Elon creates nation’s first undergraduate communications research journal

The School of Communications has published the inaugural issue of the Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, the first journal of its kind in the nation.

The online journal is at http://www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/communications/research

The Council on Undergraduate Research catalogs 57 student research journals in the nation, and the Elon journal is the first that specifically publishes undergraduate research in journalism, media and communications.

The Spring 2010 issue contains 12 research papers authored by School of Communications students. The lead article by strategic communications major Courtney Turnbull is titled “Mom Just Facebooked Me and Dad Knows How to Text: Influences of Computer-Mediated Communication through Generations.”

Other published articles focus on social media, antismoking advertisements, product placement in movies, image reparation strategies in sports, Facebook privacy, a semiotic analysis of photographs, and press freedom around the world.

Byung Lee, an associate professor in the School of Communications,edits the journal. He assembled an editorial board of 18 Communications faculty members who participated in the multiple blind-review process to select the best student work.

“This journal reflects what we enjoy seeing in our students – intellectual maturing,” said Paul Parsons, dean of the School of Communications. “This journal celebrates the life of the intellect through undergraduate research. This journal helps reinforce all that we think a university should be.”

The journal will be published online twice a year, with spring and fall issues.