Abstract: Abstract Traditionally, public sector agencies communicate to their publics to inform and resolve conflicts. By using a review of the literature, this study describes broadening the role of public sector communications by moving beyond a traditional public affairs model to a more collaborative public relations model utilizing two-way symmetrical communications. Technology and social media in today’s society can be an asset to public agencies in terms of communications that allow for a collaborative model. Results of the study illustrate public sector agencies using two-way symmetrical communications can build stronger relationships with their publics that can benefit the agency and their publics in building and maintaining collaborative long-term relationships. PubDate: 2016-09-29
Abstract: Abstract In this article, I consider mobile phone consumption among urban youth in Botswana, focusing specifically on texting. During the course of this article, I demonstrate that due to the continuous need to connect with other people, as well as the inexpensive nature of texting on mobile phones, urban youth in Botswana have developed a penchant to texting on mobile phones. In particular, youth use text messaging on their devices to re-ensconce their traditional obligations of connecting with family, relatives and associates; and to link-up with their peers and other users through sms, chats, emails and online social networks. Despite this, much texting when other people are around is considered an ill-mannered activity among youth in Botswana. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that much texting, which is common among youth in Botswana is an indication that there is a close relationship between mobile phone use and the socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, poverty and rural to urban migration and that users of these devices face. PubDate: 2016-09-28
Abstract: Abstract The study Digital Divide: A Gap In Interpersonal Communication Amongst Family Relationships seeks to find out how technology has affected the willingness of family members to engage in interpersonal communication in the family. The survey research design was adopted for the research and the structured questionnaire was employed as instrument of data collection. The study found that technology has created a gap in interpersonal communication amongst family relationships and that people lose interest in communicating interpersonally with family members due to constant engagement in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The study recommends that families should make concerted effort at adopting and integrating ICTs that will help enhance interpersonal communication in family relationships rather than engage with ICTS that will erode interpersonal communication amongst family relationships. Also, family centered activities that provide opportunities for family members to communicate interpersonally without the interruption or interference of any technology should be encouraged. PubDate: 2016-09-28
Abstract: Abstract This study seeks to examine media coverage of the Ferguson, Missouri racial tensions and police action following the grand jury decision, with a focus on stories which include religious leaders, religious comments, or those that take place in community churches or religious centers. Through a mixed-methods approach of critical discourse analysis and a normative analysis of the coverage, the research attempts to bring understanding of the role religion plays within the media, and provide suggestions as to how the media can cover religion more effectively not only during times of unrest, but on a more regular basis. PubDate: 2016-09-28
Abstract: Abstract Indonesia has a cultural value that women must be married. Therefore, women above 25 years and do not yet show signs for getting married will be the society’s gossip.To overcome the issues, parents usually help find a mate for her daughter, known as “match” or “forced marriages” regardless she is willing or not. On the other hand, women who looking for a mate through a dating agency are also considered as not good. In this condition, social media in Indonesia is very welcomed. The development of interpersonal relationship process becomes easier and faster. Through conversation analysis the research shows that the social media changes the way we communicate and build interpersonal relation. It also changes the characters and the quality of interpersonal relationships. In the context of intercultural communication,symbols of communication are strongly bound by any culture, rather than inter-cultural relations based on conventional media. PubDate: 2016-09-28
Abstract: Abstract The Eastern society has come a long way in terms of progress and development. Yet, gender inequality is an issue that still needs to be addressed. Although many women in these places have attained greater heights, majority of women in these areas still find education and career development a struggle. In this study, we analyze the media portrayal of the educational qualification and career choices of the female characters of the soap operas. We consider soap operas broadcast by Hum TV during the prime time and analyze the extent to which gender biasing still exists in terms of education and career. We seek to highlight how a positive portrayal of women in soap operas can effectively change perceptions and promote the independence of women with respect to career and education in real situations. PubDate: 2016-09-27
Abstract: Abstract Thanks to the universal nature of Taiwan’s education, women have accounted for half of all university graduates since 1995. Women are therefore equally competent and well-trained, but Taiwan still suffers from a significant gender pay gap, and women tend to occupy lower-level positions or even leave the workplace altogether - a loss both to these women as individuals and the Taiwanese economy as a whole. This study attempts to: (1) Introduce interpersonal communication as an important variable in understanding the socialization of women and their career choices; (2) Explore the impact of culture and communication on Taiwanese women in order to assess the impact of the father as the ‘opinion leader’ when women make career decisions; assess the extent to which Taiwan can be regarded as a patriarchal society. The study concludes: (1) Taiwanese women’s traditional role in the family rarely conflicts with their own expectations for their future, meaning that they are unable or find it difficult to change their status. (2) Fathers are the ‘opinion leaders’ in women’s career decisions. Regardless of whether the father is controlling or emotionally distant, they have very low expectations for their daughters, causing women to feel lost and ignored. (3) Taiwanese women tend to occupy low-level positions because they lack clear life goals. PubDate: 2015-12-30
Abstract: Abstract When journalists who were covering the 2011 political protests in Egypt became targets of assaults and intimidation, three journalism advocacy groups issued press releases condemning Egypt’s actions, advocating for the humane treatment of all journalists, and documenting dozens of incidents of press attacks. PubDate: 2015-11-24
Abstract: Abstract Rasa as an element of self-censorship has never been adequately discussed within the study of Indonesian media. This paper will show that for Kompas, the biggest national newspaper in Indonesia, rasa – a central element in Javanese value, has been the basis of their self-censorship. Whereas other media use “universal” standard journalism as a basis for news selection and news production, Kompas elaborates rasa in their day-to-day practice of news making process. While presenting how rasa has been brought into practice within Kompas newsroom in the recent times, this article also argues that this kind of journalism practice can be traced back to the authoritarian period of the New Order regime. This paper argues that even though rasa is a cultural entity, underlying its manifestation into practice is actually picturing the hidden political and economic interest of Kompas journalists as minority group in Indonesia. This study bridges the gap within Indonesian media theories, which separate the political economy factors and the cultural factors as the main forces influencing media operation. PubDate: 2015-11-24
Abstract: Abstract Using communications theory, the aim of this paper was to analyze a case study to describe the potential benefits and pitfalls of two-way Symmetrical and two-way Asymmetrical communication models [1]. Public sector leaders communicate with various internal and external stakeholders to achieve organizational goals [2], [3], [4]. When a public sector leader adopts a two-way Symmetrical communications approach, the leader works with the various stakeholders to achieve their respective mutual goals [4], [5], [6]. When a leader adopts a two-way Asymmetrical communications approach, the leader seeks to achieve organizational goals at the expense of mutual goals with one or more stakeholders. This is accomplished by framing communications in ways that are more likely to be accepted by stakeholders, but in reality, only advances the organizational goals [7]. Two-way Asymmetrical communication can also be seen as raising ethical issues since the leader is, in essence, pretending to listen to stakeholders while the underlying intent is to achieve organizational goals [4] & [8]). PubDate: 2015-11-23
Abstract: Abstract This study examined the relationships among voters’ attention to TV campaign news, attention to political commercials and voters’ political knowledge. As a result, it was found that voters’ attention to political ads has a significant effect on their political knowledge and the effect is mediated by their attention to political news. This research finding might shed light on the mechanism of integrated political communication with political news and political advertising as the two primary forms. PubDate: 2015-11-23
Abstract: Abstract People are uncertain about the role of excessive electronic game-playing on children's academic performance. It is on this premise that this study examines the effects of excessive electronic game-playing on children's academic performance in Port Harcourt. The study use survey and quasi-experiment to sample 371 students of Junior Secondary school 1-3 who are within the age brackets of 10-12. Based on the problem and objectives of the study, research questions were formulated. Research question one to know the extent of excessive game-playing among the children, while research question two sought ascertain the relationship between excessive game-playing and the academic performance of children. A null hypothesis was also formulated and tested with the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient with the level of significance tested at 0.5 level of significance. The findings showed that a proportion of the sampled population met the criterion of addiction and the majority of the children were still non-frequent gamers. The result also showed that there is a negative correlation between excessive game-playing and academic performance as the majority of the very high scorers in tests administered on the children were from the category labelled as non-frequent and low frequent gamers. The null hypothesis that said 'there is no significant relationship between extent of excessive play and academic performance was rejected, as the r-value was -0.27. Based on these findings, it was recommended that parents should monitor their children's gaming habits and that governments should control the importation of entertainment games and encourage more of educational games. PubDate: 2015-11-23
Abstract: Abstract Successive governments in Nigeria have made a singsong of sustainable development. Various development plans have come and gone in budgets and policy documents, the latest being the Transformation Agenda of the Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal government. Is sustainable development a hallmark of good governance' What role can communication play in the interplay between good governance and sustainable development' What is the measure of communication effectiveness' This paper examines the interplay among these seemingly distinct variables in a society marked by such sensitive issues as hunger, unemployment, injustice, political brigandage, massive corruption and profligacy. It draws out measurable lessons on the lopsidedness of communication flow through government owned mass media and systemic obstacles that militate against the attainment of good governance and sustainable development in Nigeria. Consequently, the paper recommends a constructive synergy of the key factors that should enhance the well-being of Nigerians. PubDate: 2015-11-23
Abstract: Abstract How do online media professionals educate the public about environmental impacts of energy issues' While past research suggests media utilize concise episodic frames to clearly convey the news, this study found that for environmental energy topics, communicators used thematic frames to more thoroughly articulate complex scientific energy issues for online audiences. Thus, journalistic framing of energy issues can highlight environmental impacts through more informative online science communication. PubDate: 2015-11-20
Abstract: Abstract Mass media used to have ‘mass audiences’. Nowadays, and with the emergence of the Internet and other new media technologies, messages themselves have turned into ‘mass’. These ‘mass messages’ have different densities, varieties, and dynamics in different societies and different countries. Accordingly, in this paper, we take an ecological perspective and resemble mass messages to living organisms that form ‘communication eco-systems’. We then introduce ‘communication ecosystem context’ as a new umbrella concept encompassing various previously known communication contexts. Based upon historical evidences, communication ecosystem contexts are classification into long-term and short-term, which can be formed normally, forcefully, or due to turn of certain events. In this paper the impacts of communication ecosystem contexts on message perception and interpretation have been studied primarily in Iran, and comparison have been made with five different communication ecosystems of Germany, UK, Australia, USA and Canada. PubDate: 2015-11-20
Abstract: Abstract In an evolving democracy like Nigeria it is doubtful how much political advertisements can impact on the outcome of elections. This study assesses the effect of political advertising on the voting pattern of Nigerians during the 2007 presidential election. This election is particularly worthy of scrutiny because it marked an unprecedented transition from one elected government to another in Nigeria after years of military dictatorship. Although judged as peaceful, the election is said to have been flawed by serious electoral malpractices by International Observers; and the country is once more neck-deep in preparations for a similar election in 2015. The study is limited to advertising in newspapers which carried mostly full page advertisements in full colours and employed the survey technique using a structured questionnaire to gather data from respondents. Three hundred and eighty-five copies of these were distributed across the six geopolitical zones of the country and the Federal Capital Territory, with 370 copies duly completed and returned. The study relied on two rhetorical theories – Muzafer Sherif’s Social Judgment theory and George Herbert Mead’s theory of Symbolic Interactionism. Frequency count and simple percentages were used for the presentation and analysis of findings. Descriptive statistics were used to address research questions and the hypotheses were tested with the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation. The study is significant in that it has provided empirical evidence that during 2007 Presidential election in Nigeria, political advertisements in newspapers provided new and convincing information about the candidates; facilitated voters’ understanding of the issues canvassed; helped increase the approval rating of favoured candidates; and significantly reinforced their decision to vote for particular candidates but failed to influence changes in voting pattern. In view of its findings, the study recommends that although political advertising is highly beneficial in the political mobilization process, it cannot replace rallies and other forms of interpersonal communication in Nigeria. PubDate: 2015-11-20
Abstract: Abstract Journalism practitioners and educators alike are grappling with a changing media landscape, desperately trying to keep up. Journalism educators must provide a new journalism curriculum, one that teaches new technology, but also stresses responsible reporting, based on independence, accuracy, and verification. This study was conducted to determine student satisfaction with a new Convergent Journalism major. The first year of the roll out of our new Major here at Metropolitan State University of Denver was 2013-14 academic year. This study is an assessment of the efficacy and relevance of our curriculum development efforts. SurveyMonkey.com was the methodology used to measure stakeholder satisfaction. A well-tested satisfaction survey template was deployed, customized to the task. The sample included all of the students pursuing the Convergent Journalism major. A web link collector was used. More waves of testing will be done this fall before the study is complete. The results so far showed 88% were either extremely satisfied or moderately satisfied. We conclude that our new curriculum for Convergent Journalism is meeting student expectations. Anecdotal feedback from several employers suggests that they too are please with the journalism, multi-platform, digital dissemination and content creating skills of our graduates. PubDate: 2015-08-26
Abstract: Abstract Traditional visual communication and graphic design curricula at the university level may not adequately educate, train and/or prepare students to successfully work in the intended creative professions. This critical study found three suspected reasons for the problem: first, that higher education art studio and mass communication curricula are stalled in a historical pedagogy that no longer is viable. Second, that employee compensation for traditional graphic design graduates is typically lower than integrated, interdisciplinary, multimedia graduates and third, that current institutional structures are based on past practice constructed by higher education’s territorial resistance to change. PubDate: 2015-08-26
Abstract: Abstract After North Korea conducted its third nuclear test despite sanctions to deter its nuclear program, U.S. and Korean newspapers reported in different and surprising ways. Although both featured a negative tone, the Korean newspapers focused on community concerns and defense while U.S. papers focused on world leaders. PubDate: 2015-08-26
Abstract: Abstract Man as a societal being, lives in community settings with other people wherein communication is needed in all daily interactions. Through communication, people are able to share understandings, protect one another and develop methods of solving problems encountered. For these results to be achieved, community members need to develop adequate interpersonal and communication skills which can enable them interact with each other. One approach of developing the aforementioned skills is through therapeutic theatre, which as a forum, permits community members to partake in improvisational acts. It becomes important therefore to find out how these improvisational acts facilitate interpersonal and communication skills. Based on a review of improvisation for therapeutic purposes, this article portrays that the act of engaging in improvisational enactments by community members go a long way to foster the development of interpersonal and communication skills and the enhancement of wellbeing. PubDate: 2015-08-26
Open Access journal
[10 journals]
