Spring 2020

Drawing on qualitative research, this study analyzes the experiences of college-age Muslims in the U.S. and examines how they negotiate their religious identities in an era of negative media framing of Islam. The study reveals that Muslim college students labor under the multiple burdens of explaining and representing their religion, negotiating perceived disapproval and mischaracterizations of their faith and practices, and navigating their minority identities in the face of mass media’s portrayal of Islam as “dangerous,” “corrupt,” and “a threat to the U.S.” This paper presents an overview of the way Islam has been perceived in the United States in both eras before describing the current climate for Muslims. This project is used to present the impacts of media framing of Islam on Muslim college students’ evolving identities and experiences as minorities on campuses, the struggle to trust media, and, finally, the change they hope to see in the future. Mentor: Daniel Haygood

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Diversity has been a constant issue in the fashion industry and is becoming more prominent with the use of brand advertising on Instagram. Most often, models used by brands are white and thin. However, recently, there has been a push for more diversity and companies have increased the number of models of color and the number of plus-sized models used. This study analyzed the diversity, both in race and size, on the Instagram accounts of two lingerie brands, Aerie and Victoria’s Secret, from July 9 to October 31, 2019. Using content analysis, the study found that Aerie had more diversity on its Instagram posts than Victoria’s Secret. However, white, small-sized models were still the most commonly posted overall, indicating that racial and size diversity still needs to be improved in the fashion industry. The study furthers the understanding of how brands are portraying themselves through advertising on social media and provides practical implications for how brands can connect better with their consumers. Mentor: Jooyun Hwang

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Drawing on past scholarly literature and ethnographic data collection in Miami’s Haitian community in the summer of 2019, this article examines how Haitians respond to American media bias concerning Haiti, and the differences between how Haitians perceive themselves and how they believe Americans perceive them. Research participants expressed a multitude of beliefs concerning Haitian identity, many of which were rooted in a deep historical self-consciousness as well as an awareness of new struggles that Haitians and Haitian- Americans face today. The findings suggest that the persistence of colonial attitudes and paternalism towards Haitians—as well as the continued circulation of century-old stereotypes—are contributing to a chasm between Haitians and non-Haitians in the United States today vis-à-vis cultural identity. Mentor: Byung Lee

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Emotions can drive much of what individuals do, say and feel – and often impact one’s decision-making. It is no wonder then that brands attempt to elicit emotion through advertising. This study sought to learn how men and women are impacted by different types of emotions elicited from advertising. Past research focused on types of products and their impact, how gender stereotypes play a role in how men and women interact with ads, and how men and women respond to a generally labeled “emotional” advertisement. Participants viewed three video advertisements then took a survey that collected both qualitative and quantitative data. A major finding was that high levels of ad enjoyment don’t relate to a memorable brand, but emotional connection and assimilation play a major role in developing brand trust and favorability. These findings are important to advertisers so they may better cater to and develop an emotional connection with their target audiences. Mentor: Glenn Scott

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Sustainable travel bloggers have the power to alter perceptions of a location, enhance cultural tourism, and transform the way audiences explore different locations. To analyze how these blogs enhance ecotourism efforts while building their own credibility, a content analysis was executed to identify key strategies among ten different travel blogs. Among the most noteworthy findings was the importance of the bloggers’ travel experiences and expertise, the strategic use of keywords and hyperlinks, and an honest disclosure of sponsorships and affiliate partners. A successful ecotourism travel blog must align content with its brand and values while showcasing its unique niche within the travel industry. This study will help sustainable bloggers employ effective strategies to enhance their online credibility and make a positive impact on the ecotourism industry. Mentor: Naeemah Clark

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Mission statements are considered a staple for higher education institutions and are used to express the values and purpose of the university to various stakeholders. This research specifically looks at university journalism and communications programs in the United States and their use of mission statements. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify the prevalence of certain themes in 68 different mission statements. Findings indicated that more often than not, mission statements by communications schools merely scratched the surface when discussing elements included within. The findings suggest a possible shift in the priority that universities place on their mission statements to communicate their values and purpose to external stakeholders, especially with increasingly more information being made available on their websites. Mentor: Jane O’Boyle

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Journalists have interviewed children and teenagers for stories such as school shootings, child abuse cases, and issues related to immigration. There are few ethical guidelines regarding how minors should be interviewed by journalists, or if they should be interviewed at all. This study examines how journalists covered immigration-related issues between November 2016 to October 2019 and how children were interviewed for those stories. Based on this examination, ethical guidelines for journalists approaching migrant children, or children of migrants, will be suggested to ensure their safety and privacy, while still allowing for their perspectives in news stories. Mentor: Anthony Hatcher

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The use of social media has become an integral part of the branding strategies by today’s major brands. By using Aristotle’s theory of rhetoric as a theoretical foundation, this study examined how major brands use rhetorical elements to engage with consumers on social media. A content analysis was performed on 72 Instagram posts from four major brands. The four brands – Coca-Cola, Nike, John Deere, and Nivea – were chosen from Forbes’ list of the 2019 world’s most valuable brands. To determine which rhetorical elements are used in the Instagram captions of each brand, the researcher coded each post by its use of Logos, Ethos, and Pathos. This study found that each brand utilizes rhetorical elements, but the use of Logos, Ethos, or Pathos does not appear to directly affect consumer engagement. Furthermore, this study observed that one rhetorical element did not hold more influence than the others and the use of multiple rhetorical elements together did not improve engagement. Instead, it is found that brands consistently use similar rhetorical elements, consequently creating a consistent brand voice on Instagram. Mentor: Jooyun Hwang

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Since more Americans tend to trust cable news sources more than local and network television stations, Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN can play a significant role in shaping audience opinions and Americans’ perceptions of topical issues. This study analyzes cable news coverage of climate change through qualitative and quantitative methods, identifying aspects of media framing and agenda setting. Thirty videos each from Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC were selected from July 1 to October 31, 2019. This time frame includes cable news coverage from hurricane season, the UN General Assembly, the Democratic presidential primary debate, climate protests, and Amazon wildfires. The study identifies the number of news stories dealing with climate change that were aired on each network over the course of four months and reveals different media frames, or angles, in which climate change is covered. The study discovers that coverage of climate change reflects the political affiliation of each channel’s viewership. Both agenda setting and framing theories shed light on why cable news viewers may believe what do about climate change today. Mentor: Naeemah Clark

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Historically, television has been dominated by male leads, but feminism and the challenges faced by working women are becoming more prominent in recent programming. This study analyzed two comedy television shows with female lead characters, Broad City and Veep, to examine if their main characters break traditional gender roles. In addition, this research studied if Broad City portrayed more feminist values than Veep, using feminist theory, which examines obvious and subtle gender inequalities. Three episodes from each show were chosen, selected by a ranking website. The coder analyzed three subcategories: behavior, interpersonal relationships, and occupation. This study concluded that both Broad City and Veep depicted strong female lead characters who broke gender roles continuously through their behavior, relationships, and occupation. Broad City depicted more feminist values through their main characters’ friendship, empowerment of female sexuality, as well as their beliefs against traditional gender roles. This conclusion sheds light on the fact that women in television, especially female lead characters, do not have to be portrayed in a traditionally feminine way. Mentor: Harlen Makemson

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Cinematography is a visual medium that connects the film experience to the viewers. Just like directors and actors, certain names of cinematographers become common in the industry. Roger Deakins, who has a career spanning many decades and popular titles, is regarded as one of the best directors of photography of all time. This qualitative content analysis examines 15 of Deakins’ films that were nominated for Best Cinematography category at the Oscars in order to determine what makes his art so memorable. Themes that emerged were his ability to utilize framing and composition, camera mobility, and lighting techniques to naturally tell the story respective of the directors’ inputs. Mentor: Laura Lacy

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