{"title":"Framing Messages for Suicide Gatekeepers through Theory of Planned Behavior","authors":"Megan Cox","doi":"10.58997/smc.v36i2.90","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.58997/smc.v36i2.90","url":null,"abstract":"The rate of suicide among people in the United States is high among those ages 15 through 34. People in this age range are active online, and therefore, social media platforms give health communicators a method for reaching them with messages intended for suicide intervention. This paper proposes a framework for the construction of social media messages designed to influence behavioral intention and motivate action by suicide gatekeepers (those aware of a peer’s suicide ideation). The framework is conceptualized through the lens of the theory of planned behavior and its determinants of behavioral intention—attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Three concepts are provided that may influence each of the determinants: framing with interdependence, emphasizing reciprocal relationships, and using empowering language.","PeriodicalId":243613,"journal":{"name":"Southwestern Mass Communication Journal","volume":"205 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115941313","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{"title":"“Thoughtful, well-written and vital” or “Outdated, sensational, and biased”?","authors":"Newly Paul, Gwendelyn Nisbett","doi":"10.58997/smc.v36i2.92","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.58997/smc.v36i2.92","url":null,"abstract":"Using a mixed-method approach, this project examines whether readers’ tastes and attitudes toward the North Texas Daily, a campus newspaper at the University of North Texas have changed between 2013 and 2019 when the newspaper implemented digital-first strategies. Survey results indicate that perceptions of relevance of the content have remained the most significant factor for readership. Moreover, an in-depth textual analysis revealed themes of community engagement and alienation, which also affected readership. Normative and industry implications of the findings are discussed.","PeriodicalId":243613,"journal":{"name":"Southwestern Mass Communication Journal","volume":"40 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124377580","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 Disappearing Female Candidates: A Framing Analysis of Newspaper Headlines in the 2020 Presidential Election","authors":"Shugofa Dastgeer, Desiree Hill","doi":"10.58997/smc.v36i2.94","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.58997/smc.v36i2.94","url":null,"abstract":"This study content analyzed 1,215 headlines from 63 newspapers in the U.S. on presidential candidates from the Iowa Caucuses to Super Tuesday in the 2020 Primary elections. The findings indicate that female candidates receive significantly less coverage than male candidates, which confirm the previous studies of female politicians in the media. However, study results also suggest female candidates are making progress in terms of negative, positive, active, and passive framing in media spaces.","PeriodicalId":243613,"journal":{"name":"Southwestern Mass Communication Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130069476","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":"Commenter and News Source Credibility: Roles of News Media Literacy, Comment Argument Strength and Civility","authors":"David Wolfgang, Manu Bhandari","doi":"10.58997/smc.v36i1.81","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.58997/smc.v36i1.81","url":null,"abstract":"Many news websites allow for audience comments, but there is concern, especially when these comments are negative or low-quality, that the comments could negatively influence how readers perceive the corresponding news story. This experiment explores whether quality characteristics of comments – argument strength and civility – could help improve the perceived credibility of news content. Further, the study looks at whether quality characteristics of audience members, like their level of news media literacy, might reduce the negative influence of low-quality comments on someone’s perception of the credibility of the story. The findings reveal that higher quality comments lead to improved perceptions of the credibility of the news source, even when the comments criticize the journalist. Additionally, the study finds that individuals with higher levels of news media literacy are more capable of distinguishing the quality of journalist content from user-generated content.","PeriodicalId":243613,"journal":{"name":"Southwestern Mass Communication Journal","volume":"48 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128447686","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":"Who Controls Content Decisions? External Influences on College Media","authors":"C. Etheridge, Lindsie Rank","doi":"10.58997/smc.v36i1.83","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.58997/smc.v36i1.83","url":null,"abstract":"Issues of censorship in higher education student media are common and frequent, however it is unclear how often and to what degree college newspapers experience external influences. This study examines censorship in collegiate media through in-depth interviews with student newspaper editors and advisers. Specifically, this study calls upon the recalled experiences of editors and advisers to explore external content pressures, from whom those pressures are felt, and how editors and advisers deal with those pressures. It then identifies some recommendations for organizations to implement to protect editors and student reporters from external pressures.","PeriodicalId":243613,"journal":{"name":"Southwestern Mass Communication Journal","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124959059","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":"“My Superpower is Being Honest:” Perceived Credibility and Parasocial Relationships with Alex Jones","authors":"T. Madison, Kaitlyn Wright, Timothy Gaspard","doi":"10.58997/smc.v36i1.79","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.58997/smc.v36i1.79","url":null,"abstract":"This study explored perceptions of Infowars host Alex Jones’ credibility, and functions of audience parasocial relationships (PSRs) using a sample of Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) workers (N = 584). Several PSR functions predicted perceived credibility of Alex Jones and viewing of Infowars. The conflict and self-understanding functions predicted perceived credibility while relationship maintenance, catharsis, and compensation predicted viewing Infowars. Demographic factors had no significant effect on perceived credibility, although education level was a negative predictor of viewing.","PeriodicalId":243613,"journal":{"name":"Southwestern Mass Communication Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134545664","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":"Activist Journalism: The Chicago Defender’s Coverage of the 1968 Democratic National Convention","authors":"Scott Anderson, Jonathan M. Smith","doi":"10.58997/smc.v36i1.85","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.58997/smc.v36i1.85","url":null,"abstract":"This paper analyzes the discourse surrounding the protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention from the black journalistic perspective. Examination of articles published in the Chicago Defender surrounding the protests reveals that the flagship black daily newspaper helped African Americans establish an activist presence at a moment when the mainstream press excluded them from the narrative. In the midst of a propaganda war being waged among media members, radical protesters, and politicians, the Defender offered a unique perspective on the chaos that engulfed the convention by highlighting the activity of African Americans, using journalism to comment on the black cultural experience and struggle for equality in 1968, and ultimately attempting to raise awareness and reframe the national conversation on police violence.","PeriodicalId":243613,"journal":{"name":"Southwestern Mass Communication Journal","volume":"97 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131276234","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 Problem of Subjectivity in High School Reporters’ News Writing","authors":"Melanie Wilderman, Sohana Nasrin","doi":"10.58997/smc.v35i2.82","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.58997/smc.v35i2.82","url":null,"abstract":"Through a qualitative textual analysis of writing samples from 10 high school journalism programs, this research explores the types of subjectivity found in student journalists’ reported news stories. Results are categorized into three problem areas: 1) problems common to most novice writers; 2) problems of nuance, which are more complicated and can require years of experience to fully grasp, and 3) problems specific to young writers who have grown up in a digital media landscape that allows them to shape the content they consume to their specifications. Recommendations relevant to scholastic journalism instruction follow analysis.","PeriodicalId":243613,"journal":{"name":"Southwestern Mass Communication Journal","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126438829","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":"Band of Brothers (And Sisters): Gender Framing in U.S. Army Commercial Advertising","authors":"Holly Speck","doi":"10.58997/smc.v35i2.77","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.58997/smc.v35i2.77","url":null,"abstract":"The U.S. Army spends over 7 billion dollars in recruitment advertising, with its largest percentages going toward television marketing. However, little research has been dedicated to military advertising besides strategic recommendations. This project offers a critical investigation on the depiction of gender in military advertising. A content analysis on a sample of U.S. Army commercials produced between 2008 and 2018 offers an exploratory discussion on how gender is visually and verbally framed within the Army’s advertising.","PeriodicalId":243613,"journal":{"name":"Southwestern Mass Communication Journal","volume":"37 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116274646","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":"Innovativeness, Interactivity, and the Adoption of Streaming Television","authors":"Alec C. Tefertiller, K. Sheehan","doi":"10.58997/smc.v35i2.78","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.58997/smc.v35i2.78","url":null,"abstract":"Streaming television channels such as Netflix and Hulu have steadily grown in viewership, with many users abandoning traditional cable and broadcast sources of televised content. The purpose of this study was to assess whether personal innovativeness and perceived interactivity predict people’s intentions to stream video. Using an online survey (N = 790), it was determined that while innovativeness was a significant predictor, the perceived interactivity of the streaming experience best predicted streaming television viewing.","PeriodicalId":243613,"journal":{"name":"Southwestern Mass Communication Journal","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114986401","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}