Abstract Recent research suggests that changes to the media environment have contributed to loneliness in the United States. This work focuses on smartphones and social media, with the decline of local news receiving little attention. We argue that local news promotes social well-being by informing residents about their communities, fostering attachment and a sense of belonging that can reduce loneliness. We provide evidence in two studies. First, using state-level data and multiple measures of news availability, we show that loneliness is higher in states with fewer options for local news. Second, we find in a nationally representative survey that people who rarely consume local journalism report greater loneliness than regular local news consumers. There is some evidence that the relationship is strongest in rural areas, which have experienced severe declines in local news access. We conclude by proposing a research agenda to further explore how community news may support social well-being.
Abstract Based on interviews with urban residents in Germany and Israel, this study examines how residential instant messaging groups (e.g., WhatsApp, Telegram) reshape the norms of “good neighboring”: reciprocity, distance, and speaking out. Drawing on Blokland’s public familiarity framework and Rosenblum’s theorizing of neighborly norms, we ask how digital co-presence transforms the relational conditions of neighboring and how these norms are negotiated within residential chat groups. We show that messenger groups lower the threshold for mutual support but introduce tensions through persistent mutual awareness, which are thenresolved through norm negotiation. Extending the public familiarity framework, we identify a complementary axis of performativity–discretion that manifests through norm negotiation. Residents calibrate between engagement and restraint, enacting “good enough” neighboring within the double-bounded constraints of a building and a chat group. We contribute to research on digitally mediated neighborhood communication by showing how urban dwellers achieve pragmatic coexistence through calibrated visibility.
Abstract This article explores the intertwined history of the National Society for the Study of Communication (NSSC), its Journal of Communication, and U.S. Air Force educational programs. Founded in 1950 (and renamed the International Communication Association in 1969), NSSC developed a close partnership with the Air Force’s Air University in its early days. The growth of the academic society and the expansion of communication courses in military education programs were then mutually reinforcing: NSSC leaders—including several Air Force officers and civilian consultants—helped define and refine military communication curricula. Air University resources supported NSSC projects, most notably the Journal of Communication. Drawing on extensive archival research and a close reading of the Journal’s content during its first decade, this article argues that these collaborations not only nurtured NSSC’s institutional development, but also shaped a specific conception of communication emphasizing vocational training, efficiency, and the transmission of command.
This study aims to analyze the function of the Syair Buka Lanse as a medium of cultural communication for the Malay community of Jambi in Sengeti Village, Muaro Jambi Regency. This tradition is an integral part of traditional wedding ceremonies that convey moral, social, and religious messages through Malay-language poetry. The urgency of this study lies in the threat of extinction of oral traditions in the digital age as well as the lack of academic documentation on Syair Buka Lanse as a cultural communication system. This study employs Halliday’s theory of language functions, which encompasses expressive (personal) functions, regulative (social control) functions, and interactional (identity management) functions, as well as Liliweri’s intercultural communication approach, which emphasizes the reciprocal relationship between communication and cultural preservation. The approach used is qualitative descriptive, employing in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation of traditional leaders and practitioners. The research findings indicate that Syair Buka Lanse functions as a vehicle for cultural expression, social control, and the reinforcement of the identity of the Jambi Malay community. The expressive function is evident in prayers and advice that convey spiritual values and familial affection. The social control function is present through moral messages that teach etiquette, honor, and social responsibility. Meanwhile, the cultural identity function is manifested through the use of local language, symbols, and values that affirm the community’s identity.
The growth of the creative industry in Indonesia has encouraged the development of various local fashion brands. However, many local fashion businesses still face challenges in building strong brand awareness among consumers. Sakinah Moeslim Bridal & Boutique Pekanbaru is a local fashion brand that incorporates Malay cultural elements such as songket weaving, embroidery, and traditional motifs into its product designs. Despite having unique cultural characteristics, public recognition of the brand remains relatively limited. This study aims to analyze the marketing communication strategies implemented by Sakinah Moeslim Bridal & Boutique in building brand awareness of its local fashion products. The research uses a qualitative descriptive approach with the Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) theory from Belch and Belch as the analytical framework. Data were collected through interviews, observation, and documentation involving two key informants from the company and four additional informants from the community. The results show that several marketing communication strategies are implemented to increase brand awareness. These include direct marketing through personal communication with consumers via WhatsApp, internet marketing through social media such as Instagram and websites, sales promotion through participation in regional and national fashion events or exhibitions, and publicity through media coverage. The integration of these strategies helps increase brand visibility and strengthen public recognition of the brand.
This study aims to analyze hate speech as a strategy of political delegitimization against women in digital political communication on social media. In recent years, the increasing participation of women in politics has not always been accompanied by equal acceptance, but rather by the rise of hate speech targeting not only their professional capacity but also their gender identity. This study employs a qualitative approach within a critical paradigm using Critical Discourse Analysis based on the framework of Norman Fairclough to examine how language is used to construct, reproduce, and legitimize gender inequality in digital political communication. The data consist of hate speech content collected from various social media platforms through purposive sampling techniques. The findings reveal that hate speech against women follows systematic discursive patterns characterized by gender stereotypes, the delegitimization of leadership capacity, and the shift of issues from political substance to personal aspects. Furthermore, the construction of gender within hate speech reflects a double standard that positions women as inferior political actors. In this context, hate speech functions not merely as an expression of hostility but as a strategic form of political communication that actively shapes public perception and undermines women’s legitimacy. The implications of this study highlight the importance of a critical approach in understanding the relationship between language, power, and gender, as well as the need for comprehensive efforts to address hate speech through regulation, digital literacy, and the strengthening of ethical political communication in the digital era.
The rapid growth of team-based online games such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), which serve not only as entertainment but also as a space for virtual social interaction. This game, which requires coordination among five players on a single team, presents complex communication dynamics through its chat feature, yet it often faces technical obstacles as well as toxic communication. The purpose of this study is to examine the communication patterns of MLBB players in the chat column, specifically the forms of communicative interaction and the obstacles that arise during gameplay. This study employs the All-Channel Communication Pattern Theory, which views communication as an open process without hierarchical boundaries among team members. The methodology used is a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collection techniques including in-depth interviews, non-participant observation, and documentation. Informants were selected via purposive sampling, comprising 12 active MLBB players in the Telanaipura area of Jambi City. The research findings indicate that the communication patterns that emerge are dynamic and open, reflecting the characteristics of an All-Channel model with three forms of communication: dyadic (two-way) in the early phase of the game, triadic (three-way) in the middle phase, and global network (multi-directional) in the final phase. Communication barriers identified include technical constraints such as network instability (lag) and non-technical barriers such as toxic communication, including flaming, blaming, and sarcasm, which negatively impact focus, motivation, and team performance. This study underscores that effective and ethical communication is essential for fostering teamwork and creating a more positive gaming environment.
The development of social media, particularly Instagram, has created new opportunities for effective product promotion through interactive features such as Instagram Story, which enables users to share engaging, personal, and audience-centered content. The Instagram account @icha_atazen utilizes this feature to promote Fibermi products by highlighting personal experiences, consumer testimonials, and interactive communication with followers. This study aims to identify and analyze the communication styles used by @icha_atazen in promoting Fibermi products through Instagram Story and to understand how these styles are conveyed to the audience. Data were collected through observation and documentation of relevant Instagram Story posts and analyzed by categorizing content based on these style indicators. The results show that open style appears through honest personal sharing, dominant style through firm instructions, friendly style through supportive interaction, and relaxed style through casual language. In conclusion, these styles are applied contextually, forming varied communication; future studies should explore other platforms or influencers.
This study aims to analyze the interpersonal communication strategies applied by supporting facilitators in the Bestee Program of PT Bank BTPN Syariah Telanaipura. The Bestee Program is an empowerment initiative designed to help productive underprivileged clients develop their business capacity and achieve economic independence. In this context, the facilitators play a vital role in building effective interpersonal relationships with clients to ensure optimal mentoring outcomes. This research employs a qualitative descriptive approach with data collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. The informants consist of three facilitators and five active clients selected using purposive sampling. The findings reveal that facilitators implement five main dimensions of interpersonal communication as proposed by Devito (2016): openness, empathy, positiveness, supportiveness, and equality. These dimensions serve as the foundation for establishing trustful and harmonious relationships between facilitators and clients. However, the study also identifies several psychological and technical barriers, such as limited communication experience and insufficient mentoring support. The study concludes that effective interpersonal communication strategies are essential in strengthening the empowerment process and promoting inclusive, socially oriented practices within Islamic banking institutions.
Driven by the increasing use of TikTok as a marketing communication medium by skincare brands, the account @melvinahusyanti owned by Daviena Skincare stands out among competitors. This study aims to analyze the marketing communication strategies implemented and their impact on audience responses and sales growth. This research employs a qualitative approach using content analysis. Data were collected through observation of six TikTok videos uploaded between November and December 2025, along with documentation such as screenshots, audience comments, and analysis of visual and verbal messages. The results show that the marketing communication strategy is carried out through the development of personal branding, including educational content, product promotion, storytelling, and direct interaction with the audience. This strategy has a positive impact on increasing engagement and sales. In conclusion, the effective use of TikTok with appropriate communication strategies can enhance consumer trust and loyalty. It is recommended to maintain message consistency, improve content creativity, and manage audience responses effectively to ensure alignment with the brand image.
Purpose: This research investigates professional self-representation within English job application letters authored by EFL students at the University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo. It identifies critical communication hurdles that impede the construction of credible professional identities and effective formal correspondence in a multilingual academic setting. Methodology: Utilizing a mixed-methods approach—combining qualitative discourse analysis with quantitative descriptive metrics—the study evaluates a corpus of letters produced by students in the Department of Letters and English Civilizations. The analysis focuses on discourse organization, persuasive strategies, professional tone, and the deployment of politeness conventions. Findings: Findings indicate that students face persistent challenges in producing persuasive and coherent correspondence. Primary deficiencies include weak argumentative structures, ineffective self-presentation techniques, and a lack of mastery over professional etiquette and formality. Crucially, the data reveals that grammatical proficiency alone does not guarantee professional communicative effectiveness, as deficiencies remained observable even among advanced students. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study highlights the necessity of shifting pedagogical focus from decontextualized grammar to genre-based professional writing. It advocates for curricula centered on authentic workplace discourse and strategic self-representation to better align student skills with the demands of the global labor market.
The current study advances the communication interdependence perspective (CIP) using an intensive longitudinal design and recent refinements in the conceptualization of integration (i.e., how various channels are interconnected). U.S. adults in romantic relationships (N = 175) completed a baseline questionnaire, and then, provided daily diary data over 30 days (4,806 total observations), which we analyzed with dynamic structural equation modeling. Consistent with the CIP, for the typical person, constructive integration had a positive within-person effect (i.e., people felt closer on days that they had more constructive integration than usual) and a positive between-person association (i.e., people with more constructive integration reported more relational closeness on average across the month). Additionally, there was persistence in constructive integration, and persistence was stronger for people who reported more habitual patterns of integration earlier in the month. We discuss the implications for the CIP and for understanding how people mix media in daily life.
This article revisits Robert T. Craig's "Communication Theory as a Field" on its 25th anniversary to reassess its relevance for contemporary communication studies. It foregrounds mediation and communication technologies' role in shaping how scholars think and write about communication. Focusing on the 1990s media environment, the analysis draws on Walter Ong's insights into the sensory, technological, and historical conditions of knowledge production. "Communication Theory as a Field" is shown to echo the spatial-visualist logics of Web 1.0. A comparative reading with Peter Ramus highlights the unintended visualism of Craig's project and challenges the ocular paradigm long dominant in communication theory. The article advances communication-as-constitutive perspectives by advocating a "sensory rapprochement" that restores auditory, embodied, and dialogic dimensions to theory while underscoring the need for reflexivity about how evolving technologies shape disciplinary frameworks and the conditions of theorizing.
What if dialogue didn't begin with individuals trying to connect, but with a deeper connectedness already unfolding? This theoretical essay explores that question by introducing two modes of dialogic communication, each expressing the ground of experience in a distinct way. Drawing on Buddhist philosophy, particularly Dzogchen, process philosophy, and traditions of dialogic thought, it proposes awaring as the emergent process through which the ground of experience arises. In the dialogue mode, grasping at this unfolding reinforces separation, making reality appear as an exchange between distinct selves seeking understanding. In the dialoguing mode, we recognize the ground's inherent openness, in which voices, gestures, thoughts, and silences co-arise, making reality appear more spacious, relational, and compassionate. Structured in three spiraling movements (ground: awaring, expression: dialoguing, and fruit: recognizing), the essay culminates in a generative conversation with Arnett, Bencherki and S & eacute;nac, Cooren, and Peters, inviting a reimagining of dialogic communication theory and a deepened study of communicative relationality.
Chilling effects are an undesirable consequence of the datafication of communication: people may refrain from entirely lawful online activities due to fear of negative repercussions based on their digital traces. Our preregistered, longitudinal online field experiment randomly exposed 827 participants to accounts of dataveillance at 19 prompts across six weeks. Within individuals, this reduced comfort with online opinion sharing, information seeking, and information disclosure. Across individuals, greater total exposure was not robustly associated with lower comfort. Women, older, and less-educated participants reported lower overall comfort, with no evidence of sociodemographic moderation of chilling effects. Follow-up focus groups validated these results. Our study advances chilling effects theory and contributes causal evidence for dataveillance-induced self-censorship in a representative sample. The implications of this subtle relinquishing of autonomy are relevant for individual well-being and democratic participation in societies increasingly shaped by dataveillance.
We report a systematic review of longitudinal studies published in SSCI-Communication journals over the 50 years, focusing on how time is conceived, measured, and analyzed as a scientific concept. To facilitate the review, we devised two novel classification schemes to distinguish between longitudinal and non-longitudinal studies and to measure how time is treated. We manually coded a random sample of 1,080 research articles, supplemented with computerized keyword scanning of the study population. The results show that longitudinal studies have steadily accounted for about 9% of the publications. Panel data studies outnumber time-series studies in a ratio of 3:2. Three-fourths of the longitudinal studies treat time as a timing index and aim to test causal effects, whereas a quarter treat time as a parameter to capture temporal dynamics. Longitudinal studies make more conceptual contributions and receive more citations than non-longitudinal studies. We offer practical recommendations for longitudinal communication research.
Political polarization is often characterized as a consequence of changes in media content or technology. We argue, in contrast, for an account that views polarization in media and the public as a co-adaptive process. This paper begins with a brief review of cultural evolution and co-adaptation and then considers the application of similar ideas to changes in media and the public over time. Using formal models, we suggest that-in combination with the human tendency toward in-group bias-a co-adaptive (rather than unidirectional) relationship can best account for real-world dynamics. We consider the implications of these findings for our understanding of media effects and technological innovation in polarization, representative democracy, and mass-mediated communication more broadly.
