A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication Faculty Research and Publications
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Item Open Access The Empty Breadbasket_ When the land that feeds the nation cannot feed itself(KTWU-TV, 2021-12-19) Hallaq, Tom, G.; Punnett, Case IanThe Empty Breadbasket: When the land that feeds the nation cannot feed itself is a documentary addressing food deserts in rural Kansas. The documentary features Dr. David Procter, Professor Emeritus at Kansas State University, and several students from the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication. Dr. Procter co-founded the Rural Grocery Initiative to identify challenges faced by rural grocery stores. The documentary premiered on the KSU campus December 13, 2021 and aired on KTWU (PBS), Topeka, KS and RFD-TV, Nashville, TN in early 2022. Recognized as a Silver winner in the 2022 Telly Awards.Item Embargo Mobilizing the next generation of media leaders: Social support and social capital building increases job satisfaction and loyalty among early-career employees(Taylor & Francis, 2024-12-13) Olsen, Katie R.; LaGree, Danielle; Tefertiller, AlecThe media industry has been disrupted, challenging how young people interact with others in the workplace and develop their professional networks. This study addressed how media managers can support young workers from a social capital perspective. Concepts in the social capital model of organizational socialization were measured through a survey (N = 136) of media professionals in the first five years of their professional careers. Results revealed that social support within organizations helps young people build social career capital. Social career capital also predicted career adaptability, professional self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and employee loyalty. Managerial and theoretical implications are discussed.Item Open Access Combatting the “great discontent”: the impact of employability culture and leadership empowerment on career growth, loyalty and satisfaction(2023-11-17) LaGree, Danielle; Olsen, Katie; Tefertiller, Alec; Vasquez, RosalynnPurpose Motivated by the organizational challenge coined the great discontent, employees are dissatisfied with their jobs, see minimal opportunities for growth and are actively searching for new roles. This research aims to take a novel approach to internal communication strategy by introducing employability culture and leadership empowerment as mechanisms for supporting employees' career growth and additional positive workplace outcomes. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was designed and administered in the United States. The final sample size includes 425 full-time employees working in a variety of roles, industries and work arrangements. Findings Findings point to the inherent need for revised internal communication strategy that goes beyond managing and disseminating information. Organizations must develop cultures and their leaders in ways that empower employees and help them understand the meaning of their work. Employability culture, or an organization's support for developing employees' adaptive skills as work roles change, positively predicted employees' perceptions of their career growth opportunities at their current place of employment, employee loyalty and engagement, and job satisfaction. Leadership empowerment behaviors also positively predicted all previously listed workplace variables. These perceptions as influenced by work arrangement (onsite, hybrid, fully remote) and younger versus older generations were also analyzed. Originality/value Research findings offer new strategies for internal communications. Internal communication teams can partner alongside executive leadership to develop a culture that helps employees envision how their skills and expertise translates to different areas of the organization, empowering them to find meaning in their work, and be driven to support organizational growth.Item Open Access Taking action in the first five years to increase career equality: the impact of professional relationships on young women’s advancement(2023-01-27) Olsen, Katie; LaGree, DaniellePurpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how young women understand and make meaning of their status as early-career women (ECW) in the creative communication industry, which is typically dominated by male leadership. It explores how professional relationships influence their transition into full-time employment and influences their career trajectories. Design/methodology/approach Interviews with 31 women in the first five years of their communication careers provided insights into how they experience professional relationships in the workplace in relation to leadership advancement. Inductive coding, a feminist organizational communication lens and literature on mentorship and role modeling was used to explore the standpoint of these young women. Findings Young women understand that professional relationships are necessary for acclimation and professional development. Our analysis revealed an intersection of three distinct ways these relationships help young women cultivate a strong career foundation, positioning themselves for leadership opportunities. Practical implications This study provides insight into the experiences of ECW, a group significantly overlooked by industry and research as a way to increase career equity. Findings from this study guide programmatic and socialization practices to help young women overcome barriers. Originality/value Developing a deeper understanding of women worker’s realities, this research encourages industries to regard the entire career path, emphasizing the importance of beginning socialization experiences in the workplace. It offers actionable managerial practices, and it drives a new scholarly focus on a demographic critical to closing the leadership gender gap.Item Open Access Slow & Low: The Story of the Kansas Ag. Pilot(Kansas State University) Hallaq, Tom; Hallaq, TomThis is the story of the Kansas ag. pilots told in their own words. Inspired by my own grandfather, this is a story for any Kansan with roots in the farmlands or wings in the sky.Item Open Access Family-Owned Newspapers: Filling Niches in Local U.S. CommunitiesPowers, Angela M.; Sohn, Ardyth B.; Briggs-Bunting, Jane; apowersSince small town newspapers are facing increased competition and technological changes that are threatening their survival, the purpose of this paper was to analyze the strategy-making activities of these organizations from an ecological perspective. Findings indicate that family-owned newspapers were finding stability in retaining their core print businesses while migrating content to the web. Too many variations from the norm appeared to weaken financial footholds and were often eventually abandoned. Such behaviors indicate a rationale for upholding a “tried-and-true” approach in newspapers. While profits may fluctuate, the uncertainty that occurred with variation seemed to play a role in increasing the threat of failure for these small, family-owned newspapers.Item Open Access An Examination of Factors Associated With Self-Efficacy for Food Choice and Healthy Eating among Low-Income Adolescents in Three U.S. StatesMuturi, Nancy W.; Kidd, Tandalayo; Khan, Tazrin; Kattelmann, Kendra; Zies, Susan; Lindshield, Erika; Adhikari, Koushik; nmuturi; martan; elbonoBackground: Self-efficacy is a crucial component in effective health communication and health promotion interventions and serves as a moderator for behavior change. Although awareness and risk perception are important in the behavior change process, self-efficacy gives people the necessary confidence in their ability to engage in advocated health behaviors. In addressing childhood obesity, self-efficacy plays a crucial role in dietary decisions. Informed by the social cognitive theory, this study examines the personal and environmental factors that determine self-efficacy for healthy food choices and healthy eating among adolescents in low-income communities.Item Open Access Alcohol consumption and reproductive health risks in rural Central Kenya(2014-09-23) Muturi, Nancy W.; nmuturiObjective: The goal of the current study is to explore the perceived reproductive health risks associated with alcoholism from the perspective of rural communities in Kenya where abuse of illicit liquor especially among men has become an epidemic. Methods: Data for the study were gathered qualitatively through focus groups among community members and in-depth interviews with opinion leaders and key informants who were selected through a snowball method. All recorded data were analyzed through constructivist and interpretive techniques, which started with a line-by-line examination of transcripts for identification of emerging themes. Results: Rural communities are aware of the lethal nature of the illicit liquor and the severe reproductive health problems associated with it among male consumers. Alcoholism also affects women’s sexual and reproductive needs and is attributed to risky sexual behaviors in alcohol-discordant relationships, which puts them at a higher risk of HIV infection. Conclusions: Results indicate a need to address alcoholism in rural Kenya as a public health problem focusing on education and understanding of the long-term health consequences. Addressing the impact on male reproductive health is crucial because it impacts the wider community. Given the complex relationship between alcohol abuse and HIV/AIDS, it is also important for prevention interventions to target married women and non-alcohol consumers. Furthermore, engaging communities will ensure development of culture- and gender-specific interventions. Such engagement requires facilitation of health practitioners for development of meaningful community-based initiatives.Item Open Access Students’ expectations and motivation for service-learning in public relations(2014-01-07) Muturi, Nancy W.; An, Soontae; Mwangi, Samuel; nmuturi; scmwangiThis study is based on a survey of public relations students and examines their attitudes, expectations, and motivations for participating in curriculum-infused service-learning projects. Results indicate that prior participation does not influence attitudes or expectations, but motivation to participate in the project was significantly associated with positive attitude and higher expectations. Students’ expectations, which include social and professional growth, and psychological and altruistic gratification through community contributions, indicate a need for discipline-focused service-learning programs and for a focus on civic engagement given the role of public relations in relationship building and in strategically addressing social issues that impact society.Item Open Access A case study of family-owned newspapers adapting and surviving in two rural states(2013-11-15) Powers, Angela M.; Sohn, Ardyth Broadrick; apowersOrganizational ecologists follow the life histories of organizational populations, studying events such as founding, disbanding, and mergers. Newspaper organizations, for example, are often far from rational in their decision making to start, operate and end business practices. For this study, two daily papers located in rural states are analyzed within the context of organizational ecology, which has evolved from the physical sciences. For the larger market, rural-state newspaper, managers took an instrumental approach of quickly adapting new trends and technology. Because of economic uncertainties, a dismantling of such variations occurred. For the smaller market, rural-state newspaper, an institutional approach was most prevalent. Strong family ties and an assortment of family business ventures such as the streaming of high school sports supported the ability of this newspaper to continue business as usual throughout the timeframe of the study. Avoiding risk resulted in a stronger financial situation. This study indicates ecological analysis of newspapers is an attractive research method when organizations are subject to strong inertial pressures and face changeable, uncertain futures, as is the case in newspapers today.Item Open Access A baker’s dozen of issues facing online academic journal start-ups(2013-04-09) Gould, Thomas H. P.; tgouldThe rapid upsurge in online academic journal creation, publishing, and management has challenged researchers and universities. Much of the recent flurry of activity has happened while guidelines and protocol are being created. This article outlines the nature of the increased publication of these new journals, as well as offers advice in 13 areas that journal editors and boards will face. This article is based on the findings of academics in a wide variety of academic fields, including library science, as well as the author’s own experience as an online journal editor.Item Open Access Protocols and challenges to the creation of a cross-disciplinary journal(2013-04-09) Gould, Thomas H. P.; tgouldIn 2006, The Online Journal of Rural Research & Policy (OJRRP) was launched. The publication is an example of the ability of academia to create narrowly defined scholarly journals aimed at a small, targeted readership, while relying on a meager budget. This paper discusses the factors that fostered the creation of hundreds of online-only journals, as well as provides a case study of the creation of OJRRP and the long-term implications of online cross-discipline publications. Covered areas include the sponsor, editorial board, editorial staff, software, link rot, code, promotional activities, tracking and supporting usage, and, perhaps most important, long-term sustainability. The OJRRP experience is presented, along with lessons learned in each area.Item Open Access Scholar as e-publisher: the future role of [anonymous] peer review within online publishing(2013-04-09) Gould, Thomas H. P.; tgouldThe advent of online journals has opened a vast opportunity for small journals published by a variety of institutions. It also has given scholars many more options, from more general publications to far more journals addressing very narrowly defined subjects, and it suggests that in the near future the role of online journals and peer review will radically change. The author proposes roles for user-generated content and university libraries in the evaluation and publication of research.Item Open Access Fear and loathing in the fog: the perceived (and persistent) vagaries of tenure standards among mass communication professors(2013-04-09) Gould, Thomas H. P.; tgouldPerhaps nothing strikes more fear into the hearts of all tenure-track professors than the process itself. Are four papers in this journal good enough? Are eight papers in another okay? What if someone doesn’t like me or my area of research? These issues have plagued academia since the first essay was penned by the first researcher hundreds of years ago. While personal bias and journal preference continue to infect honest tenure reviews, solutions exist. This does not mean we have a magic bullet to solve issues of bullying or elitism. However, if we are honest in our desire to improve the Academy, we should avail ourselves of every possible tool for improvement. This essay is based on a survey sent to 2,500 mass communication educators. Of the almost 500 respondents, roughly 10% took the time to express emotions that ranged from fear and confusion to outright rage and anger, all because what ought to be clear is not. The author offers 10 ideas of how academia can improve its evaluation of new faculty, as well as a few suggestions regarding the unnecessary inclusion of personal issues in a process that ought to be about creating better researchers and teachers.Item Open Access The future of academic publishing: application of the long-tail theory(2013-04-09) Gould, Thomas H. P.; tgouldPrint academic journals are dead. As we watch large metropolitan newspapers fail (as are many small town newspapers), the same economic forces are driving online scholarly publishing. This phenomenon is more than print journals going online. The options available with new low-cost online publishing software and the rise in the ability to use ratings from user generated content suggest more near-term changes are likely. Many of the outcomes are unsettled: the economics of online publishing; the standards for peer review, rank, and tenure; and the very nature of scholarly publishing itself. What is certain, however, is that the economics of online academic publishing—modeled via Anderson’s Long Tail Theory—will make it possible to provide greater access, more collaboration, and, ultimately, improved research and researchers. Universities acting as publishing centers with their e-reserves will be expected to change their faculty evaluations, providing greater academic rewards for those who act as editors, reviewers, and proofreaders within this new born-online and only-online world.Item Open Access Where’s qualitative research going online? Patterns of methodology in mass communication, 1993-2003(2013-04-09) Gould, Thomas H. P.; tgouldItem Open Access The Church and peer review: was “peer” review fairer, more honest then than now?(2013-04-05) Gould, Thomas H. P.; tgouldThe traditional thought regarding peer review tends to be that it started with the establishment of the academy, sometime around 1650. It is a reasonable presumption that to have peer review one needs first to have peers. However, the actual review of works certainly occurred long before 1650. Of some importance is the nature of that review that took place prior to the appearance of universities in Bologna and Paris. The standard (and misapplied) logic is that the Church wielded a heavy hand on all publishing, acting as a restraint on inappropriate works prior to their publication. This is not wholly true, however. The Church is best known for its suppression of works post-publication. In a way, it acted as a critic, offering its advice to authors who it found proposed errant ideas and suggesting they might wish to recant and return to good standing. This is interesting when cast in today's peer-review environment. The author suggests that much can be learned from the Church's method of dealing with scholarship, especially in a world of e-reserves. Should we ditch the traditional peer-review method and go back to a publish-then-evaluate system used by the Holy See? In large part, the author argues that unless the academy is willing to cure the perceived ills of peer review and do so soon, the question will be answered in the affirmative, with or without our agreement.Item Open Access Older adults’ perspectives on HIV/AIDS prevention strategies for rural Kenya(2012-07-23) Muturi, Nancy W.; Mwangi, Samuel; nmuturi; scmwangiThough prevention of HIV/AIDS is the mainstay of various responses to the epidemic,communication strategies used to motivate behavior change are challenged for lack of cultural appropriateness, hence the lack of success. Participatory communication that is culture-centered and culturally sensitive is emphasized in HIV/AIDS communication to engage affected communities in defining problems and finding appropriate solutions. This paper examines the views of older adults as key targets in HIV/AIDS prevention given the increasing number of elderly living with the disease and their changing role as caregivers of those infected and affected by HIV. As cultural, social, political, and opinion leaders in rural communities, older adults are in a position to influence attitudes and behaviors of their community members, but they have not been involved in the current HIV/AIDS prevention interventions. Several recommendations were made to inform the design and implementation of a culture-specific prevention program for rural Kenya.Item Open Access Subjective health literacy and older adults' assessment of direct-to-consumer prescription drug ads(2012-06-11) An, Soontae; Muturi, Nancy W.; nmuturiOlder adults are increasingly the intended target of direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug ads, but limited evidence exists as to how they assess the educational value of DTC ads and, more importantly, whether their assessment depends on their level of health literacy. In-person interviews of 170 older adults revealed that those with low subjective health literacy evaluated the educational value of DTC ads significantly lower than did those with high subjective health literacy. The results prompt us to pay more scholarly attention to determining how effectively DTC ads convey useful medical information, particularly to those with limited health literacy.Item Open Access From Cronkite to Colbert: The evolution of broadcast news [Review of the book From Cronkite to Colbert: The evolution of broadcast news, by G. Baym](2011-06-30) Loggins, Ginger M.; gloggins
