{"title":"Predictability: The Missing Variable in Public Relations","authors":"Douglas Wilbur","doi":"10.21018/rjcpr.2023.1.353","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21018/rjcpr.2023.1.353","url":null,"abstract":"This study offers an initial and exploratory examination of the role that the variable of predictability plays in crisis management. Leveraging the situational crisis communication theory, it employed two separate but inter-related experiments. They examined how manipulations of the level of crisis predictability impacted a number of crucial variables important for crisis response. The findings strongly indicate that when a crisis is framed as having been predictable, it results in a host of negative consequences for the involved organizations and complicates the recovery process. When a crisis is framed as having been unpredictable, it results in positive benefits for the organizations involved. This study provides justification for future research exploring the role of predictability during a crisis.","PeriodicalId":40874,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81882811","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}
Surug Saleh Taher, T. Chan, Izzal Asnira Zolkepli, M. Sharipudin
{"title":"Mediating Role of Parasocial Relationships on Social Media Influencers' Reputation Signals and Purchase Intention of Beauty Products","authors":"Surug Saleh Taher, T. Chan, Izzal Asnira Zolkepli, M. Sharipudin","doi":"10.21018/rjcpr.2022.3.348","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21018/rjcpr.2022.3.348","url":null,"abstract":"Social media influencer has become an important component of marketing communication. Hence, this research aims to determine the facets of social media influencers’ reputation signals (communication skills, influence, perceived authenticity, and perceived expertise) that contribute to the customers’ purchase intention of X beauty products, mediates by the parasocial relationship. The study applied the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model and used a survey design. The results showed that the communication skills and expertise of the social media influencers have a significant relationship with parasocial relationships, and the parasocial relationship has a significant relationship with purchase intention. In addition, the parasocial relationship was found to mediate the relationship between the expertise of social media influencers and purchase intention. The study provides valuable insights to public relations and marketing practitioners of the beauty industry to be used in building a successful social media marketing strategy.","PeriodicalId":40874,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86887002","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}
Nicoleta Corbu, A. Bârgăoanu, Flavia Durach, Oana Ștefăniță
{"title":"Predictors of Engagement on Social Media and Instant Messaging Platforms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Romania","authors":"Nicoleta Corbu, A. Bârgăoanu, Flavia Durach, Oana Ștefăniță","doi":"10.21018/rjcpr.2022.3.346","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21018/rjcpr.2022.3.346","url":null,"abstract":"The COVID-19 pandemic raised important questions about news patterns of interaction on social network sites (SNS) and instant messaging platforms (IM), especially in the context of the massive replacement of face-to-face interactions with mediated interactions, due to the restrictive measures taken in many parts of the world. In this context, by means of a national survey conducted in Romania (N=1160), we investigated people’s willingness to engage on social media and instant messaging platforms about the topic of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results show that people are eager to share information about the topic on both SNS and IM, less interested in getting involved in debates, and even less in voluntary work. All these behaviors are predicted by trust of SNS and news consumption on these platforms, perceived size of the personal digital network, belief in conspiracy theories about the virus, uncertainty about the impact of the crisis, and level of education.","PeriodicalId":40874,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82281565","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":"Image Repair Strategies in Public Relations Crisis: A Case Study of Real Madrid’s Response Strategies to the Bernabeu Leaked Audio Scandal","authors":"Moeen Koa","doi":"10.21018/rjcpr.2022.3.347","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21018/rjcpr.2022.3.347","url":null,"abstract":"In July 2021, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez was in the midst of a controversial leaked audio crisis in which he heavily criticized some historical icons of the team, such as Iker Casillas, Raúl González, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Luís Figo. The leaked audio clips by El Confidencial newspaper and secretly recorded ages ago by José Antonio Abellán ignited a firestorm of criticism that threatened Pérez’s reputation and integrity. Pérez offered an official statement to repair his damaged image. This article analyzes and evaluates his image repair messages, which relied heavily on reducing offensiveness. It seems that his defense helped to dispel the cloud surrounding him, as Figo accepted Pérez’s apology and adopted his point of view that the comments were taken out of context. Pérez succeeded in minimizing the event to the extent that the media shrank their discussion. He attempted to create new beliefs about El Confidencial and Abellán by attacking the accuser by undermining their credibility and honesty to diminish the attack. By employing the transcendence strategy, he tried to place the leaked audio clips issue in a broad context in a different frame of reference – the European Super League debate. Using transcendence and attacking the accuser helped Real Madrid frame the crisis in a way that backfired on the accuser. The findings of this study have significant implications for understanding how leaders at the helm of power of top sports clubs might communicate during a crisis and underscores the potential importance of image repair in sports organizations.","PeriodicalId":40874,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80433950","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":"Twitter’s Role in Digital Democracy, Post-Truth, and Political Polarization","authors":"Ceren Yegen, Bunyamin Ayhan, Yavuz Demir","doi":"10.21018/rjcpr.2022.2.343","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21018/rjcpr.2022.2.343","url":null,"abstract":"Although the presidential election in the United States of America (USA) in November 2020 took place under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become one of the important points in terms of digitalization and the agenda. Donald Trump, who lost the election to Joe Biden, challenged the results, and even refused to concede for some time. Joe Biden, who based his election campaign on democracy and diversity, took the oath of office as the 46th President of the United States on January 20, 2021. His inauguration ceremony was marked by a call for “unity”. The ceremony became the agenda of social media as well as traditional media, and users simultaneously shared posts reflecting their views and attitudes on social media platforms. Most of these posts (on Twitter) were made using the hashtags #DonaldTrump and #inaugurationday. The discussion and political polarization that started during the election process continued after the election through social networks. In the study, the role of Twitter in digital democracy as well as its potential to serve as a public space were examined through the network and its features, interactions, and factions that were formed within the framework of the related hashtags on the inauguration day (January 20, 2021). Methodologically, social network analysis was utilized. The results indicate that the political agenda-setters on Twitter are dominating and resonate with users in terms of interaction.","PeriodicalId":40874,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81414485","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":"An Exploratory Study of Communication Freelancers and Online Communities. A Mixed Methods Approach","authors":"R. Moise, Anca Anton","doi":"10.21018/rjcpr.2022.2.342","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21018/rjcpr.2022.2.342","url":null,"abstract":"The present study explores the nature and dynamics of online communities populated by communication freelancers. Drawing from limited scholarship focusing on freelance work practices in communication industries and a reduced number of studies in communication literature regarding online communities, this research applies a complex analytical framework, with mixed methodology: content analysis, social network analysis and thematic analysis. Our main findings reveal the key features of the discursive environment of two Facebook groups, the communication functions employed by group administrators, the engagement practices of group members particularly regarding knowledge production and consumption and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on group practices and dynamic. We conclude by highlighting the supportive and participative culture developed within the two groups.","PeriodicalId":40874,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91039763","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 Strategic Transfer of Intangible Assets via Twitter by Spanish Listed Companies in Times of Crisis","authors":"Celia Rangel-Pérez, Susana Miquel-Segarra, Daniela Musico-Nombella","doi":"10.21018/rjcpr.2022.2.341","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21018/rjcpr.2022.2.341","url":null,"abstract":"In times of crisis such as the one we have experienced due to COVID-19, listed companies have enhanced the communication of their intangible assets. Thus, the aim of this research is to study how listed companies in Spain have used one of the most popular social channels, such as Twitter, to transfer their intangible assets to their stakeholders. To this end, the communication of IBEX35 companies in Spain with a verified corporate profile on Twitter has been studied during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the main results, it should be noted that the transfer of intangible assets has been based on a strategy where providing added value was the connecting axis of the communication actions implemented and the content provided on Twitter. Hence, this work demonstrates that companies can provide added value in social networks to generate trust, build long-term relationships and strengthen their competitive advantage.","PeriodicalId":40874,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85787580","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":"War of the Words. The Online Conversation about NATO in Romania: Communicators, Content, Communities","authors":"Dan Sultănescu","doi":"10.21018/rjcpr.2022.1.338","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21018/rjcpr.2022.1.338","url":null,"abstract":"The Covid-19 infodemic has brought forth an intensification of disinformation and conspiracy narratives, especially in the online environment. Beside the public health implications, the geopolitical aspect is also relevant, since Romania, a member of the EU and NATO, has constantly been under pressure from a multitude of propaganda attempts meant to undermine people’s trust in the West. The main goal of this paper is to explore the type of online information that the Romanian public is exposed to regarding NATO, an institutional actor representative for the Western model, specifically to assess the main communicators, content, and patterns of information dissemination. A dataset of Facebook mentions was created and filtered (n=9705) and visual network analysis was employed to build a NATO issue network. The main clusters of this network were analyzed to reveal that the two largest communities are structured according to a political cleavage, while an anti-Western media actor, Sputnik, controls a separate cluster, but its content infiltrates several others. Qualitative content analysis on a relevance sample of the most frequently distributed content was employed to evaluate both attitudes toward NATO (negative stances were identified in several analyzed documents) and the occurrence of conspiracy narratives (also a significant presence).","PeriodicalId":40874,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88339518","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":"Book review of 'The Psychology of Fake News. Accepting, Sharing, and Correcting Misinformation'","authors":"Gabriela Guiu","doi":"10.21018/rjcpr.2022.1.340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21018/rjcpr.2022.1.340","url":null,"abstract":"At a time when the line between facts and fake news has become increasingly difficult to identify, there is a need for a proper conceptualization of both the phenomenon and its implications so that policy makers can articulate effective strategies to reduce the effects of misinformation. In this unstable and turbulent context, the collective volume The Psychology of Fake News. Accepting, Sharing, and Correcting Misinformation, coordinated by Rainer Greifeneder, Mariela E. Jaffé, Eryn J. Newman and Norbert Schwarz, and published last year by the prestigious Routledge Taylor & Francis Group publisher, makes a valuable contribution to a better understanding of this social phenomenon and its functional mechanisms.","PeriodicalId":40874,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91197128","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}
Mande Ande Mande, Lambe Kayode Mustapha, Bahiyah Omar, M. Mustapha, Ismail Sheikh Yusuf Ahmed
{"title":"Social Media Content Preferences and Political Participation among Nigerian Youths","authors":"Mande Ande Mande, Lambe Kayode Mustapha, Bahiyah Omar, M. Mustapha, Ismail Sheikh Yusuf Ahmed","doi":"10.21018/rjcpr.2022.1.335","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21018/rjcpr.2022.1.335","url":null,"abstract":"This study examines the influence of social media content preferences on political participation in Nigeria’s relatively nascent democracy. Due to mixed conclusions on the influence of news and entertainment preferences on political participation, we sampled 434 youths aged 18-35 in a Nigerian northern state, to investigate the differential influence of diverse social media content consumption on political participation. Incorporating the moderating and mediating influences of political efficacy and incidental news exposure, findings confirm that news and entertainment preferences are positive, significant predictors of political participation among respondents. While political efficacy moderated the influence of news preference on political participation, incidental news exposure did not mediate the influence of entertainment preference on political participation. We recommend further investigation into the influence of content preferences on political participation among Nigerian youths who constitute considerable members of the nation’s electorate.","PeriodicalId":40874,"journal":{"name":"Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89741568","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}