Fall 2025

Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl halftime show was more than a musical spectacle—it became a visually charged act of protest delivered on one of the world’s largest entertainment stages. His performance reframed the broadcast arena as a site of political resistance, challenging viewers to confront issues of race, identity, and power. Textual and content analyses highlight how Lamar used visual symbols, lyrical language, and performance strategies to address issues of systemic racism, cultural marginalization, and national identity. The use of messages, references to historical betrayal, and the visual of a split American flag were among the images used in the show, which helped transform a platform for global entertainment into a platform for social commentary. The research examines how Lamar incorporated coded messages into a highly commercial platform by cross-referencing audience discourse, media reception, and academic frameworks such as African American folklore and “Poetics of Inversion.” Lamar aligned his performance with the broader tradition of Black protest art, drawing inspiration from figures such as Gil Scott-Heron and Langston Hughes. The findings of this research assert that the concert transformed expectations for typical broadcast performances by fusing spectacle and resistance, thereby reinforcing hip-hop’s position in political discourse.

Mentor: Daniel M. Haygood

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This study examined how media headlines about Hurricane Helene shaped public perceptions of climate change among residents of Central North Carolina. Although the storm’s most severe impacts occurred in Western North Carolina, widespread news coverage drew significant attention statewide, and headlines shaped how residents interpreted the event. Through qualitative, semi-structured interviews with eight participants aged 35 to 64 from Alamance and Guilford counties, this research explored how headlines presented the hurricane and how that presentation influenced emotional responses and climate-related attitudes. Guided by theories of media framing and agenda-setting, interviewee reactions were grouped into three emotional categories: confusion, apathy, and motivation. Participants’ responses were closely tied to prior beliefs, levels of media trust, and perceived proximity to the storm. While the headlines did not lead to major shifts in individual perceptions of climate change, they played an important role in sustaining public conversation about a changing climate and extreme weather events. These findings emphasize the importance of thoughtful headline framing that encourages constructive engagement with climate issues.

Mentor: Daniel M. Haygood

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The climactic moments of modern films reveal far more than narrative resolution—they expose the editing rhythms that define and distinguish genres. Action, horror, and drama each build tension in uniquely patterned ways, and the pacing choices editors make during these final sequences shape how audiences experience emotional payoff. Using quantitative content analysis, the climaxes of nine films released within the past decade (2015-2025) were examined by recording the number of cuts, average shot length, total sequence duration, and syntagma classification based on Christian Metz’s theory (1974). Norman Hollyn’s concept of the “Lean Forward Moment” (2009) was used to identify each film’s climax, ensuring consistency across genres. Findings revealed distinct pacing patterns aligned with traditional genre expectations—action films featured rapid cuts and short shot lengths, horror films employed a mix of suspense and abrupt editing, and dramas relied on longer takes to emphasize emotional depth. However, some films deviated from expected norms, suggesting that genre editing practices are increasingly flexible. This study contributes to ongoing discussions about the evolving role of editing in genre storytelling, particularly during a film’s most narratively significant moment.

Mentor: Glenn Scott

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Celebrity defamation trials no longer unfold solely in courtrooms; they play out simultaneously across social media, where millions participate in real-time judgment. On platforms like YouTube, comment sections become informal arenas of public deliberation, shaping—and often reshaping—cultural narratives about guilt, credibility, and justice. Using qualitative content analysis of three high-profile cases – Depp v. Heard, Cardi B v. Tasha K, and Favre v. Sharpe – the research explores evolving public sentiment, the factors influencing opinion formation, and the rhetorical patterns used by commenters. Framing theory serves as the foundation for understanding how narratives are constructed and reinforced in participatory media environments. Findings reveal that public opinion is heavily influenced by emotional authenticity, ethical considerations, and contextual framing rather than strict legal outcomes. Commenters not only express support or condemnation but also act as moral commentators, co-constructing the public image of each celebrity involved. The study contributes to broader conversations about media literacy, digital ethics, and the role of social platforms in shaping cultural narratives around justice and accountability.

Mentor: Daniel M. Haygood

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As book bans and challenges surge across the United States, K-12 educators are left to navigate increasing community pressure and unclear policies. National news outlets, recent political campaigns and social media have amplified discussions about public school students’ intellectual freedom, censorship and the role that literature plays in school. However, less attention has been given to the personal and professional pressures on the educators themselves. Using semi-structured interviews with six K-12 North Carolina public school teachers and librarians across grade levels, this study focuses on how they perceive and respond to the pressure from book bans and challenges. The findings show recurring themes of professional tension, fear of retaliation and a commitment to students’ right to access diverse perspectives through literature. The lived experience of participants revealed that book bans are not just policy decisions or topics for political debates, they affect how educators teach and how students develop.

Mentor: Glenn Scott

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As Kamala Harris emerged as the Democratic presidential candidate in 2024, national news outlets turned their attention not only to her political platform but also to the historic sorority that helped shape her identity: Alpha Kappa Alpha. Media coverage of AKA surged, offering a revealing window into how Black sororities are framed during pivotal political moments. Through a framing analysis of articles from major U.S. news outlets, the study finds that AKA was positively contextualized in relation to its historical significance, political influence, and Black women’s empowerment. The findings shed light on the complex interplay of identity, politics, and novel frames for a presidential candidate. The analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of how sororities, particularly Black sororities, are represented in the media and the implications of these portrayals for public perceptions of Black women’s organizations and leadership.

Mentor: Jane O’Boyle

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The rise of remote work has sparked a global shift in how people live, connect, and move through the world. At the forefront of this change is a growing wave of digital nomads – individuals who embrace a location-independent lifestyle, working while traveling from place to place. While nomadism offers freedom and flexibility, it often comes at the cost of lasting relationships and consistent community. This study explores how digital nomads build and sustain social connections, and what kinds of communication tools or systems might better support that process. Using a human-centered design approach, the research analyzed 68 user reflections across five Reddit threads, identifying patterns in connection goals (what people are looking for), social touchpoints (where and how they connect), and barriers (what gets in the way). Key findings highlight the use of improvised strategies to maintain a sense of continuity, including returning to familiar places (“looping”), staying longer in one location, and connecting through shared hobbies and routines. These behaviors reveal unmet needs around emotional sustainability and place-based attachment, pointing to design opportunities within both existing platforms and new tools.

Mentor: Harlen Makemson

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The rapid expansion of “sharenting,” a growing phenomenon on social media platforms where parents post personal content about their children, has transformed minors—particularly those with special needs or chronic illnesses—into highly visible subjects online, prompting critical ethical concerns. While some parents aim to raise awareness and advocate for inclusivity, others prioritize financial gain, popularity status, or sympathy at the expense of their children’s privacy and well-being. The research investigates the motivations behind parental sharing behaviors, the positive and negative impacts on children’s lives, and the role of societal perceptions in shaping these practices. Through in-depth interviews with six female participants, including caregivers, educators, and a social media influencer, the study identifies critical ethical dilemmas such as the lack of informed consent, the perpetuation of stereotypes, and the risks associated with creating permanent digital footprints. Findings examine both the potential benefits of fostering awareness and community and the dangers of exploitation and psychological harm. The analysis shows the blurred line between advocacy and misuse, calling for greater awareness, education, and ethical practices in digital parenting.

Mentor: Daniel M. Haygood

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a disability first diagnosed in the 1940’s, affects social communication and how one behaves, physically and mentally. Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ensuring accommodations by law and requiring that employers not discriminate based on disability, autistic individuals have a high rate of unemployment. This extends to the journalism industry, where spontaneity and speed seem to work against those with autism. Through in-depth interviews with four autistic journalists, this study fills a research gap by examining which accommodations employers should provide for autistic journalists. Results show autistic journalists most struggle with social interaction and the various sensory environments of the job. Journalists found it difficult in the past to connect with their colleagues and perform well in job interviews. However, participants said they felt accommodated by their editors after disclosing their diagnosis at the start of their jobs. Based on the findings, journalism employers can accommodate autistic journalists by providing flexible work hours, the ability to work from home, low lighting, noise-cancelling headphones, frequent breaks during work, and a private office space. Every autistic journalist is different though, so ultimately, employers also need to ask what the journalist needs.

Mentor: Daniel M. Haygood

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As digital privacy policies continue to expand in length and complexity, users frequently engage with them without fully understanding the actual content, contributing to the phenomenon of uninformed consent. This research project investigates how one specific type of visual element— icons, influences user viewing experience and memory of privacy policies. Two between-subjects eye-tracking experiments were conducted with a total of 40 Generation Z participants. Study 1 examined whether the presence/absence of icons in a privacy policy influenced memory and visual attention. Study 2 explored whether the positioning of icons (left alignment vs. alternating alignment) affected visual attention and information retention. Results from both studies showed that the presence of icons improved user engagement and memory of policy content, while consistent left-aligned placement of icons supported a more structured and focused reading experience. These findings underscore the potential of visual design to reduce cognitive load and enhance ethical data comprehension, particularly for younger digital audiences.

Mentor: Qian Xu and Laura Lacy

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