Fall 2010

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is a satirical news show that airs four evenings a week on Comedy Central. This study compares the volume and framing of mock news coverage with levels of presidential approval. Using a content analysis of The Daily Show during the first term of former President George W. Bush and the current term of President Barack Obama, the research identifies key trends in meta-coverage themes and framing strategies, but does not support a significant relationship between mock news coverage and approval ratings. Faculty mentor: Dr. George Padgett

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Two women were prominent in the 2008 presidential campaign – Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. This study seeks to determine if these candidates were framed in the “double bind” theory that holds that “women are expected to act like men, and are then criticized for just that” (Myers, 2008). An analysis of news coverage in The New York Times, Washington Post and USA Today suggests that the women were often presented as extreme figures, falling in the category of “too hard” or “too soft.” Faculty mentor: Dr. Frances Ward-Johnson

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This research identifies the health-related cultural barriers that exist within the Montagnard community of Vietnamese in Greensboro, N.C. This ethnographic study uses a snowball sample to examine the health knowledge and level of acceptance of Western medicine by a displaced population. The study finds misunderstandings between patient and provider due to dietary habits, differences in defining illness, perceptions of Western medicine, and patient noncompliance of clinical appointment and payment systems. Faculty mentors: Dr. David Copeland and Dr. George Padgett

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By establishing privacy settings on social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace, users construct a reasonable expectation of privacy. This study examines the lack of industry self-regulation of social media websites and the effects this may have on the liberties guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The article explores a case study and analyzes scholarly opinion in order to reinterpret privacy law so that it adapts to rapidly evolving social media networks within cyberspace. Faculty mentor: Dr. Naeemah Clark

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By establishing privacy settings on social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace, users construct a reasonable expectation of privacy. This study examines the lack of industry self-regulation of social media websites and the effects this may have on the liberties guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The article explores a case study and analyzes scholarly opinion in order to reinterpret privacy law so that it adapts to rapidly evolving social media networks within cyberspace. Faculty mentor: Dr. Naeemah Clark

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This study compares an individual’s personality style to the individual’s social media use on the social networking site Facebook. A self-reported level of extroversion serves as the central delineation of personality style. The amount of social media use is based on factors such as time spent online and purpose for going online. The study finds that heavy Facebook users – those who spend more than two hours daily on the site – are seen by themselves and by others as more extroverted. Faculty mentor: Dr. Anthony Hatcher

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Media coverage of sports has expanded online, setting up a possible conflict with contracts between networks and leagues that provide exclusive rights to broadcast a particular event. While no case has reached the courts, live blogging relays information almost as soon as the action occurs, but does not capture the audio/visual essence of the game like a broadcast. To determine if live blogging may be considered a violation of exclusive media rights, this article studies statutes and case law, current policies of sports organizations, and a hypothetical case study. Faculty mentors: Dr. David Copeland and Dr. Glenn Scott

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Advertising in podcasts is a relatively new phenomenon. Based on a coding of episodes of the top 10 podcasts on iTunes for six weeks, this research found that almost two-thirds of leading podcasts lack advertising. For those podcasts with advertising, the ads tend to appear only at the beginnings and endings of episodes, creating a bookend effect. Also, podcasts produced as episodes of regular radio broadcasts, such as on National Public Radio, tend to have the same advertisers. Faculty mentors: Dr. George Padgett and Dr. Dan Haygood

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Digital music has created a significant shift in the way consumers and producers view and use the music industry. The presence of digitally compressed music files make them easily obtainable by all, for a small fee or through illegal download, causing record labels to lose significant control of the product. In turn, social media websites have created a demand from consumers for artists to maintain a consumer/artist digital relationship, making the internet not only a promotional vehicle for artists but also a necessity for profit. Faculty mentor: Dr. David Copeland

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In 2010, the world’s largest entertainment ticketing company (Ticketmaster) merged with the world’s top producer of live concerts (Live Nation). This article uses content analysis of company-generated releases and news media stories to evaluate the public relations tactics during the merger, the merger’s ethical implications, and the merger’s impact on the music industry. Ticketmaster and Live Nation portrayed the merger as innovative, beneficial and fan-focused, while news outlets wrote in themes of domination and monopoly. Faculty mentor: Dr. David Copeland

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