Communication - Mémoires // Communication - Research Papers

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10393/23292

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Quand les réseaux sociaux menacent le métier du journaliste: cas des publications des certains députés et chefs d’État sur Twitter
(2021) Nshombo, Iranga; ; Bernier, Marc-François
Ce mémoire s’intéresse à la littérature scientifique et aux textes journalistiques à l’épreuve de la pluralité des diffuseurs d’informations sur Twitter. Plus précisément, nous nous penchons sur les publications instantanées des nouvelles par les députés et chefs d’État canadiens, congolais, américains et français. En effet Twitter est maintenant un outil de communication en pleine expansion et les parlementaires l’utilisent quotidiennement comme un moyen de rejoindre les internautes intéressés par leurs engagements et responsabilités. Un usage qui s’apparente aux pratiques journalistiques. L’objectif est d’identifier et de comprendre l’effet de leurs publications sur le métier du journaliste d’information. Pour ce faire, nous avons procédé à une méta-analyse des recherches des certains auteurs qui articulent les menaces qu’encoure le journalisme face à ces publications. Mobilisant la méta-analyse, cette recherche regroupe donc un grand nombre d’études et de données afin d’en combiner et d’en analyser les résultats, offrant ainsi un portrait aussi fidèle et précis que possible de ces publications directes sur Twitter, tout en démontrant en quoi cela menace le journalisme.
Crisis Communication in Professional Football: An Exploratory Study of the NFL’s Concussion Crisis
(2021) Castonguay, Sabrina; Lowes, Mark
This study analyzes the crisis response strategies used by the National Football League in its external communications to address the concussion crisis spanning 2015 to 2020. The analysis focused on describing the crisis communication strategies, tactics and buffers used by the League. To do so, this research first used Coomb’s situational crisis communication theory to analyze crisis response strategies. It then used the buffering effect to analyze buffers. This was accomplished by conducting a deductive thematic analysis of 25 publications published by the NFL on nflcommunications.com. The results indicate that the NFL focused on the primary crisis strategies of rebuilding and diminishing, employing tactics such as organizational change and shared responsibility. The NFL also used the bolstering strategies of reminder and ingratiation. The NFL leveraged three buffers in its communications: corporate social responsibility reputation, prior relationship reputation and sports fan communities. The results show an interrelation between situational crisis communication theory and the concept of buffers.
Out of Bounds: Exploring the Response to Professional Athletes’ Support for BLM on Twitter
(2021) Prem, Sabrina Rose; Ivanov, Ivan
The purpose of this research project is to explore the ways that audiences respond to professional athletes using Twitter to support the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Athletes and their relevant associations and leagues turned into powerful social media influencers of opinions and action that led to political and institutional turbulence and crisis. This research paper investigates how audiences choose to accept or reject the messages that professional athletes post on Twitter, and how this affects their support for the movement. For this end, I will be conducting semi-structured interviews to discover how audiences respond to professional athletes using Twitter to advocate for BLM. I expect to find out that most people will have a mixed opinion on this specific Twitter use, while others will have opposite or polarized opinions
Media Matters: A Critical Analysis of Black Panther’s Role in the Pursuit of Cultural and Racial Media Representation
(2021) Laurent, Geneviève; Ebanda de B’Béri, Boulou
This paper uses the 2018 film Black Panther as a framework for examining the intrinsic link between mass media representations of racial/ethnic minorities and societal perceptions towards these identity groups. A sample of 33 Canadians between the ages of 18 and 30 were surveyed to collect various opinions on the representations in Black Panther. Results were validated using a content analysis and were then analyzed through the lens of critical race theory, reception theory, and gaze theory. This set the stage for exploring how the representations of Black identity and ‘Africanicity’ in the film contributed to its commercial, critical, and cultural success in North America, as well as the ways in which these representations may have changed the perception of Black identities and Africanicity by Canadian young adults.
Going on the Offensive: Attack Ads and Canadian Youth Perceptions of and Engagement with the Democratic Process
(2020) Reed, Cody; Grosjean, Sylvie
Many western democracies are facing declining voter turnout rates, but that decline is most significant amongst the youth demographic. In 2011, only 38.8% of Canadian youth cast their ballots in the federal election. Meanwhile campaign communications continue to favour negativity in the form of attack ads, while youth continue to report adverse perceptions of negative political advertising and a general distrust and disconnect towards politicians. There are indications that this distrust comes from a feeling, as a cohort, that they are largely ignored and marginalized from meaningful political discussion. By looking at youth engagement through the theoretical perspective of the public sphere, this semi-structured focus group study asked Canadian youth how they perceive attack ads, and how this style of campaigning impacts their perceptions of and engagement with the democratic process more generally. Youth largely denounced attack ads and their design as misleading, and claimed they failed to discuss issues that were relevant to them. Youth feel marginalized from political discourse and do not feel that politicians are doing enough to make the process more accessible. This research provides important findings for political communication researchers and campaign staffers, but also presents challenges and implications for the long-term health and representativeness of both the public sphere and our democratic process more broadly.
A technoethical exploration of online dating algorithms: A systematic literature review
(2021) Yang, Kexin; Luppicini, Rocci
While algorithmic online dating has been increasingly used by singles worldwide to build romantic relationships, a growing number of studies focus on social impacts and ethical concerns of online dating algorithms. To comprehensively examine online dating algorithms from a social and ethical perspective, this researcher conducted a systematic literature review and a technoethical assessment of online dating algorithms’ social influences and ethical innovations. This work identified seven major social and ethical issues around online dating algorithms, including personal development, culture, social equality, business, political concerns, ethics and morals, and privacy. The technoethical assessment also calls for 1) more public awareness of online dating algorithms’ influential potential, and 2) online dating platforms’ responsible design, use and regulation of online dating algorithms. This study fills the knowledge gap between technology and communication studies concerning algorithmic governance in online dating and contributes strategic information on ethical innovations in online dating algorithms’ design. Keywords: algorithms, online dating, technoethics, systematic literature review, social constructionism
Major research paper: An analysis of social competence portrayed by the autistic character in the television series The Good Doctor
(2020) Kluke, Shauna; Lennox-Terrion, Jenepher
There has been an increase in inclusivity of diverse characters in television and film, including those with disabilities, alternative sexual orientation, and physical health conditions. More specifically, there has been an increase of main characters with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in television and film, such as Dr. Shaun Murphy in The Good Doctor. ASD is characterized by deficits in social communication and in navigating interpersonal relationships. However, Dr. Shaun Murphy is portrayed as highly competent in building and maintaining relationships. Portraying him as socially competent can create false expectations within interpersonal interactions for individuals with ASD and their families. While it is a good step to see more diversity and inclusion in the media, questions have been raised by scholars and disability advocates about the accuracy of these representations. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of the representation of ASD in The Good Doctor and discuss implications for individuals with ASD and their caregivers and family members. Using the concept of social competence and the social competence scale developed by Merrell and Caldarella (2002), this study examined Dr. Murphy’s behaviours in the first season of the television series to explore the accuracy of the representation. The results of the study indicate that the depiction was not an accurate representation of the social competence of individuals with ASD. This inaccuracy is likely to result in larger implications and false expectations of individuals with ASD. Keywords: social competence, media representation, qualitative, case study, Autism Spectrum Disorder, The Good Doctor
L’image de marque dans le discours du déménagement du Parlement du Canada : vers une délocalisation symbolique de la maison des Canadien.n.e.s?
(2020) Basque, Josée; Matte, Frédérik
En janvier 2019, le Parlement du Canada a déménagé. Construit il y a un peu plus d’un siècle, l’édifice du Centre devait être rénové pour prolonger sa durée de vie. Un réaménagement des institutions parlementaires a donc dû être organisé, et ce, pour au moins 10 ans. Dans le discours médiatique et institutionnel entourant cet événement, on souligne les changements liés à l’image physique des édifices. Mais qu’en est-il de l’image et de l’identité de marque du Parlement durant ce déménagement ? Comment cet événement a-t-il pu faire émerger certains aspects symboliques de cette image de marque dans le discours médiatique et institutionnel? Avec ce mémoire, nous explorerons ce phénomène en privilégiant l’analyse de contenu des publications médiatiques et institutionnelles. Pour ce faire, nous nous appuierons sur le modèle d’identité de marque de David A. Aaker. Ce modèle conceptuel permet d’analyser l’identité d’une marque, en l’occurrence ici le Parlement du Canada, en faisant émerger les éléments clés issus du discours public. Les résultats de nos analyses montrent que tant l’aspect symbolique que matérielle d’une marque s’avère essentiel dans l’identité qu’elle souhaite projeter. Plus spécifiquement, il appert que cette identité s’actualise à travers des marqueurs de temporalité, des récits individuels ainsi que des objets et artéfacts.
Rethinking Max Weber’s Study of Chinese Religions in a Modern Scope
(2019) Yu, Zhinan; Conway, Kyle
On November 11, 2018, China’s annual online shopping festival Singles’ Day hit 213.5 billion RMB (approximately 30.8 billion USD) in sales within 24 hours (Chong, 2018), increasing by 27% compared to 2017 (Davidson, 2018). This whopping number is much bigger than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined (Chong, 2018). On a worldwide scale, Singles’ Day can be seen as the biggest capitalistic event that happened online; however, to witness the upheaval of Singles’ Day was an illusion tracking back to Max Weber’s time during the 1910s. In the book The Religion of China: Confucianism and Taoism that was published in 1915, Weber asserted that capitalism cannot grow in China due to its irrational religious ethics. Taking on this conflict, a review of Weber’s studies on Chinese religions will be drawn into account to evaluate Weber’s findings’ in a modern scope through an examination of “ideal types” of three dominant religions in China including Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. The discussion will be guided by the research question: Do Weber’s studies of religious ethics of Chinese religions still apply in modern China after the 20th century? Document analysis will be employed as the research method to help unpack issues we encounter by following this research question as it pertains to Weber’s book The Religion of China: Confucianism and Taoism. Keywords: Max Weber; Chinese religions; religious ethics; modern capitalism, Confucianism; Taoism; Buddhism; ideal types
A Crude Depiction of Oil: A Comparative Discourse Analysis of CBC Calgary and British Columbia's Coverage of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project
(2020) Abounehme, Kayla; McCurdy, Patrick
As fossil fuels become increasingly associated with images of ecological destruction and humanitarian concerns, many have come to question the future viability of Alberta’s oil sands. In the face of uncertainty, the fossil fuel industry and Alberta government attempt to secure public consent for resource extraction by legitimizing the assumption that fossil fuel development as imperative to economic and social welfare. Accordingly, this research paper will examine the news media’s role in facilitating this process by sponsoring hegemonic neoliberal discourses touting the promise of oil sands, while silencing dissenting voices highlighting its environmental and social repercussions. While the majority of literature focuses on the mainstream media, scant research has examined the role of public service broadcasting (PSB) in this matter, despite the crucial role they play in sustaining democracy. Consequently, this research fills this gap in the literature by analyzing the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s (CBC) framing of the controversial Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project (TMX) in a bid to examine whether it’s fulfilling its mandate to remain unfettered by corporate and government influences. Specifically, it involves a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of CBC Calgary (N=12) and CBC British Columbia (N=15) to gauge whether local attitudes, values, and beliefs towards the fossil fuel industry are reflected in their respective framing of TMX. Overall, the findings reveal that while CBC B.C. and Calgary’s coverage does reflect local attitudes surrounding TMX, the CBC Calgary’s narratives reflect the neoliberal discourses sponsored by the Alberta government and fossil fuel industry, thus raising questions about the relationship between public broadcasting, democratic institutions, and the corporate interests of the fossil fuel industry.
Étude de l’identité de marque du Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est en contexte de minorité linguistique et de singularité religieuse
(2020) Crête, Mélissa; Ivanov, Ivan
Ce mémoire étudie l’identité de marque du Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) dans le cadre du marketing social en tant que stratégie de communication organisationnelle. Le modèle de planification de l’identité de marque de David Aaker (1996) est utilisé comme cadre d’analyse. Ce modèle a pour but d’analyser la marque d’une organisation selon quatre dimensions principales : le produit, l’organisation, la personne et le symbole. Ces quatre dimensions ciblent les informations nécessaires de l’environnement du CECCE pour construire une définition de son identité de marque et contribuer à la compréhension de ses stratégies de marketing social. Au niveau organisationnel, ce mémoire fait ressortir les aspects communautaires et innovateurs en technologie et en écocitoyenneté du CECCE.
Internet Addiction and Identity: A Systematic Research Review
(2020) Alotaibi, Sameera; Luppicini, Rocci
Within the last decade, human dependency on the internet has increased in both work and leisure activities. While numerous research studies have documented how internet use has positively contributed to life and society, a small but growing body of research documents how internet misuse can lead to negative outcomes for individuals. One particularly important area of public concern is the connection between addictive internet usage and human identity. Inspired by Goffman’s theory of the presentation of self, this study aims to address the impact of excessive internet use on real-world identity and virtual-world identity. To achieve this goal, the researcher synthesized 34 studies conducted from 2008 to 2018 about the influence of internet addiction on identity construction. The results revealed that internet addiction and identity have been given increased attention by academics despite the lack of current literature in this field. Most research studies (89%) focus on young individuals aged nine to 30 years old, while less attention is given to those over 30 years old. Switching between an online and an offline identity was proven in a number of studies based on participants’ statements. Moreover, of the literature reviewed, online gaming addiction and identity studies are addressed in 30% while internet addiction and identity are addressed in 39%; this could be linked to the official recognition of an online gaming disorder in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The present study calls for scientists and psychologists to include internet addiction as a disorder in future editions of DSM alongside online gaming addiction. Keywords: Internet addiction, Online identity, Offline identity, Self-presentation, Systematic review
« Diversité culturelle et organismes internationaux non gouvernementaux: Comment développer des compétences interculturelles à travers une formation discontinue? »
(2019) Comboïgo, Laura Aïna Yamwekré; Grosjean, Sylvie
Le présent mémoire porte sur les formations interculturelles offertes au sein des organismes internationaux non gouvernementaux (OING). Il tente de répondre à travers une étude de cas, et une analyse de documents de formations interculturelles de deux OING à la problématique suivante : « comment les organisations internationales non gouvernementales travaillant en contexte multiculturel adaptent-elles leurs programmes de formation au développement de compétences interculturelles afin qu’ils répondent aux exigences d’une formation continue ? » Le cadre théorique mobilisé dans cette étude regroupe les notions de compétences et de formations interculturelles tout en distinguant le multiculturalisme de l’interculturalisme. Les résultats auxquels nous sommes parvenus démontrent que les formations interculturelles continues et discontinues contribuent toutes les deux à développer des compétences interculturelles chez ceux qui la reçoivent (bénévoles, employés, coopérants volontaires). Toutefois, même si les formations discontinues contribuent elles aussi à développer des compétences interculturelles, elles restent inadéquates et incomplètes en termes de contenu et de suivi sur le terrain. Mots-clés : Interculturalisme, formation pré-départ, compétences interculturelles, habiletés interculturelles, organismes internationaux non gouvernementaux.
Media Framing of Sunni-Shia Tensions in Pakistan
(2019) Shah, Syed Zubair; Paré, Daniel
Since its founding in 1947, Pakistan has, for the most part, experienced a harmonious relationship between the two major sects of Islam; Sunni and Shia. However, in the wake of the July 1978 seizure of power by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and the 1979 Iranian revolution harmony between the Sunni and Shia began to erode. The sectarian divide between these two groups has social, cultural, and economic implications, the worst of which is marked by increased violence, religious intolerance, and growing numbers of sectarian terror groups. This major research paper (MRP) examines the framing of the divisions between the Sunni and Shia of Pakistan in four of the country’s major domestic newspapers: Dawn, The Nation, Daily Times and Express Tribune. The findings emerging from a combined content and critical discourse analysis of some 145 articles from these newspapers identifies sectarianism, geopolitical and religious extremism as dominant frames. The coverage of the Sunni–Shia tensions reveals a positive coverage for Shia sect and neutral coverage for Sunnis. This finding is important because Sunni Shia violence is a major issue in Pakistan and some studies suggest that media frames this issue by hiding the identity of sectarian victims. Findings emerging from my study contribute to ongoing debate about framing sectarian violence in Pakistan by suggesting that in most cases the identity of the victims is revealed.
Man Machine Poem: Viewing the Tragically Hip's final tour through a post-humanitarianism lens
(2018) Vreugdenhil;Beauclerc, Connor; Paré, Daniel
In late 2015, Gord Downie, lead singer of the iconic Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a terminal brain cancer. Some eight months later, on August 20, 2016, the band completed its final concert tour in its hometown of Kingston, Ontario. One of the many noteworthy features of the tour was the extensive fan-based fundraising efforts for brain cancer research that accompanied it. In recent years, some commentators have characterized this type of emotional outpouring as a form of ethical ambivalence or post-humanitarianism reflecting a sensibility of pity that valorizes a consumerist oriented form of short-term low-intensity agency as opposed to some more authentic forms of empathy. A leading figure in developing the concept of post-humanitarianism is Lilie Chouliaraki. Her 2013 book, The Ironic Spectator, investigates four different aspects of contemporary humanitarian communication appeals, celebrity, concerts, and news to examine the ethical ambivalence underlying post-humanitarianism. Drawing on Chouliaraki’s claims about the influence of celebrity and news reporting in fostering post-humanitarianism, this Major Research Paper analyzes newspaper reporting of the Hip’s Man Machine Poem tour in order to assess how news reporting of celebrity and suffering is structured when the celebrity is the suffering other.
Case Study of the Uber Failure in China: A Technoethical Analysis
(2018) Yu, Zhen; Luppicini, Rocci
Abstract Technology and digitalization today have greatly accelerated the process of globalization and introduced new business approaches and concepts. Drawing on the notion of a sharing economy, the ride sharing economy introduced by Uber has created social controversy and debate. When Uber expanded to the market in China from 2013 to 2017 with the venture ending in failure, it marked the first time to introduce the concept of a ‘sharing economy’ to China. The ride sharing economy brought by Uber created economic, political, cultural, and social upheaval within society. Guided by the technoethical approach, a case study on the failure of Uber in China was conducted using a systematic literature review of essential research articles and news coverage from 2013 to 2017. Case study findings uncover the following main themes connected to Uber’s localization in China: safety, privacy, morals and ethics, environments, regulation and legislation, urban plan, labor identity, and labor fairness. The technoethical analysis reveals a gap between technology and ethical awareness, a need to pay more attention to ethical consequences, and a need for government laws and regulations to keep pace with new e-business technologies. This case study contributes new insight into Uber in China and the ride sharing economy from an ethical perspective. Keywords: Uber, China, sharing economy, e-business, Technoethics
Changing Content Creation in the Age of Prosumer: from Individual to Multi-Channel Networks
(2018) Yang, Liwei; Dubois, Elizabeth
In a rapidly-changing information environment, it is necessary to stay up-to-date with industry trends to be productive (Austin, 2013). Particularly in an era where short videos dominate social media, a step has been taken from user generated content to professionally generated content. Multi-channel networks (MCN) have emerged, first, as assisting agencies for YouTube in the United States since at least 2013, providing creative media management services. This prosperous model emerged in China in 2015. Papitube represents a typical switch from a single influential media prosumer to a matrix of content creators. Despite the visible rise of MCNs, few studies look into their mechanism and systematically investigate its effects on changing the power dynamics of content creators in the short video industry compared with individual work. As investment and public attention continue to flow toward MCNs, it is necessary to address value and strategy questions so as to give basic directions to future studies concerning MCNs’ vitality. This study first draws literature about cultural industries as the ground for content creation, then reviews the practice of individuals and organizations in content production. The literature together helps identify a set of measurement objectives of MCNs’ performances that are referred to in the following analyses. Next, the study adopts a qualitative document analysis approach and content analysis approach to examine the case of Papitube and its partners. The objective is to summarize stated values of Papitube in existing documents and analyze changes in content creation of prosumers through a content analysis of Papitube members’ social media performance with and without an MCN so as to identify what changes do MCNs bring to individual content creators in Chinese social media market and whether they are valuable.
A strategy for the Thai Department of Disease Control for use in internal communication in situations such as the MERS, H5N1 and influenza crises
(2018) Akarasewi, Parujee; Grosjean, Sylvie
In a pandemic crisis, fast actions save lives, thus sense making and internal communication are the most critical elements of teamwork needed to give direction to those actions. This study attempts to find out how an agency tasked with handling outbreaks of infectious diseases, namely the Thai Department of Disease Control (DDC), a department of the Thai Ministry of Public Health, actually handles pandemic crises, with an eye to discovering what the DDC does right, and possibly uncovering what might be improved. This study contextualizes, and analyzes interviews with members of the DDC team who worked during the H5N1 (2004-2006), influenza (2008-2009) and MERS-CoV (2015-2016) pandemic incidents, because these pandemic cases produced effects both internal and external. The researcher has consulted many theorists, such as Karl E Weick, David F.Haas and more, to analyze data that was collected. This case study illustrated potential factors that could interfere with team communication in the DDC during a crisis, delved into some of the causes of these factors, and made some suggestions for changes to the DDC`s internal communication strategies during a crisis, which may be of use to similar organizations in similar situations as well.
Internal Crisis Communication and Implications for Employees’ Health: A Study of Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) Nigeria $1.6 Billion Fine and Etisalat $1.2 Billion
(2018) Akisanmi, Oluwaseun Deborah; Ahmed, Rukhsana
Communication is the foundation of all other strategies used by companies to respond to a crisis situation. Majority of organizations pay less attention to internal crisis communication when in a crisis situation. This in turn can have negative health implications on the employees. This study surveyed how internal crisis communication takes place within an organization, its overall effects on employees, and its effect on employees’ health. The theoretical frameworks employed were Situational Crisis Communication Theory, Social Identity Theory, and Professional Identity Theory. The research survey had 90 respondents from both Etisalat and MTN. The results revealed that internal crisis communication is significant to crisis communication, as it affects employees in several aspects of their lives; such as, job security. However, contrary to previous research, the data presented does not show that internal crisis communication have negative impact on employees’ health.
Watching the Talk: Talk on Television and Talk About Television - The Case Study of Ahmar Bel Khat Areed
(2018) Saleh, Sara; Conway, Kyle; Regan Wills, Emily
When studying Arab television, many including some of the better-informed researchers in the Arab world have tended to think mostly of Al Jazeera and news coverage. The academic scholarship thus lacks a more inclusive approach as it excludes a pivotal discussion on entertainment talk shows. This study provides an alternative, unconventional perspective focusing on audience discussion programs. Through content analysis and critical discourse analysis, Ahmar bil-Khat al Areed (Red in Bold Lines), a civic-oriented Lebanese talk show, is critically examined (on the discourse, format and content levels) to fill the knowledge gap left by the existing literature. The present paper proceeds from descriptive studies of this subgenre—drawing on relevant research in communication, media studies, language, sociology and political science—to argue that Ahmar bil-Khat al Areed is an exemplar of issue-oriented talk shows that can contribute to the activation of public spaces through the participation of ordinary individuals in debates on salient personal and social issues during times of conflict.

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