulfia Zaher; Ed Simpson; Elina Erzikova • This study examined audience commentary on Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC’s YouTube and Facebook platforms associated with news stories on Nike’s selection of controversial former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick as spokesman for its 2018 campaign. The study, using the theory of gatekeeping as a starting point, sought evidence for a drowning effect, in which the audience strayed from the primary message of the journalism presented to it. A significant drowning effect was found, across platforms and outlets.

Understanding the Typology of Native Advertising on News Websites • You LI, Eastern Michigan U; Ye Wang • This study explored how 57 U.S. news websites integrated native advertising through placement locations and yet differentiated it from editorial content through disclosure languages and designs. The websites placed native ads in more than two locations on average. While 79% of websites met FTC’s disclosure guideline, only a quarter used maximum disclosure tactics. The publishers with more cultural capital (i.e., the number of Pulitzer awards) differentiated native advertising from editorial content to a greater extent.

News Media Credibility Ratings and Perceptions of Fake News Exposure among Internet Users in Five Countries • Justin Martin, Northwestern University in Qatar; Fouad Hassan, Northwestern University • This study examined media credibility ratings and perceptions of fake news exposure online among internet users in five Arab countries: Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and UAE (N=4,616). Perceptions of fake news exposure were not consistently associated with either ratings of news media credibility or news consumption; rather, respondents who said governments and the public should stop the spread of fake news online were reported coming across fake news online more often.

The Story Behind the Story: How Transparency About the Journalistic Process  Boosts Perceptions of News Outlet Credibility • Gina Masullo Chen, University of Texas at Austin; Alex Curry, The University of Texas at Austin; Kelsey Whipple, The University of Texas at Austin • This two-study package (Study 1: N = 753; Study 2: N = 599) sought to understand whether adding a transparency box that explains how journalists did a news story could improve perceptions of the credibility of a news outlet. Our findings from Study 2 demonstrated this box was effective in boosting perceptions of news outlet credibility when used with real news sites among the audience members for those sites.

Responding to Online Disagreement Comments: It’s Not What You Say, But How You Say It • Gina Masullo Chen, University of Texas at Austin; Marc Ziegele, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf; Martin Johannes Riedl, The University of Texas at Austin & Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society; Pablo Jost, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz; Teresa Naab, University of Augsburg • An experiment (N = 1,231) in Germany found that moderators responding to disagreement comments on a news site’s Facebook page should use high-person-centered (HPC) messages, which acknowledge people’s emotions, rather than low-person-centered (LPC) messages, which dismiss feelings. HPC messages improved attitudes toward the news site and loyalty to the site’s online community, regardless of whether the disagreement comments were civil, uncivil, or impolite. Improved attitudes toward the news site were heightened if journalists were moderating.

Mediating Transnational Movement: Indian News Media and the #MeToo Movement • Suman Mishra • This study explores the media coverage of the #MeToo movement in India. Using thematic analysis of news articles from six prominent Indian newspapers (The Hindustan Times, The Times of India, The Indian Express, The Telegraph, The Pioneer, and The Economic Times), the study reveals the unique way in which this transnational movement was discussed in the Indian context. Patriarchal conditioning, fear of retaliation and reputational harm, and lack of recourse through slow and unresponsive judiciary, were some prominent cultural themes in the coverage. In addition, there was a focus on the entertainment industry and its celebrities. This focus limits “Me Too” movement’s potential and resonance with the larger Indian public who are likely to see it as an elite Hollywood-Bollywood phenomenon. Further discussion is provided.

Guilt by association: How chum box advertising affects news readers’ perceptions • Logan Molyneux; Bartosz Wojdynski, University of Georgia • As content referral widgets and other forms of native advertising continue to be lucrative means of subsidizing journalism, critics and industry observers have derided these “chum boxes” as damaging to the user experience and the journalism they’re adjacent to. This study theorizes mechanisms behind this proposition and tests it in two controlled experiments. Results suggest that chum box ads damage message and source credibility in circumstances where readers are motivated and attentive.

Journalism Practice in a Digital Age: Utilization of Social Media in Online News • Mirjana Pantic, Pace University; Ivana Cvetkovic, University of New Mexico • This study employed the gatekeeping perspective to examine what practices 10 prominent U.S.-based news websites embrace when deriving content and sources from social media. A thorough content analysis of 180 online news shows that journalists primarily rely on institutional, official sources when utilizing social media in the news production process. Furthermore, journalists are most likely to employ written information from Twitter in online news and publish such information in entertainment and politics sections.

“Why the h**l is there a White House Correspondents’ Dinner?” Field Theory in Political Journalism • Gregory Perreault; Kellie Stanfield, Missouri School of Journalism; Shelby Luttman • This study aimed to analyze the shifting role conceptions of journalists in the field, primarily in reference to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Researchers conducted 32 phone interviews with political journalists from news outlets ranging from the Los Angeles Times to VICE. This study argues that the present format of the dinner presents a challenge to the journalistic field, one that political journalists have difficulty managing within their journalistic role.

Media Literacy to Rebuild Trust in Journalism: A Typology for a Changing News Audience • Sue Robinson, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Kelly Nelson, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Carlos Davalos, University of Wisconsin-Madison • Trust in all institutions has plummeted across the board, internationally – especially trust in the political institution that is the press. One popular solution to rebuilding trust calls on increased forms of media literacy. Using a series of 15 case studies involving initiatives around the globe to rebuild citizen trust in news media, this research explores the links between media literacy and relationships with information in a digital, populist age through both textual analysis of these projects’ materials as well as in-depth interviews with their founders and directors. It puts forth a more complex definition of media literacy, typologizes kinds of literacy (settling on civic consumption, amateur (co-)production (sharing), professional information production (newsrooms), and algorithms/technology), and reimagines who is responsible to become literate and to teach literacy. We find that the notion of “literacy” has application for not only schools, universities and adult citizens, but also for journalists and platforms themselves.

Border Patrol: The Rise and Role of Fact-Checkers and Their Challenge to Journalists’ Normative Boundaries • Jane B. Singer, City, University of London • Although most research to date has focused on leading U.S. fact-checkers, similar initiatives are springing up all over the world. This study draws on a globally disseminated questionnaire, plus interviews with fact-checkers on four continents, to examine how they describe their fundamental norms, understand their social role, and engage their audiences. A conceptual framework of journalistic boundary-setting helps guide exploration of the ways that fact-checkers see themselves in relation to legacy journalists.

Diffusion of Video Advertising on Community Newspaper Websites? • Burton Speakman, Kennesaw State University; Michael Clay Carey, Samford University • This study reviews diffusion of innovation at community media websites regarding the use of video and video advertising. Results suggest that video reached a point where a sizable number of community media outlets publish them online. Yet, video advertising lags behind in use. Furthermore, it appears that elements such as circulation and size of a media corporation have little influence in the development and use of video and video advertising on community media websites.

When do people share fake news online? The effect of social network size and homophily • Ruoyu Sun, University of Miami; Cong Li, University of Miami; Barbara Millet; Khudejah Ali; John Petit • “This study examined the impact of social network size and homophily on people’s intention to share news, especially fake news, on Facebook. Based on an experiment, it was found that perceived homophily with Facebook contacts was positively associated with news sharing intention. A significant three-way interaction effect between network size, homophily, and news type on news sharing intention was also discovered, and this effect was mediated by motivation to socialize with online contacts.

Enacted Journalism Takes the Stage: How Audiences  Respond to Reporting-Based Theater • Ori Tenenboim, The University of Texas at Austin; Natalie (Talia) Jomini Stroud, The University of Texas at Austin • From offering comment sections to hosting town hall meetings, news organizations have experimented with different ways of engaging audiences. This paper focuses on reporting-based live-theater performances followed by conversation. Drawing on surveys of audiences attending performances of three different plays (n=279) and in-depth interviews with 13 people involved in the plays, this paper shows that what we term “enacted journalism” can increase knowledge, boost efficacy, and influence what people think about the media’s role.

A New Kind of Journalistic Paradigm Repair: How U.S. News Outlets Rejected the Label “Enemy of the People” • Leslie-Jean Thornton, Arizona State University; Susan Keith, Rutgers University; Sue Robinson, University of Wisconsin-Madison • “In August 2018, more than 600 news organizations answered the Boston Globe’s call for a united editorial stand against more than two years of unprecedented attacks by the U.S. President. Qualitative analysis revealed movement beyond paradigm repair into paradigm justification through oppositional identity markers, affinity reminders, and validity claims. This represents a more substantial defense of the foundational idea that a press is necessary for a vibrant democracy.

Here’s what to know about clickbait: Effects of image, headline and editing on audience attitudes • Fred Vultee, Wayne State University; Scott Burgess; Darryl Frazier, Wayne State University; Kelsey Husnick, Wayne State University • “This quantitative study examines responses to three features of news practice: headline style, selection of illustrations and level of processing applied to the text. The strongest influence on perceptions of quality or credibility come from editing, and the presence of editing also influences whether traditional or clickbait headlines are associated with better memory for story details. News use, Internet use, news source and field of study also influence outcomes.

Whistleblowing, leaking, or both? A text-mining analysis of definitional discrepancies in major metro newspapers • Stephenson Waters • Using a framing-centered text-mining analysis, the purpose of this study was to examine the content of 2,100 news stories from major metro daily newspapers to uncover if and how the connotations surrounding whistleblowing and leaking acts may vary depending on a journalist’s word choice. Considering the risks whistleblowers take when disclosing information to the news media, the question of how they are defined by journalists is consequential. Crucial to the success of a whistleblower’s intention of actionable change or remedy of misdeeds is the public dissemination of their claims and evidence, so media coverage matters. Initial results found journalists overall tend to frame whistleblowers and leakers in objective language in the majority of their coverage of these subjects. More subjective terminology was infrequent, considering the vast number of stories in the overall data set; however, the occurrences of subjective language is still instructive, as it showed preliminary results that leakers and leaking are framed negatively and with more skepticism than whistleblowers and whistleblowing. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

Report for America, report about communities: local news capacity and community trust • Andrea Wenzel, Temple University; Sam Ford, Tow Center for Digital Journalism; Efrat Nechushtai, Columbia University • This study looks at Report for America’s efforts to strengthen the capacity of local news and increase trust from the perspective of a neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side, and a rural county in Eastern Kentucky. Using a communication infrastructure theory framework, it follows 28 residents through project-start and end focus groups. This is complemented by 15 interviews with journalists and RFA staff, and content analysis of local stories from the Chicago Sun-Times and Lexington Herald-Leader.

Look Around and Learn: Effects of 360-Degree Video in Online News • Bartosz Wojdynski, University of Georgia; Ivanka Pjesivac, The University of Georgia; Jihoon Kim; Matt Binford, University of Georgia; Keith Herndon, University of Georgia • In a between-subjects eye-tracking experiment, adult readers of a large metropolitan daily newspaper (N=48) viewed and evaluated one of two versions of the same online news feature: one with an embedded 360-degree video alongside text and images, and the other using exclusively text and static images. Findings show that the presence of 360-degree video increased attitudes toward the article, article credibility, and visual attention to article content, but did not significantly affect recall of the story

Keepers of the comments: How comment moderators handle audience contributions • David Wolfgang, Colorado State University; Hayley Blackburn, Colorado State University; Stephen McConnell, Colorado State University • “As news commenting has evolved as a participatory tool and journalists have developed traditional practices for moderation, there are increasing questions about how to promote quality spaces for news discourse. Using gatekeeping theory, this study analyzes in-depth interviews with 13 news comment moderators to understand how these individuals establish moderation routines and define their professional role. This provides new insight into the journalist-audience relationship and the development of new media practices for online news production.

Commenters as a threat to journalism? How comment moderators perceive the role of the audience • David Wolfgang, Colorado State University; Stephen McConnell, Colorado State University; Hayley Blackburn, Colorado State University • “Journalists and commenters have struggled to negotiate the appropriate use of news forums. But research about perceptions of commenters has typically focused on journalists and not the comment moderators who specifically manage content. This study uses in-depth interviews with 13 U.S. news comment moderators to understand through a field theory analysis how moderators perceive commenters as possible threats to the profession and, potentially, help to develop quality commenting into a form of journalistic cultural capital.

Student Papers

Democracy’s gatekeepers? How editorial boards constructed moral equivalence between 2016 presidential candidates • Kirsten Adams, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • Through a mixed-method analysis of 75 major U.S. newspapers’ 2016 editorial endorsements, this study asks how editorial boards evaluated the two most controversial and unpopular major-party presidential candidates in U.S. history and the threats they posed to democratic norms and institutions. I find that while attempting to fill the seemingly vacated role of “democracy’s gatekeepers,” news organizations simultaneously undermined these efforts by actively constructing moral equivalence between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Darker cloud or silver lining? News framing of the opioid crisis and organ donation • Alexis Bajalia, University of Florida; Amanda Bradshaw • America’s opioid crisis is doing more than taking lives. It is contributing to a substantial increase in organ donation, which some conclude is saving lives. A qualitative framing analysis of 59 U.S. news articles explored how journalists frame the relationship between the opioid crisis and organ donation. Four major themes emerged: silver lining and hope out of tragedy; shortcut to saving lives, times, and organs; medical acceptance, innovation, and evolution; and rewriting the narrative and changing the stigma. Because news articles tended to frame the relationship between the opioid crisis and organ donation as having a positive effect on society, this study provided practical and theoretical implications about how such framing may impact consumers’ knowledge, attitudes, and/or beliefs about the opioid crisis and/or organ donation.

Similarities and Differences in Western Media Portrayals of the Greek Economic Crisis • Tryfon Boukouvidis, Louisiana State University • This study examines newspaper coverage of the Greek economic crisis in the summer of 2015 through a qualitative content analysis on the attribution of responsibility to the actors involved. Prior literature indicates that American newspapers present economic crises from an elite perspective, possibly distorting public opinion to reflect elite views. Newspapers have become more rigorous in interpreting the underlying mechanisms of a crisis instead of superficially covering episodic events, but most analysis comes from editorials.

Biased Optimism: Online Fake News and Their Influence on Third-Person Perception and Corrective Action • Hyungjin Gill; Moonhoon Choi • This study examines the potential presence of 3PE in fake news and investigates at what third-person perception (“3PP”) may do to people’s willingness to engage in different forms of corrective action. Additionally, based on the root-idea embedded in 3PE (i.e., anticipation of media influence on self vs. others), the study delves into whether such perceptual distinction exists in presumed corrective action intention as well. And finally, the research aims to identify various kinds of corrective actions that may exist in different forms of reactions in response to online mis/disinformation to further previous communication research findings on undesirable media and attitudes toward censorship. Results shows presence of third-person effect (presuming greater effect of potentially harmful media content on others than self) in fake news exposure. Respondents also saw others as having more willingness to engage in corrective behaviors to counter fake news than themselves, serving as potential explanation for the spread of mis/disinformation during elections. Implications of corrective action items and the association between third-person perception and corrective action intention are discussed.

Framing Immigration:  Criminal Frames of Latinx Immigrants and Social Distancing • Elizabeth Hurst, University of Oklahoma; Juliana L. Barbati • This experiment sought to examine how manipulation of high-order social identities can impact the perception of different news frames at four different levels (i.e., the communicator, the receiver, the text, and the culture. The results indicate that political party identification had the most significant impact on social distance towards Latinx immigrants and national identity salience. Implications for single-exposure framing experiments, the level of culture within framing research, and social identity research are discussed at length.

Interpretation, participation and negotiation in China’s online news: A study of The Paper • RAN JU • This article selects The Paper (Pengpai), a Chinese online news media which incorporates the functionality of the party press into market-oriented journalism, to examine how online news embraces an interpretive journalism paradigm to collaborate with the party-state, to encourage the community involved in, and to find a place in the Chinese digital market. In addition to in-depth interviews with reporters and editors in The Paper, this study analyzes 2239 news articles posted on The Paper website and the comments underneath these articles over the period from 2015 to 2016. It is argued that the connection and disconnection between the journalistic role conception and performance are shaped by the negotiation between multiple groups and institutions that are constituted by interpretive communities. Journalistic interpretation in the online platform, on the one side, enlarges the boundaries of journalists’ collective authority, and on the other side, equips engaged readers with discursive resources in public debates.

Tweets, Statements, and Quotes: News Source Selection, Gatekeeping, and Bias coverage of Indian #Metoo movement • Shreenita Ghosh, University of Wisconsin Madison; Kruthika Kamath, University of Wisconsin–Madison • This study explores the source categorization, source prominence, gender representation, journalist gender, and the coverage of #metoo movements in India. A content analysis of nine major English-language daily newspapers coverage of the movement shows that the digital age has only made a marginal dent in norms of inclusion and credibility of ordinary and minority citizens as sources. Further, medium selection and journalistic gatekeeping are considerably different in the two phases of the Indian #metoo movement.

Battle of the Frames: Perspective Collision and Hyper-Mediation at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. • Chelsea Bonser; DI LAN; Stephen McConnell, Colorado State University • A collision of perspectives at the Lincoln Memorial revealed how one moment in today’s digital news environment can rapidly produce news frames that define and redefine “reality” along ideological lines. Through a content analysis of media outlets that vary on the political spectrum, the authors found significant associations regarding how each outlet distinctly portrayed and framed the main actors of the event, as well as how new frames rapidly formed as new information became known.

Addressing News Media Image in an Age of Skepticism • Soo Young Shin, MSU • This study explored news media image as perceived by the public by employing a concept used in marketing literature—image. Journalism stakeholders and scholars suggest the public’s perceptions of news media is not favorable, which consequently decreases readerships and makes the public lean towards alternative news (i.e., fake news). Considering this growing negative sentiment toward news media, it is crucial to understand the public’s perceptions of news media to address the public’s negative perception(s) and hopefully change them. Particularly, the news media industry has not yet possessed broad concepts, not to mention measures, to capture the public’s overall perceptions in terms of news organizations. The perceptions of 44 participants (over the course of nine sessions) living in the Midwestern U.S. were investigated using focus group methods. The results revealed eight dimensions of news media image: news quality, news usefulness, social responsibility, personality, usability, transparency, perspective-taking, and news selection bias. Participants believed that news media organizations are mostly biased in their selection of news stories, as news organizations are under pressure to make profit. Despite holding this view, certain ideals of news media, such as the potential role of the media as community watch-dogs and “protectors” of democracy, are highly valued. Participants particularly valued transparency, rather than objectivity, of news organizations and indicated that news is generally useful in acquiring information directly relevant to their lives.

The Emergence of Social Justice Journalism • Allison Steinke, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities • Social justice journalism is an emerging style of newswork in for-profit and nonprofit newsrooms in the United States. This qualitative study provides in-depth analysis of interviews with journalists who cover social justice topics at mainstream legacy media and nonprofit newsrooms across the U.S. Some reporters have formal social justice beats while others are general assignment reporters, investigative reporters or columnists who occasionally cover social justice topics or beats including criminal justice, government corruption, marginalized populations, immigration, and homelessness. Through the conceptual lens of the sociology of newswork and imagined audiences, this study explores social justice journalists’ beats, identities, and constructions of their audiences. This study argues that journalists who cover social justice often identify as advocates within the public sphere while others oppose advocacy in their work and prefer to pursue traditional journalistic values of fairness, accuracy and objectivity.

< 2019 Abstracts

Faculty Research Competition

Doesn’t Beto Look Hispanic? Perceived Co-ethnicity and Voting in the 2018 Texas Senate Election • Oluseyi Adegbola; Sherice Gearhart, Texas Tech University • Existing research has shown that Hispanic voters are likely to support Democratic candidates as well as candidates with matching ethnicity. However, voters’ decisions are influenced by a host of other factors including, but not limited to, political advertising, agreement with candidates’ issue positions, and candidate evaluations. The current study examines how these factors collectively guide Hispanic voters using survey data (N = 424) collected during the 2018 Texas senate election featuring Anglo Democrat, Beto O’Rourke, and Hispanic Republican, Ted Cruz. Results suggest that different pathways led to support for Cruz and O’Rourke. Hispanics exposed to advertising supporting Cruz also perceived him to be Hispanic, leading to shared issue positions and support for him. Hispanics exposed to advertising supporting O’Rourke were more likely to share his issue positions, leading to positive evaluations and electoral support for the congressman. Implications for future research on Hispanic voting are discussed.

What do scientists look like? Race, Gender, and Occupation in Children’s STEM-Focused Educational Television • Fashina Alade, Michigan State University • This content analysis draws attention to race and gender representation amongst the characters in STEM-focused children’s television programs. Across 90 episodes, 1,086 unique speaking characters were coded on their demographics, physical attributes, centrality to the plot, and modeling of STEM behaviors and occupations. Findings align closely with prior character-focused content analyses, with female and minority characters being underrepresented compared to U.S. population statistics, but also present some areas in which the industry may be improving.

Perpetual foreigners: negotiating the framing of Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans via Twitter after Hurricane Maria • Maria DeMoya, DePaul University; Vanessa Bravo, Elon University • In September of 2017, Puerto Rico was hit with Hurricane Maria, one of the costliest and deadliest storms in U.S. history. Its effects on the island’s infrastructure and socioeconomic situation are still felt more than a year later. The media attention that this crisis brought resulted in coverage not only about the hurricane but also about the island and its people, bringing renewed attention to the territory status of Puerto Rico and the different type of citizenship held by its residents. As with any modern natural disaster, people relied on traditional and digital media to obtain need-to-know information and make sense of the situation. In this process, Twitter users articulated a place for Puerto Ricans in the American imaginary. Through a critically-informed content analysis of Twitter conversations, this study explores the question of the treatment of Puerto Rico and its people, and how this treatment was shaped by Twitter discussions.

YouTube’s content influence on college-aged Black women’s decision to transition to natural hair • Cameron Jackson; Vanessa Bravo, Elon University • Not knowing how to care for their natural hair and not wanting to be judged by older generations, young Black women are turning to YouTube to gain information and support for their decision to go natural, and to become part of a larger online community. To understand their motivations, this study analyzed the narratives of 17 Black, college-aged women, from five universities(two private liberal arts universities, two large state universities and two historically Black universities), about their experiences of going natural and the role YouTube played in their journey. The different meanings of transitioning to wearing natural hair and the role that YouTube played in the process of making that decision, according to the participants’ narratives, are discussed in the study. Findings suggest that YouTube videos about natural hair have helped these women to overcome challenges encountered during their natural hair journeys, such as facing societal judgment and going against familial norms. However, the participants also revealed concerns surrounding the accuracy of YouTube depictions in regard to colorism, hair textures and branded content. Implications of how YouTube has influenced these Black women’s sense of identity and how it has given them a shared online community are discussed.

JMC Deans of Color Lead with a Purpose: A Qualitative Study • Keonte Coleman, Middle Tennessee State University School of Journalism and Strategic Media • This qualitative study contextualized the leadership experiences of journalism and mass communication (JMC) deans who self-identified as persons of color. These deans expressed bringing a higher purpose to leading their programs while anonymously participating in a virtual focus group. This study aims to elucidate the benefits of increasing the diversity of JMC leadership and to illuminate the need to improve the working environment to help recruit future JMC leaders of color.

Expanding the Theory of Planned behavior: Implications for Media Use, Race/Ethnicity, and Pro-Environmental Intentions • Troy Elias; Jay Hmielowski, Washington State University • Using a purposive sample of 302 Latinos, 305 African Americans, 310 non-Hispanic Whites, and 299 Asian Americans, we examine the relationship between media (e.g., liberal, conservative, and non-partisan) and pro-environmental intentions. Existing studies show the impact media’s ideological perspectives have on shaping orientations. We propose a mediated moderated model examining whether the conditional indirect relationship of various media outlets on behavioral intentions through key components of the Theory of Planned Behavior varies by race.

“I am Enough”: (Re)Constructions of Gendered and Racialized Subjectivities in Crazy Rich Asians • Marianne Fritz, California State University, Los Angeles • As the first film in 25 years to feature an all-Asian cast, Crazy Rich Asians has generated a lot of interest among profession film critics and, more importantly, film spectators. The present paper considers the film’s counter-hegemonic depictions of Asian Americans. In addition, I examine the film’s depiction of gender roles within heterosexual romantic relationships, and the way it normalizes Asian-Asian pairings, while at the same time sexualizing the image of the Asian male.

Latina Millennials in a Post-TV Network World: ‘Anti-stereotypes’ in the Web-TV Series East Los High • Celeste Gonzalez de Bustamante, University of Arizona; Jessica Retis, Cal State University – Northridge • This paper analyzes the emergence of ‘anti-stereotypes,’ and attempts to locate Latina millennial latinidad in East Los High, by paying specific attention to the topic of teen pregnancy. In addition, we aim to identify attempts to create collective action through scale shifting strategies (Livingston and Asmolov, 2010; Author 2014). The chapter interrogates how Latinas are being represented and representing themselves in a historically political and transformative mediatic era, and what might be the prospects for social change. In addition, the chapter examines the potential for collective action among producers and actors of East Los High through the process of “scale-shifting”. In Tarrow’s (2005) definition, scale-shifting involves ‘‘a change in the number and level of coordinated contentious actions to a different focal point, involving a new range of actors, different objectives, and broadened claims. It can also generate a change in the meaning and scope of the object of the claim’’ (p. 121).” While, Tarrow, Livingston and Asmolov were concerned with the potential for activists to side-step bona-fide political actors and structures in nation-states, we focus our attention on the structural issues involving the entertainment industry, and the ability of Latina/o producers and actors to circumvent traditional power structures to contribute to collective-action to effect social change. They argue that “the growth of networked non-state actors and scale shifting sometimes bypasses both states and traditional news organizations” (Livingston and Asmolov, 2010, p. 751). We ask in this post TV-network era, whether approaches involving transmedia and edutainment (using entertainment outlets and content to entertain and educate) strategies (Ramasubramarian, 2016; Wang & Singhal, 2016), and/or the use of social media by entertainment actors as activists may contribute to create a sense of collective action. We suggest that there is room and need for more programming similar to ELH that incorporates the dual functions of entertaining Latina youth and education about relevant social issues.

News media apologies for racism • Robin Hoecker, DePaul University • Should news organizations apologize for racist coverage? What should such an apology look like? This study looks at three case studies of publications that apologized publicly for their contributions to slavery, racism and racially motivated violence: The Hartford Courant in 2000, National Geographic in 2018, and the Montgomery Advertiser in 2018. It reviews the elements of an effective apology and then evaluates each publication’s statement on those parameters. It compares and contrasts these efforts and discusses potential best practices for publications considering apologies in the future.

Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Patriotic Advertising to Ethnic Minorities • Gawon Kim; Jun Heo, Louisiana State University • This research revisits the identity complexity, identification, and distinctiveness theories to understand how ethnic minorities in the U.S. respond to patriotism-themed advertising. The significance of acculturation was emphasized in evaluating patriotic ads, beyond the ethnicity itself. Online experiment revealed that Americans, regardless ethnic backgrounds, preferred patriotic advertising, and the preference improved with an ethnicity-matching appeal. The authors argue acculturation of new generations among ethnic minorities reduces the gap between ethnically dominant group and minority groups.

She’s not one of ours: Social identity, black sheep effects and transgressive female athletes • Lance Kinney, University of Alabama; Dylan Teal; Amanda Flamerich • She’s not one of ours: Social identity, black sheep effects and transgressive female athletes. This research reports the results of a 2 (female athlete race: Black or White) x 2 (female athlete appearance: threatening or non-threatening) experiment. Participants read a simulated media report and recommended punishment for an athlete accused of using performance-enhancing drugs. Participants with high levels of personal racial identity recommended significantly harsher punishments to athletes of other races. Sex effects were observed for White female participants and Black male participants.

Learning to be More or Less Prejudiced? How News Media Moderate the Effects of Ideologies and Partisanship on Attitudes toward Migrants • Tien-Tsung Lee, University of Kansas; Yuki Fujioka, Georgia State • Using a large national survey, this study investigated the predictors of Americans’ attitudes toward migrants. Younger, better educated, non-White, liberal, and Democrat-leaning individuals are more supportive of migrants. Political partisanship mediates the relationship between ideology and attitudes toward migrants. The number of television news programs watched, and the number of radio news and talk shows consumed, have a moderation effect on the connection between the support for migrants and one’s ideology as well as partisanship.

Does Professor’s Gender or Ethnicity Matter to College Students? A Case of Prejudice in Higher Education • Moon Lee, University of Florida; Povedano Shiselle • This study investigated how college students rated professors’ qualifications and their intention to take a course based on a professor’s race and gender after reviewing an identical syllabus of a communication course. The purpose was to investigate whether a professor’s ethnicity/gender influences college students’ perceptions of the professor and their evaluations of the class. Five hundred twenty-seven undergraduate students participated in this post-test only group experiment. We found an interaction effect between a professor’s gender and ethnicity on a student’s perception of the professor’ qualifications, likability, and student’s intent to enroll in a class.

Latino Trust in Journalists and the 2016 U.S. General Election: An Analysis of Voter Responses • Maria Len-Rios, The University of Georgia; Patricia Moy, University of Washington; Ivanka Pjesivac, The University of Georgia • This paper reports qualitative and quantitative data from a national online panel survey of Latinos (N=720) after the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Participants reported in their closed-ended responses a level of distrust toward the news organizations that largely parallels national figures. In open-ended responses, Latinos cited cable news journalists most as trusted journalists, with additional differences by partisanship and whether individuals were U.S. or foreign born. Implications for political news consumption and identity are discussed.

Muhammad Ali in New York, 1967-1970: The Media and an Exiled Boxer Fight the Establishment • Raymond McCaffrey, University of Arkansas • This historical study explores the relationship between Muhammad Ali and the New York media from April 1967 to October 1970, when the boxing champion was exiled from fighting after refusing military induction. The study examines Ali’s relationship with powerful media personalities who stood by him when many journalists refused to even use his Muslim name. This examination reveals Ali’s skill and daring as he publicized his fight against the U.S. government and the boxing establishment.

The Supreme Court’s Plessy and Brown decisions, democratic rights, and journalism ethics in the battle over segregation in the South, 1960-1964 • Ali Mohamed, UAE University • We examine the role of the Southern press in the “massive resistance” to the High Court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling of 1954 to integrate schools, and the extent to which newspaper editorial arguments relied on legal and social rationales for segregation from the High Court’s earlier Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896. Plessy’s three rationales for institutionalizing segregation — the “separate but equal” doctrine, state’s rights, and a tiered system of “social rights”, were widely adopted by the press. However, newspapers took the “equal” part of Plessy’s “separate but equal” doctrine much more seriously than did elected officials in the South. A content analysis of the Birmingham News from 1960 to 1964 found support for Thornton’s (2002) thesis that post-Brown electoral politics in Alabama produced staunch segregationist officials whose relations with the press became highly adversarial. While the News supported segregation and states’ rights, after George Wallace was elected governor in 1962, the paper opposed his policies and the editorial page became a platform focused more on advocacy of greater equality, voting rights, and the rule of law.”

Advertised Stereotypical and Masculine Images of Black and White Men: Where Are We Now? • ADRIENNE MULDROW, East Carolina University • To assess the portrayal of hegemonic masculinity from Black and White males in magazine advertising, an in-depth content analysis of advertised imagery appearing in two representative genres of two mainstream, male-directed magazines—men’s lifestyle magazines and sports magazines from 2015 to 2017–was completed. Drawing upon Mahalik and colleagues’ (2003) conformity to masculinity inventory and using social identity theory and cultivation theory, the primary aim of the study was to compare stereotypical images of Black men and stereotypical images of White to determine the frequency of these images and if there is a significant difference in these images by race. Overall results from 2,135 images from 72 magazines indicate that the image of Black men in contemporary magazines is improving and most images, favorable or unfavorable, are comparable to those of White men. Images of Black men were shown in equivalent percentages as White men with regard to primary roles, professional roles violent imagery, and with the most desirable body type. The study relates current findings to prior findings of stereotypical images to determine how advertisers in these magazine genres are choosing to display images of Black and White men and with what possible effects.

Thinking Black: an Analysis of the Impact of Black Racial Identity on the Discourse and Work Routines of Cable Media Practitioners • Gheni Platenburg, University of Montevallo • Black journalists working in the mainstream press face an “identity crisis: Am I Black first and a reporter second? Or do I owe my primary allegiance to the newspaper (or other media)?” The researcher explores this concept through semi-structured interviews with black, news practitioners from FNC, MSNBC and CNN. Findings revealed race further impacted black media practitioners’ discourse through employer-mandated limitations, on-air interactions with colleagues, considerations of audience reactions and more.

Preparing for the worst: Lessons for news media after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico • Bruno Takahashi, Michigan State University; Qucheng Zhang, Michigan State University; Manuel Chavez, Michigan State University School of Journalism • Hurricane Maria was the most devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico in the last 90 years. The entire communication system collapsed, including cellular networks and telephone system. Media organizations in Puerto Rico, with the exception of one radio station, were unable to transmit much needed information during and immediately after Maria made landfall. The present study examines changes in journalistic practices, organizational readiness and disaster coverage plans, and infrastructure preparedness almost 18 months after the event. This study extends the limited research examining long-term changes to news media preparedness plans in the context of disasters, and expands theoretical understandings of media practices in the context of the hierarchy of influences model. The results suggest that infrastructure damage severely hampered the ability of news organizations to perform their work, but solidarity among media was useful in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Each media played a differentiated and important role in the aftermath of the disaster based on their resources and organizational structure. The study shows that preparedness plans were inadequate and that changes are slowly been implemented to deal with challenges related to infrastructure, electricity, and technology, but with limited focus on the long-term well-being of media workers. Recommendations to improve communication responses to future natural disasters are presented.

Exploring Psychosocial Comorbidity Messages and Illness Perception: A Focus Group Study With African American Survivors of Prostate Cancer • Sean Upshaw, University of Utah • Prostate cancer remains a health challenge in U.S. health care, especially among African American men, who experience elevated levels of prostate cancer diagnosis compared to other racial/ethnic groups. However, psychosocial comorbidity challenges often affect the perception of illness and engagement with prostate cancer. This qualitative focus group study explored the implications of illness perception (IP) and psychosocial comorbidity messages (PSCM) concerning prostate cancer among 12 African American survivors. Findings suggest that IP that can identify existing mental health barriers associated with prostate cancer as influenced by PSCM in African American survivors. The findings also indicate that PSCM can provide insight into how African American survivors developed an IP framework about prostate cancer through communication.

The Black Digital Syllabus Movement: The Fusion of Academia, Activism and Arts • Sherri Williams, American University • As Black America experienced some of the most profound shifts in politics and entertainment in recent history, from the Ferguson rebellion to the release of Beyonce’s Lemonade, Black academics worked to find ways to help Black people and the nation understand and contextualize these major events and connect them to history. Using social media Black scholars curated lists of texts, films and music that related to the Black American experience of the present and past and shared them on social networks giving birth to the Black digital syllabus movement. The Black digital syllabus movement taps into the amplifying power of Black Twitter and Black digital culture to bridge the gap between pop culture, politics and scholarly work and spread contextualized, curated lists of important Black works. The syllabi analyzed in this study, created between August 2014 and August 2017, are the Ferguson Syllabus, #BlkWomenSyllabus, Charleston Syllabus, Lemonade Syllabus, A Seat at the Table Syllabus and the 4:44 Syllabus. This study uses the historical method in qualitative research to examine the syllabi and the context in which they were created.

Meaning Co-creation and Social Influencers in Race-relevant Crisis: A Social Network Analysis Study of Starbucks’ Crisis in Philadelphia • Ying Xiong, University of Tennessee; Moonhee Cho • The purpose of the research was to explore how meaning co-creation by the publics during the Starbucks’ crisis in Philadelphia and examined who were the social influencers in Starbucks’ Crisis in Philadelphia. The research applied semantic network analysis and social network analysis. Research results found the co-created meanings addressed three issues: Starbucks’ racial training, racial identity, and other celebrities who have received racial critiques. Mainstream media, celebrities, and activists were social influencers in the crisis.

Beyond the Reversal: Imagining New Ethnicities in Self-Representation • Sherry Yu • The under- and mis-representation of minorities in the media comes as no surprise. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s sitcom, Kim’s Convenience, is an interesting case study in this regard, as it is not only about representation of a minority group, but also about self-representation by a minority. A Critical Discourse Analysis of Kim’s Convenience explores ethnicity at the intersection of various social characteristics, and suggests the potential to imagine Stuart Hall’s new ethnicities.

Student Paper

Politicking While Black: News and Social Media Representations of Three Black Female Political Candidates Running for the House of Representatives in the 2018 Midterm Election • Zeina Cabrera-Peterson • African American women have been the leading force in political campaigns long before they had the right to vote and hold office. Today, roughly 5% of African American woman hold political positions (CAWP, 2018). However, despite their political participation, there are few studies that examine representation of Black female political candidates in news media. This study employed a content analysis of news reports and three Black female candidates’ Twitter campaign accounts to examine how news media represented these three, first-time candidates and to analyze how these candidates represented themselves on Twitter. Based on the overall analysis of a census of newspaper articles and Twitter candidate accounts, the study found that race and gender was not a leading area of news coverage or self-representation in tweets. The research found that these candidates were mostly identified by their former occupations and were not questioned because of who they are, but because of what they do. These findings are significant because it challenges and reshapes gender and race identities.

Puerto Rican college students’ experience with Post-hurricane María media environment • Laura Canuelas-Torres; Naiya Brooks • Utilizing a Digital Diaspora framework, researchers explore the experiences of Puerto Rican college students during and after Hurricane Maria. We conducted and analyzed 13 interviews, examining media use, the impact of communication interruption, and opinions on media coverage. Results show that students used both mainstream and social media to learn about the hurricane’s impact and reported feeling uncertainty, anxiety, and anger related to the inability to reach family, and the American government’s response.

“Zero-Tolerance” Transnational Motherhood: Images of Mothers and Children at the U.S.-Mexico Border • Ana R Good • It all began during a law enforcement event in Scottsdale, Arizona, when then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a new, “zero-tolerance” policy in the handling of illegal border crossings. Though at the time, Session’s announcement did not generate much buzz, the United States was soon faced with an onslaught of gut-wrenching images. Using the lens of “transnational motherhood,” this paper will argue that the images taken at the border of the United States employed humanizing effects.

Black bad men or bad niggers: Popular culture and hypermasculinity in Black Greek letter fraternities • Rafael Matos, Indiana University of Pennsylvania • Black Greek Letter Fraternities are influenced by popular culture to maintain hyper masculine beahviors. The study will explore the impact popular culture has on the way NPHC fraternity members reinforce constructs that encourage hyper-masculinity through new member presentations.

Buying Blackness: Black Audience Decoding of Nike Advertisements • Diamond Stacker • This study reviews representations of Blackness in media, specifically in sports media, to uncover the harmful, yet subtle stereotypes in sports advertising. Applying Hall’s (2001) encoding/decoding theory to analyze the impact of selling Blackness, the research used focus groups to examine how Black, college-young adult audiences engage with and identify racial constructions in Nike advertisements, and thus, how that influences their views on Nike as a brand.

Adapting to Change: Rethinking Advocacy in the 21st Century Black Press • Miya Williams Fayne • The black press is often conceptualized as an advocacy press but in the current digital environment this definition is malleable. Black press websites that primarily produce entertainment news create ambiguity about advocacy as a requirement. Informed by interviews with journalists and focus groups with readers this research finds that advocacy in the black press is fraught as entertainment advances it, by providing increased representation of African Americans, and threatens it, by decreasing hard news content.

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The Exception is the Rule: Structural Factors and the 21st Century Television Audience • Marianne Barrett, Arizona State University; Harrison Mantas, Arizona State University • This study uses Nielsen ratings data for prime-time programs aired by each of the five broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, CW, Fox and NBC) for three seasons—fall 2014 through spring 2017 to examine the degree to which traditional structural factors impact program performance.. The study found little predictability in the networks’ scheduling practices and noted their propensity to rely on stunting and conservation of scarce resources to maximize ratings which speaks to the complexity of the contemporary television landscape.

Can Newsroom Values Coexist with Native Advertising? Navigating Boundaries for a New Revenue Model • Jake Batsell, Southern Methodist University • This study, based on 17 interviews in the U.S. and Scandinavia, explores how the emergence of native advertising forced news organizations to negotiate boundaries for a new revenue model challenging traditional conceptions of the press’ role in society. The study explores how media professionals are incorporating traditional journalistic values, routines and practices as the news industry embraces native advertising. Guided by social responsibility theory, the study identifies four main themes in news organizations’ native advertising strategies.

What’s in a job posting?: A content analysis of legacy media job listings • Anna Aupperle; Jenna Grzeslo • Students in telecommunications and television departments are often expected to be able to use the industrial skills they learned in college when applying to paying jobs after graduation. However, little research has been conducted amongst television-owning companies to see what skills legacy media firms are requesting of their entry-level employees. This content analysis purports to answer the questions of what positions these companies are trying to fill as well as the skills necessary to be competitive in that job market.

Social Media Competitive Analysis and Texting Mining: A Facebook Case Study in a Local Television Market • Miao Guo, Ball State University • To increase competitive advantage and effectively assess the competitive environment of business, today media companies need to monitor and analyze social content and user behavior from both their own social media platforms and competitors’ social sites. A social media competitive analytics framework is proposed to consider three aspects: social media presence, social media user behavior, and social content marketing strategies. The results showed two divergent social media deployment patterns among these five local television stations.

River of trauma: STS, PTSD, and the emotional double bind for news organizational leaders • DESIREE HILL, University of Central Oklahoma • Terror attacks, disasters, and other deadly events send shockwaves of trauma throughout organizations. Studies have documented journalists’ trauma, but effects for organizational leaders have not received attention. A qualitative study with two data sets focuses on an overarching research question: how do organizational leaders in news organizations experience traumatic news events? Findings contribute to existing research by revealing that top organizational leaders in news organizations experience secondary traumatic stress, PTSD, and other negative emotional outcomes.

Government Regulation of Online Audio-Visual Entrepreneurship in China: Experiences from the Administration in Beijing • Wenqian Xu, Division Ageing and Social Change (ASC), Linköpings Universitet; Hongchao Hu, School of Journalism and Communication, Renmin University of China • This article aims at investigating (1) how the government regulates online audio-visual enterprises and content, and (2) what the major influences of government regulation on online audio-visual entrepreneurship are, with a specific focus on the administration in Beijing. This study draws from data gained from semi-structured interviews with 14 respondents. It finds that license management and content censorship are principal approaches to regulating practices of online audio-visual entrepreneurship in Beijing.

Is TV Sustainable in Future? A Comparison with Smartphone • Kyungji Lee; Jong Woo Jun, Dankook University; Jae Hee Park, University of North Florida • This study is designed to explore the different degrees of media usage and antecedents between TV and smartphones among consumers. Survey method was utilized, and a total of 321 respondents participated in the study. Self-congruence, trust, and immersion were used as antecedents of consumer media usage. Regarding content structure, self-congruence influenced content trust, which in turn led to audience immersion. Direct relationships between self-congruence and immersion were also found. Trust is the only statistically significant antecedent for TV consumption, while self-congruence and immersion are the meaningful antecedents of smartphone use. Content trust influenced smartphone use negatively. The findings provide academic and managerial implications for content marketers and adverting media planners.

What happened to the Global Over-the-Top Video Markets? • Sangwon Lee, Kyung Hee University; Seonmi Lee; Hye Min Joo • This study examines the factors influencing global OTT video market growth. The results suggest that Netflix’s market entry, OTT platform competition, traditional pay TV market size, and broadband infrastructures contribute to the OTT video market growth. The study also demonstrates that the traditional pay TV market and the OTT market grow together. However, the findings also reveal a negative association between the market entry of Netflix and the subscription revenue growth rate of pay TV services.

Navigating the External Realities: A Case Study of Bangladeshi Media Managers • Sohana Nasrin, University of Maryland • Traditionally, the Bangladeshi media scenario was dominated by legacy mainstream media that were managed by people who value control and stability. However, the new media managers are leaning towards innovation and creativity. By utilizing the Competing Values Framework (CVF) (Quinn,1984), this research identifies the managerial competencies applicable to traditional media managers and non-traditional media managers. It also delineates how those two approaches are similar and different and how that affects management of these organizations.

Two Player Mode: Factors That Influence Capital Committed To Video Game Crowdfunding Campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo • Phuong Nguyen, Phuong Nguyen; Geoffrey Graybeal • Crowdfunding has become a common and important funding method for start-ups ventures in the United States, and has been expanding globally. In this study we replicate Cha, 2017’s study on finding factors influencing the success of crowdfunding campaigns for video games. The analysis of 959 crowdfunding campaigns on 2 platforms Kickstarter and Indiegogo suggest that human capital, media and platform choice, the use of media and graphics, and geography influence the success of crowdfunding for video games.

Consumer Personality and Lifestyles at the Box Office and Beyond: How Demographics, Lifestyles and Personalities Predict Movie • Anthony Palomba, St. John’s University • While movie studios have leveraged data traditionally through demographics, there may be missed opportunities in securing further granular insights through personality and lifestyle scales. Due to the amount of hyper-competition among movies but also across platforms, marketers and advertisers may revisit consideration of how consumer personality and consumer lifestyle may aid them in predicting movie frequency consumption across genres and platforms. This study deployed a survey and collected a national randomized sample (N=301). Implications include cultivating consumer profiles and anticipating how certain personalities and lifestyles may help measure certain movie genre and movie platform consumption.

Ingredient Branding at the Box Office: How Creative Genre Fit and Familiarity Predict Movie Theater Attendance • Anthony Palomba, St. John’s University • This study examined how consumers’ perceive creative genre fit and creative familiarity predict movie theater attendance. Most movie marketing scholars have investigated movie theater box office based on measurements such as the number of screens available, the time of year, movie genre, and whether critics have bestowed positive or negative reviews upon the movies.

Journalism’s Backstage Players: A Population Ecology and Roles Analysis • Lindsey Sherrill, University of Alabama; Jiehua Zhang, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; Danielle Deavours, The University of Alabama; Yuanwei Lyu, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; Nathan Towery; William Singleton, University of Alabama; KEQING KUANG, The University of Alabama; Wilson Lowrey • Professional associations have been mostly overlooked in news industry research. This study uses a population ecology of journalism professional associations from the 1800s forward, and a content analysis of current association websites to reveal associations’ patterns, types, and roles. Findings suggest associations change little over time, and that associations have turned inward, embracing roles that are internally oriented toward members and their identities rather than roles that are externally oriented toward support of the profession.

Anytime, Anywhere, and Commercial Free? Consumer Attitudes of Premium and Advertising- Supported Subscribers of the Digital Streaming Service Hulu • Alec Tefertiller, Kansas State University; Kim Sheehan, University of Oregon • With the advent of web-streaming video and audio media content, streaming media companies have given consumers the choice between advertising-supported and premium, ad-free versions of their products. Most notably, the streaming video site Hulu offers multiple price points, including ad-supported and ad-free subscriptions. Using an online survey of Hulu users (N = 362), it was determined that ad-supported users valued advertising more; however, there were no differences in luxury consumption, price consciousness, and sales proneness.

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