Starting from the 1990s, a right-wing political surge or a national populist wave has been clearly perceived especially in Western democracies. Mass media entities such as television undoubtedly have an immense part in this political success. This makes media products under the shadow of political influence a strong case study when examining the political discourse, thus creating an important research field regarding media studies and political sciences. As political hegemonies are built upon discourse, every discursive field becomes a battleground for different groups that strive to create and maintain their corresponding hegemonies. National populist political figures -or populist politics in general- are the textbook example of this fact since the discourse they create is either inclusive or exclusive in nature, the former creates greater political mobilization around them, while the latter solidifies the mobilization they attained earlier at the expense of an excluded group. In this study, the narrative structures of the first episodes of two series about the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Kuruluş “Osmancık” (1988) and Kuruluş Osman (2019) are analyzed with Greimas’ actantial method in order to identify the differences and similarities pertaining to different political discourses. In addition, front pages of four newspapers in total favoring the ruling party (two for each) at their time are also examined employing van Dijk’s Critical Discourse Analysis method in order to determine the political discourse of the Özal and the Erdoğan governments and their parallels with the television series. The results have shown that the perspective from which Osman’s story is told changes shape drastically in line with the political agenda of the Özal and the Erdoğan governments respectively, meaning that their particular political discourse fills in the blank parts of the story. Thus, this study shows that political discursive influence results in a lack of meaningful content, which is deemed as the main ingredient of populist discourse. Keywords: National Populism, Actantial Method, Critical Discourse Analysis, Lack of Content, Turkish Politics, Hegemonic Structure.
Journalism theories are more alike than they appear. Deep down, at a quantum-like scale, they are interconnected as emanations of the same fundamental oneness. This paper explores that concept in two ways. It first develops the concept by comparing Kholod’s “quantum journalism” with two quantized perspectives of mass media. Then it seeks proof of the concept in quantizing critiques of two dissimilar theories of journalism. It finds an inherent unity between the theories. Keywords: journalism theory, quantum journalism, quantizing critique, quantum social science
This study examines how legacy media hiring editors evaluate recent journalism school graduates amid production and technological changes, with particular attention to expectations shaped by generative AI. When considering the history of journalism education as both professional preparation and civic training, this study builds on prior research documenting disconnects between newsroom hiring priorities and academic curricula development. Drawing on Astin’s Theory of Student Involvement, a survey of judges affiliated with the 2025 National Magazine Awards assessed the importance of 16 skills in current entry-level hiring as well as anticipated needs over the next five years. Results show that interpersonal and collaborative competencies—specifically teamwork and communication—are considered most valued across both timeframes, which deviates from past research. Formal credentials and narrowly defined production skills ranked lowest, while digital, data, social media, and AI-related competencies showed significant projected growth. Overall, results suggest editors favor adaptability, engagement, and professional judgment over credentials alone in practice. Keywords: journalism education, magazine journalism, legacy media, hiring practices, generative AI, student involvement, media skills
This paper investigates one of new media’s recent academic controversies, namely students’ increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic settings. Through anonymously surveying undergraduate college students about their positions on academic integrity/misconduct and their own college practices, the study seeks to navigate the technology/society complex by illuminating how we can situate the contemporary education landscape within expectations of student work authenticity and how ethics possibly fit into theories of internet centrism and technological determinism. To answer the study’s research question, we designed a survey that we administered to students enrolled in a media law and policy undergraduate course at a medium-sized East Coast university. The survey was administered anonymously on Blackboard, and students received course credit for completing it. The responses of students under the age of 18 were excluded from the study through a pre-screening process. Survey questions totaled 10; they inquired (in this order) about: sources used in research assignments; whether they have previously used paraphrasing computer software in courses and which (if any); whether they believe universities should allow students to use AI-based computer software to improve their assignments and to justify their position; whether they believe universities should use text-matching software to detect originality and to justify their position; the school level when they first learned about plagiarism and other types of academic misconduct; and whether they believe universities are right to apply a penalty for academic misconduct and to justify their position. The survey included both closed-ended questions (required) and open-ended questions (optional). Findings point to thought-provoking notions on how intellectual property, fairness in assessment, and the fruits of technology are perceived and interact within a wider dynamic. The paper also highlights the ongoing nature of a multidimensional debate. Keywords: Academic integrity, Artificial Intelligence, Education, Technology, Internet, New Media
The advent of digital media has led to the rise of platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, which enable users to create and share short-form video content - commonly referred to as Reels or Shorts. These user-generated videos, often featuring trending music, dance challenges, or film dialogues, are designed to attract widespread engagement and achieve virality. While many users produce such content to gain visibility, popularity, and engagement, others consume it—both actively and passively—without time constraints. This pattern of continuous engagement, particularly prevalent among younger audiences, signals a surge in digital participation that raises questions about shifting social and psychological needs. The primary objective of this paper is to quantitatively analyze and assess this emerging socially driven behavior among younger generations. The findings provide insights into the intersection of digital gratification, self-presentation, and habitual media use. Keywords: Addiction, Behavioral Pattern, Binge watching, Technology, Virtual Living.
This paper investigates the evolving regulatory landscape shaping the “European approach” to addressing the role of social media platforms in amplifying systemic risks to democratic elections. Based on a qualitative methodology grounded in desk research, it examines legislative and non-legislative measures adopted over the past decade to counter threats such as election delegitimization, political propaganda, unlawful micro-targeting, and technology-enhanced campaigning. The study draws in regulatory coordination literature to explore how European frameworks and national strategies converge to address election-related disinformation. Key findings reveal that increased European cooperation has helped reduce regulatory fragmentation and foster stakeholder engagement. The analysis also highlights challenges posed by regulatory asymmetry across Member States, where divergent political priorities, institutional capacities and legal frameworks add complexity to the creation of unified responses to online disinformation. The study maps the plethora of constitutional norms, binding laws and soft law instruments underscoring the tension between safeguarding democratic integrity and protecting freedom of expression. By situating these efforts within the broader developments in digital governance, the paper contributes to scholarship on political communication and offers practical insights for policymakers aiming to strengthen cross-border coordination and enhance information integrity. Keywords: European Union, online disinformation, social media platforms, democracy, elections
The media’s agenda-setting power profoundly influences public perceptions and health policies. Understanding the portrayal of health topics is critical in assessing their impact. This study investigates the health agendas promoted by mainstream newspapers in Bangladesh, specifically examining health news in Daily Prothom Alo from 2016 to 2021. A total of 1,387 Bengali-language articles were analyzed using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) for topic modeling. Results reveal a predominantly reactive stance in reporting, focusing on short-term health crises over preventive measures. Key themes included vector-borne diseases, COVID-19, and other health emergencies, with limited emphasis on long-term health awareness. The findings underscore the need for the media to adopt a proactive role in addressing systemic health issues and promoting preventive strategies. This research highlights opportunities for enhancing the media's role in fostering sustainable health awareness and influencing policy through agenda-setting. Keywords: Health awareness; Agenda setting; Topic modeling; Newspaper; Bangladesh
This study aims to understand and examine how user generated content (UGC) and the use of micro-celebrities on popular social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok influence the shopping behavior of Generation Z. The researcher argues that exposure to UGC will significantly increases the users’ intentions to search for online products, in addition to exploring how UGC influences consumer perceptions of brand authenticity in social media advertising. As consumers increasingly seek genuine connections with brands, this research will analyze how UGC, when incorporated into social media ads, can enhance or detract from perceived brand authenticity and consumer trust. A quantitative approach will be employed to analyze data through a questionnaire that will be distrusted to a sample compromised of active social media Generation Z users.
This paper explores the breadth of intricate dynamics of algorithmic personalization and user autonomy in digital advertising, with a depth into the geo-targeted algorithms within the MENA region. As digital media increasingly rely on data-driven strategies to influence consumer behavior, understanding how these algorithms shape user experiences becomes paramount. By employing a qualitative exploratory study, this paper investigates the implications of personalized advertising on user choice and autonomy. Through multiple intensive interviews with MENA region end-users, we assess how geo-targeted algorithms curate advertising content, often leading to experiences that users perceive as both personalized and compromised. The findings may reveal that while users appreciate the relevance of personalized advertisements, they simultaneously express concerns about their autonomy and the extent of their informed choice. This study relies on media system dependency theory to illustrate how reliance on digital platforms shapes the user expectations and behaviors. The insights from the analysis may underscore the need to critically evaluate how geo-targeted advertising not only influences user decisions but also impacts the perceptions of advertising in the digital landscape. Ultimately, this research may provide broader knowledge in media studies by highlighting the ethical implications of algorithmic personalization in digital advertising. As advertisers navigate the challenges posed by data-driven marketing, the study may advocate for greater transparency and user empowerment in the advertising ecosystem. By examining the complex relationship between algorithmic personalization and user autonomy, this paper may contribute to understanding of the importance of fostering an informed and autonomous user base in the MENA region and beyond.
This study investigates whether wartime conditions erode the media’s critical distance from official discourse, focusing on the early phase of the War on Terror. Drawing on Media System Dependency theory and the Propaganda Model, it analyzes eight speeches by President George W. Bush and 112 USA Today articles published between September 11 and October 12, 2001. The study employs thematic analysis. The results reveal that immediate press coverage was markedly aligned with presidential rhetoric, reproducing themes such as moral absolutism, civilizational binaries, dehumanization, and retributive justice. The findings suggest that in moments of national crisis, heightened public reliance on the press—combined with structural constraints—facilitates media alignment with official discourse. This convergence underscores the vulnerability of journalistic autonomy in times of war.
This article examines the transformative impact of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) on media production within advertising, film, and television, through the theoretical lens of Jean Baudrillard’s concept of simulacra. As GAI technologies increasingly generate synthetic content that mimics or replaces human creativity, traditional notions of authenticity, authorship, and audience perception are destabilized. Drawing on prominent case studies, including Coca-Cola’s AI Christmas campaign, Nike’s "Never Done Evolving" ad, the AI-scripted films Sunspring and The Last Screenwriter, and procedurally generated television content such as Nothing, Forever and Showrunner, the study explores how GAI contributes to the proliferation of hyperreal media simulations. Employing a qualitative and interdisciplinary methodology, the analysis situates these examples within Baudrillard’s framework, revealing how AI-driven content increasingly operates as autonomous simulations detached from any real referent. The article argues that this shift toward hyperreality has profound implications for cultural production and media consumption, challenging the boundaries between the real and the artificial and prompting critical reflection on the ethical, aesthetic, and societal consequences of AI in the creative industries.
Podcasting is rapidly growing in Egypt as a part of the popular culture, where listeners are attached to an audio content discussing diverse social, political, lifestyle and cultural aspects. Consequently, entrepreneurs and media companies found an opportunity for commercial interest and expansion in the podcasting, hence leveraging it to a professional level that makes it more accessible and affordable for the Egyptian audience. Podcasting, like any other medium, has been reshaped by media “platformization”, where it enabled podcasting to act as an intermediary between diverse users for instance, suppliers, professionals, producers, customers, advertisers, and entrepreneurs that will be particularly investigated in the research paper. This study examined the role of pod casts in driving business growth through the empowerment and information given in the knowledge-sharing platform of podcasting. Moreover, the paper discussed the impact of the success stories narratives and expertise shared on business innovation, through the systematic analysis of a selection of entrepreneurial podcasts. The researcher identified the themes, strategies, market insights, activities and practices and advice provided to the entrepreneurial listener. Lastly the study scrutinized the authenticity as well as the reliability of the podcasts, thus promoting a new type of trust and engagement with its listeners. The researcher utilized qualitative research to some selected Egyptian entrepreneurial podcasts that are significantly growing as an entrepreneurial expert for business innovation and growth, therefore contributing to the fathom of modern communication tactics regrading business success in a competitive Egyptian landscape.
This paper examines the organisational culture of European student radio stations through the lens of the tight–loose cultural continuum, drawing on the author's previous studies that explored these organisations at the levels of artefacts, espoused values, and underlying assumptions using Edgar Schein's model of organisational culture. European student radio stations exist within resource-constrained and transient environments, requiring constant adaptation. This paper reinterprets data from three earlier empirical studies, an analysis of organisational artefacts, a competing values framework analysis of espoused values, and a qualitative case study of core assumptions, through the theory of cultural tightness and looseness. The findings reveal how stations balance flexibility and structure, with some gravitating toward tighter rules for stability, while others maintain looser norms to foster creativity. The paper contributes to understanding the organisational dynamics of youth-driven, mission-oriented media institutions, offering a analytical framework to evaluate how cultural regulation shapes their evolution.
#oldmoney has flooded social media since the early 2020s, with thousands of posts – videos, photos, memes, and AI-generated content. At first glance, these posts showcase luxury and wealth. However, they also reveal rigid classism, racism, and sexism. The concept of #oldmoney has transitioned into real life, with tutorials on “how to dress/look/behave old money” gaining popularity. While social media portrays old money as glamorous, it depicts new money as vulgar. Consequently, participants in the trend not only view themselves as superior to poor people (despite possibly belonging to a lower class) but also to other wealthy individuals. Thus, #oldmoney aligns with exclusionary right-wing extremist narratives. This study theoretically develops four arguments for why this is, using typical examples of #oldmoney: 1) focus on predetermined factors (e.g., “bloodline”), 2) glorification of “purity” connected to “being white,” 3) propagation of “traditional” gender roles, and 4) hence, others who do not fulfill ARGUMENTS 1 to 3 are degraded. It aims to explore how the current online aestheticization of neoliberalism under #oldmoney facilitates the dissemination and normalization of right-wing extremist narratives on social media, utilizing a Marxist reading of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, a key pop cultural reference for #oldmoney.
As one of the most pressing global challenges of our times, climate change has thrust the media into a crucial position, wielding influence over public understanding and shaping policy debates. This study investigates how climate change is framed in Tamil Nadu by analysing articles from The Hindu published in 2023. This study combines the frame analysis model developed by Semetko and Valkenburg with the Climate Action frame from Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13) added on. This study analysed 600 articles through the lens of six distinct frames: responsibility, conflict, economic, human interest, morality, and climate action. These framing categories form the basis of the analytical framework. The Responsibility frame emphasises governmental accountability in addressing climate issues, the Conflict frame elucidates disagreements concerning resource allocation, the Economic frame examines the financial implications of risks associated with extreme weather events, the Human Interest frame incorporates a human perspective into climate narratives, the Morality frame integrates ethical perspectives, and the Climate Action frame focuses on climate adaptation and climate mitigation strategies. This study provides valuable insights into how regional climate change narratives are constructed in the state of Tamil Nadu, south India, and offers insights into how a global crisis is contextualised in print media through strategic framing.
This study examines the shifting attitudes and beliefs of Generation Z regarding celebrity influence, the evolving definition of a celebrity, and the distinctions between micro-celebrities, A-listers, and internet phenomena. Through a series of focus groups from 2015 to 2025, participants explored how their views on celebrity influence are shaped by changing values, preferences, and the digital landscape. The findings reveal that Gen Z evaluates celebrity status not only through visibility and social media presence but also by examining the projects, skills, and talents that underpin a celebrity’s success. Participants emphasized that micro-celebrities and internet personalities, who often have smaller but highly engaged followings, are valued for their relatable content and the authenticity of their creative or professional pursuits. In contrast, traditional A-listers, often associated with significant achievements in film, music, or other established industries, were recognized for their visibility and polished personas, but were sometimes perceived as less accessible. Viral internet phenomena, while impactful, were noted for their short-lived cultural relevance and lack of sustained creative output. This study highlights how Gen Z’s evolving opinions and criteria redefine celebrity status, emphasizing the interplay between talent, projects, relatability, and influence. These insights offer critical implications for brands, media, and researchers seeking to navigate the dynamic landscape of celebrity influence in the digital age.
This paper explores the breadth of intricate dynamics of algorithmic personalization and user autonomy in digital advertising, with a depth into the geo-targeted algorithms within the MENA region. As digital media increasingly rely on data-driven strategies to influence consumer behavior, understanding how these algorithms shape user experiences becomes paramount. By employing a qualitative exploratory study, this paper investigates the implications of personalized advertising on user choice and autonomy. Through multiple intensive interviews with MENA region end-users, we assess how geo-targeted algorithms curate advertising content, often leading to experiences that users perceive as both personalized and compromised. The findings may reveal that while users appreciate the relevance of personalized advertisements, they simultaneously express concerns about their autonomy and the extent of their informed choice. This study relies on media system dependency theory to illustrate how reliance on digital platforms shapes the user expectations and behaviors. The insights from the analysis may underscore the need to critically evaluate how geo-targeted advertising not only influences user decisions but also impacts the perceptions of advertising in the digital landscape. Ultimately, this research may provide broader knowledge in media studies by highlighting the ethical implications of algorithmic personalization in digital advertising. As advertisers navigate the challenges posed by data-driven marketing, the study may advocate for greater transparency and user empowerment in the advertising ecosystem. By examining the complex relationship between algorithmic personalization and user autonomy, this paper may contribute to understanding of the importance of fostering an informed and autonomous user base in the MENA region and beyond.
A critical mode of being is not only written into the Swedish law of university education as a learning outcome for all students, but also vital for Media and Communication students approach to their studies and their future lives as media producers. Taking on this challenge, I created an experiment 15 years ago, which I term performance teaching. It was a way to force students out of their uncritical absorption of course-content only focusing on exams, into a critical mode of thinking and doing. At first this performance teaching entailed lecturing in totally different lifestyle outfits every day, with the aid of colleagues and the city theatre. The following 13 years, however, only the first day of term was used for the performance and the experiment turned into a permanent teaching method, tied in with theories of critique of sources and media critique. This is the case that will theoretically discuss in this article. I will argue for didactically designing learning processes that tackles the issues embodied critical thinking and doing. My main argument is that by acknowledging that we, as lecturers and students, are physical beings and that learning should take place through one’s entire body, learning processes can be didactically designed to better learning processes. The aim of the article is showing how performance teaching can create a positive base for critical learning, thinking, and doing media, and theoretically analysing and discussing this. Theoretically, the concepts I use are mainly based on bell hooks’ works on feminist critical pedagogy. I also lean on Bourdieu’s (2001) concept hexis and habitus, and Larsson and Fagrell’s (2010) The Conception of Performed Body. I’m furthermore inspired by Selander and Kress’ (2010) book on didactic design and Toke Gissel’s (2016) work on Media Didactics, which ties my research to my subject Media and Communication studies. Methodologically the case study is based on student questionnaires and interviews. The result shows that students yearn the familiar, they want what they believe a university education and a “proper university lecturer” should be. When taken out of their pre-understandings of this and when the course didactics are consciously designed to foster criticality, they start to think and do critically. The performance lecture is but a small starting point in achieving this, but its effects seem to last students’ entire bachelor program (and possibly beyond). The article does not argue for a performance lecture as such, as it could be a hard act hard to follow, but that university lectures should aim for what bell hooks terms practical wisdom. Furthermore, we need to bring embodied learning into the classroom, and we must acknowledge that fostering critical thinking and critical doing is key to any university education.
Purpose – Being a relatively new industry in Vietnam, records on the emergence of public relations practices in Vietnam are limited. The current study will focus on key milestones in the evolution of the public relations industry in Vietnam, major cultural and economic factors that shape current practices, and the ways in which these factors will influence the industry’s future growth. Design/ methodology/ approach – This paper adopted library research and expert interview as its methodologies. Findings – Public relations in Vietnam is diverse and influenced by both Western practices and the local culture. As more companies are considering the use of public relations, and more students and journalists seek to join the field, the industry is emerging rapidly, promising changes and development in the field. However, public relations practice in Vietnam is still marketing-oriented, one-way, and may not be effective in reputation management. Public relations firms in Vietnam need a common standard that is based on the standards of global and local public relations. Practical implications – The research adds to the limited scholarly research on the development of the public relations industry in Vietnam by providing useful information about the industry’s background, growth, and the future directions.
Twitch provides a unique opportunity for exploring how users’ experiences on live-streaming platforms, characterized by immersive virtual environments full of sensory richness and real-time interactivity, intersect with their perceptions of intrusive ad interruption. Given the frequent exposure of Twitch users to in-stream video advertisements, this research aims to unlock the psychological mechanism of advertising acceptance on Twitch. Expanding the psychological reactance framework, the researchers have developed a comprehensive theoretical framework that examines the intricate interplay between users’ telepresence, flow experience, their reactance toward in-stream video ads, and the subsequent outcomes of such reactance (i.e., ad avoidance) within the context of live-broadcasts. The results of an online survey (N=297) show that having a high flow status on Twitch appears to intensify users’ reactance toward ad invasiveness and ad avoidance. Notably, anger emerges as a dominant cause for reactant users’ avoidance of advertising. This study’s key findings are discussed in-depth, along with theoretical and practical implications. Keywords: live streaming platforms, telepresence, flow, reactance, ad avoidance, Twitch
