{"title":"Governing via platform during crisis: People’s Daily WeChat Subscription Account (SA) and the discursive production of COVID-19","authors":"Mark Bo Chen, W. Wang","doi":"10.1080/22041451.2022.2072104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2022.2072104","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In early 2020, China witnessed the first case of COVID-19. The nation strived to manage the situation through stringent measures with the help of digital technologies including platforms. This article investigates the discursive production of COVID-19 on People’s Daily Subscription Account (SA, dingyue hao), a state-affiliated media channel on the WeChat platform. Through a mixed approach using the walkthrough method and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this article uncovers the power dynamics existing within WeChat and how such dynamics shape the mode of discursive production during the health crisis. Findings reveal the role of People’s Daily in commanding mainstream discursive production in support of the Chinese Communist Party’s continuous quest to legitimise its use of platform media to guide its political subjects and supervise everyday practices of social life. This article can potentially contribute to consolidating understandings of the role of platform media in shaping political governance in contemporary China.","PeriodicalId":10644,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78328490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Catherine Page Jeffery, S. Atkinson, Kerry McCallum
{"title":"The Safe Online Together Project: A participatory approach to resolving inter-generational technology conflict in families","authors":"Catherine Page Jeffery, S. Atkinson, Kerry McCallum","doi":"10.1080/22041451.2022.2056426","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2022.2056426","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Digital media technologies are a ubiquitous feature of contemporary family life. However, their presence has reconfigured traditional family power relations and, in some cases, subverted family hierarchies of expertise, resulting in conflict between parents and children. This article discusses the methodological approach of the Safe Online Together project, an action research project designed to reduce media-related family conflict by promoting intergenerational understanding and knowledge sharing between parents and children in a non-hierarchical space. In a departure from contemporary ‘deficit’ approaches that can treat young people as dangerous risk-takers in the online environment, the project adopts and encourages more democratic methods and provides young people with the opportunity to share the ways they navigate online risks with their families through a series of family workshops. Early findings provide a strong justification for the project’s approach, and indicate that the family workshops in particular can help families navigate the online world together.","PeriodicalId":10644,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80352152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Transnationalising reactionary conservative activism: A multimodal critical discourse analysis of far-right narratives online","authors":"Xinyi Zhang, Mark Davis","doi":"10.1080/22041451.2022.2056425","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2022.2056425","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT By conducting a qualitative content analysis of 400 far-right posts collected from two UK-based websites – British First and Politicalite, and two Australia-based websites – The Unshackled and XYZ, this article identifies their transnational correspondences in terms of thematic focuses, philosophical foundations, and racial frames. It discusses not only topical issues and events that drive transnational far-right activism, but also its philosophical traditions – from Maurice Barrès’ fin-de-siècle nationalism to Alain de Benoist’s Nouvelle Droite (ND – New Right) thinking and birth-cultural nationalism – and its use of racial frames, such as white guilt, ‘anti-white’ racism and ‘white genocide’. A multimodal critical discourse analysis of selected posts further adds to an understanding of a reactionary backlash against the perceived dominance of liberalism and ‘political correctness’ in contemporary Western democracies.","PeriodicalId":10644,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81332814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"ANZCA 2021 President’s welcoming address","authors":"Sora Park","doi":"10.1080/22041451.2022.2061134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2022.2061134","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This article is based on the President’s Welcoming Address delivered on Wednesday 7 July 2021 at the 26th Annual Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Communication Association, which was held virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.","PeriodicalId":10644,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77836166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Loving neoliberalism? Digital labour and aspirational work on streaming food TV","authors":"Michelle Phillipov","doi":"10.1080/22041451.2022.2057270","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2022.2057270","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This paper considers the changing textual meanings, industrial practices and platform infrastructures of food TV as it moves from network television to on-demand streaming platforms. Using Netflix cooking competitions Sugar Rush and Crazy Delicious as case studies, it shows how streaming TV normalises the tenets of the aspirational, branded self to such an extent that the work of self-production is presented as both self-evident and a pleasurable form of leisure. The paper argues that streaming reality’s persistent reframing of labour as leisure allows services to profit from contestants’ pre-existing identities and content (including from other platforms, most notably Instagram), just as its algorithmic logics extract value from the labour of audiences. Netflix food programmes highlight a significant expansion in the forms and types of unpaid labour taken for granted on contemporary reality TV, whereby the invisibilisation of work on-screen increasingly mirrors the invisibilisation of work in Netflix’s own platform logic.","PeriodicalId":10644,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83973249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Communication skills in generation Z as future tourism employees","authors":"Ana Čuić Tanković, Jelena Kapeš, Dragan Benazić","doi":"10.1080/22041451.2021.2017136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2021.2017136","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Generation Z has recently entered the tourism labour market, where communication skills have been recognised as one of the most important soft skills. This paper investigates the communication skills of Generation Z as future tourism employees. Primary research was conducted using a questionnaire investigate five communication skill dimensions: written, oral, listening, digital, and non-verbal communication skills influencing the intention to improve these communication skills. The research methodology included Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA) based on the PLS method. Findings indicate that nonverbal communication skills belong to the high importance-high performance group, while listening and digital communication skills belong to the low importance-high performance group. Written and oral communication skills belong to the low importance-low performance group. The paper’s contribution is an up to date conceptualisation of Generation Z’s communication skills and an examination of the most prominent communication skills among the Generation Z respondents.","PeriodicalId":10644,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87999988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"‘We all have a role to play’: A comparative analysis of political speech acts on the COVID19 crisis in the South Pacific","authors":"Sky Marsen, Zakia Ali-Chand","doi":"10.1080/22041451.2022.2040701","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2022.2040701","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This article compares government communication on the COVID19 crisis in three countries: Australia, Fiji and New Zealand. It analyses six speeches made by each country’s leader , from March to June 2020, using speech act theory and discourse analysis. The study aimed to compare the discursive strategies used , to discuss these in relation to their respective socio-political contexts, and to examine the application of speech act theory to political crisis management, which is currently underexplored. To achieve these objectives, the research used an eclectic combination of crisis communication theory and speech act theory, examining how speech acts were used in crisis ‘base response’ strategies, such as ‘instructing’ and ‘adjusting’ information. The study found some notable differences in the degree of assertiveness, hesitation, and sympathy, which relate to differences in the political ideology of each government. It also found some similarities, especially in inclusion techniques and using media briefings as a promotional tool.","PeriodicalId":10644,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72863725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Louis C. Belisle, Maxime Paquet, Nathalie Lafranchise
{"title":"A tool for reducing the time loss and dissatisfaction associated with meetings: Validation of the staff meeting effectiveness questionnaire","authors":"Louis C. Belisle, Maxime Paquet, Nathalie Lafranchise","doi":"10.1080/22041451.2021.2021693","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2021.2021693","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Workplace meetings have a bad reputation and are often perceived as ineffective. However, few scientific tools are available to evaluate meeting effectiveness and to enable facilitators to improve. The aim of this paper is to describe the content and construct validation of the Staff Meeting Effectiveness Questionnaire. A review of the scientific and professional literature revealed five themes and 21 sub-themes as a basis for evaluating meeting effectiveness, or lack thereof. From these themes, we built a pilot questionnaire containing 60 items that was submitted to a sample of 575 healthcare managers. The responses were analysed using principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, which reduced the questionnaire to 42 items organised under 10 factors that possess satisfactory psychometric properties.","PeriodicalId":10644,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86207318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Trump presidency: Democratic fatigue or fascism?","authors":"C. Kelley","doi":"10.1080/22041451.2022.2064097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2022.2064097","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Donald Trump became the president that the American system of government was designed to avoid and that America’s founders feared; an anti-democratic leader who positioned himself as an alternative to that system. This critical rhetorical analysis initially deconstructs the founders’ vision of a system configured to vet, counter and neutralise anti-constitutional demagogues with leadership aspirations. The essay suggests such leadership as Donald Trump’s is the prototype of a legitimately elected leader who rhetorically deconstructs the political system which initially elevates them to office. In so doing, it becomes difficult if not impossible for that system to hold such a leader and their political organisation accountable for their actions, at least through democratic means. The essay also examines the impact of such dysfunctional political discourse on American democracy as well its global significance. It concludes speculatively by suggesting the enactment of a rhetorical narrative of constitutional patriotism as a counterpart to demagogic populism.","PeriodicalId":10644,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83516458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Planning for a COVID-19 vaccination campaign in New Zealand: trust, affective and cognitive attitudes, and COVID-19 vaccine intention","authors":"J. Thaker, Christopher Cook","doi":"10.1080/22041451.2021.2022325","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2021.2022325","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Building public trust and willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 is as important as developing a safe and effective vaccine to contain the pandemic. Based on the theory of planned behaviour and trust heuristic, this study tests factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination intentions using a national sample survey of the New Zealand public (N = 1040). Results show that while trust in health experts, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and mass media are significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccine intention, affective attitude, and cognitive attitude partly mediate this relationship. Findings can help inform theory and practice of health campaigns to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Trusted sources communicating information that addresses prevailing vaccine concerns are likely to increase public enthusiasm for COVID-19 vaccination.","PeriodicalId":10644,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research and Practice","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75888085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}