Dr. Fears - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Dr. Fears

Southwestern Mass Communication Journal

In March 2018, National Geographic admitted for the first time in its 130-year history that “for ... more In March 2018, National Geographic admitted for the first time in its 130-year history that “for decades our coverage was racist. To rise above our past, we must acknowledge it.” In acknowledging that past, it offered a special issue focused on race, which kicked off its yearlong series of reporting, "Diversity in America." This paper offers a textual analysis of two articles that appeared in the April 2018 edition. One article focused on the rising anxiety of White America, apparent in the debate over confederate statues. The second article features streets named for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an offering timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the civil right leader's assassination.

Southwestern Mass Communication Journal

Using a critical race lens and framing theory, this exploratory study of visual representations o... more Using a critical race lens and framing theory, this exploratory study of visual representations on Twitter and Facebook explores the cultural narratives citizens used in their framing of the Ferguson riots in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s death in 2014. Findings indicate citizens posted photographs, texts, and videos to characterize the incident both positively and negatively using various frames and cultural narratives.

Social media and society, 2016

This textual analysis examined the framing of Ferguson, Missouri, that emerged following Michael ... more This textual analysis examined the framing of Ferguson, Missouri, that emerged following Michael Brown’s death in 2014. The analysis indicates tweets focused on the protests that followed and the racial nature of the incident. The most salient themes characterized Ferguson within the context of “bigger picture” issues, “otherness” narratives and “protest” frames. Many tweets transmitted a racialized tone, characterizing Ferguson as a “less than desirable town with mostly Black residents and low-life thugs.” This study provides support for the use of textual analysis in studies of social media platforms and indicates it is imperative to look at representations of race, power and cultural narratives in popular mass media messages.

Communication Teacher, 2017

ABSTRACT We interviewed racially/ethnically diverse, early career public relations practitioners.... more ABSTRACT We interviewed racially/ethnically diverse, early career public relations practitioners. By asking participants to reflect on their collegiate social and educational development, we unearth contributing factors to these individuals’ success both in college and in their professions to date. Respondents desired much more in-school training and technical skill acquisition than they were provided. Respondents also alluded to ways that the female/male composition of the undergraduate classroom affected their educational environment and student learning experiences. Findings are used to address the extent to which the educational/prepare-students-for-industry dialectic should be addressed by communication faculty and administrators.

Journalism Mass Communication Educator, 1999

The SAGE Handbook of Child Development, Multiculturalism, and Media

Page 290. CHAPTER 18 An Evaluation of the Effects of Movies on Adolescent Viewers JANNETTE L. DAT... more Page 290. CHAPTER 18 An Evaluation of the Effects of Movies on Adolescent Viewers JANNETTE L. DATES LILLIE M. FEARS JOSEPHINE STEDMAN One of the most important elements of adolescence is the development of an identity. ...

Public Relations Review, 2006

Abstract Differing from previous research of PR majors, this study of students in introduction to... more Abstract Differing from previous research of PR majors, this study of students in introduction to mass communication courses focused on how one is socialized into public relations before he or she arrives for the first day on the job. The 236 students surveyed most frequently associated public relations with advocacy roles, working with people and advertising. Experience on high school newspapers and yearbooks were both positively related to a student's public relations technician self-efficacy.

Southwestern Mass Communication Journal

This study analyzed daily newspaper coverage of President Obama’s July 19, 2013 statement on the ... more This study analyzed daily newspaper coverage of President Obama’s July 19, 2013 statement on the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. The story was the most high-profile incident of 2013 where race was a major issue. The 25 front pages that made up the purposive sample represented a range of newspaper types including 13 metropolitan newspapers, seven community newspapers and five with the largest circulations in the nation. The analysis showed that the storyline most newspapers used in reporting on the statement by the nation’s first bi-racial president was one that made the connection between Obama and a 17-year-old African American boy from Florida who was gunned down as he wore a hoodie and carried a bag of Skittles. Fifteen of the 25 newspapers chose to use Obama’s words Trayvon Martin “Could Have Been Me” in their headline.

Journal of Educational Computing Research, 2010

Substantial evidence now supports pedagogical applications of virtual worlds; however, most resea... more Substantial evidence now supports pedagogical applications of virtual worlds; however, most research supporting virtual worlds for education has been conducted using researcher-developed Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVE). Second Life (SL) is a MUVE that has been adopted by a large number of academic institutions; however, little research has systematically investigated the potential of using SL for higher education. A 2–year pilot study was conducted that included seven SL activities and a mixed-methods evaluation of the SL's affordances, challenges, and limitations. Three SL integration factors emerged, each with sub-factors: pedagogical (relevance, complexity of required SL skills, use of SL affordances); contextual (student prior gaming experience, activity duration, frequency of events); and logistical (SL usability, training, technical support, computer issues). A framework for creating SL instructional activities is presented using the factors.

Southwestern Mass Communication Journal

In March 2018, National Geographic admitted for the first time in its 130-year history that “for ... more In March 2018, National Geographic admitted for the first time in its 130-year history that “for decades our coverage was racist. To rise above our past, we must acknowledge it.” In acknowledging that past, it offered a special issue focused on race, which kicked off its yearlong series of reporting, "Diversity in America." This paper offers a textual analysis of two articles that appeared in the April 2018 edition. One article focused on the rising anxiety of White America, apparent in the debate over confederate statues. The second article features streets named for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an offering timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the civil right leader's assassination.

Southwestern Mass Communication Journal

Using a critical race lens and framing theory, this exploratory study of visual representations o... more Using a critical race lens and framing theory, this exploratory study of visual representations on Twitter and Facebook explores the cultural narratives citizens used in their framing of the Ferguson riots in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s death in 2014. Findings indicate citizens posted photographs, texts, and videos to characterize the incident both positively and negatively using various frames and cultural narratives.

Social media and society, 2016

This textual analysis examined the framing of Ferguson, Missouri, that emerged following Michael ... more This textual analysis examined the framing of Ferguson, Missouri, that emerged following Michael Brown’s death in 2014. The analysis indicates tweets focused on the protests that followed and the racial nature of the incident. The most salient themes characterized Ferguson within the context of “bigger picture” issues, “otherness” narratives and “protest” frames. Many tweets transmitted a racialized tone, characterizing Ferguson as a “less than desirable town with mostly Black residents and low-life thugs.” This study provides support for the use of textual analysis in studies of social media platforms and indicates it is imperative to look at representations of race, power and cultural narratives in popular mass media messages.

Communication Teacher, 2017

ABSTRACT We interviewed racially/ethnically diverse, early career public relations practitioners.... more ABSTRACT We interviewed racially/ethnically diverse, early career public relations practitioners. By asking participants to reflect on their collegiate social and educational development, we unearth contributing factors to these individuals’ success both in college and in their professions to date. Respondents desired much more in-school training and technical skill acquisition than they were provided. Respondents also alluded to ways that the female/male composition of the undergraduate classroom affected their educational environment and student learning experiences. Findings are used to address the extent to which the educational/prepare-students-for-industry dialectic should be addressed by communication faculty and administrators.

Journalism Mass Communication Educator, 1999

The SAGE Handbook of Child Development, Multiculturalism, and Media

Page 290. CHAPTER 18 An Evaluation of the Effects of Movies on Adolescent Viewers JANNETTE L. DAT... more Page 290. CHAPTER 18 An Evaluation of the Effects of Movies on Adolescent Viewers JANNETTE L. DATES LILLIE M. FEARS JOSEPHINE STEDMAN One of the most important elements of adolescence is the development of an identity. ...

Public Relations Review, 2006

Abstract Differing from previous research of PR majors, this study of students in introduction to... more Abstract Differing from previous research of PR majors, this study of students in introduction to mass communication courses focused on how one is socialized into public relations before he or she arrives for the first day on the job. The 236 students surveyed most frequently associated public relations with advocacy roles, working with people and advertising. Experience on high school newspapers and yearbooks were both positively related to a student's public relations technician self-efficacy.

Southwestern Mass Communication Journal

This study analyzed daily newspaper coverage of President Obama’s July 19, 2013 statement on the ... more This study analyzed daily newspaper coverage of President Obama’s July 19, 2013 statement on the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. The story was the most high-profile incident of 2013 where race was a major issue. The 25 front pages that made up the purposive sample represented a range of newspaper types including 13 metropolitan newspapers, seven community newspapers and five with the largest circulations in the nation. The analysis showed that the storyline most newspapers used in reporting on the statement by the nation’s first bi-racial president was one that made the connection between Obama and a 17-year-old African American boy from Florida who was gunned down as he wore a hoodie and carried a bag of Skittles. Fifteen of the 25 newspapers chose to use Obama’s words Trayvon Martin “Could Have Been Me” in their headline.

Journal of Educational Computing Research, 2010

Substantial evidence now supports pedagogical applications of virtual worlds; however, most resea... more Substantial evidence now supports pedagogical applications of virtual worlds; however, most research supporting virtual worlds for education has been conducted using researcher-developed Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVE). Second Life (SL) is a MUVE that has been adopted by a large number of academic institutions; however, little research has systematically investigated the potential of using SL for higher education. A 2–year pilot study was conducted that included seven SL activities and a mixed-methods evaluation of the SL's affordances, challenges, and limitations. Three SL integration factors emerged, each with sub-factors: pedagogical (relevance, complexity of required SL skills, use of SL affordances); contextual (student prior gaming experience, activity duration, frequency of events); and logistical (SL usability, training, technical support, computer issues). A framework for creating SL instructional activities is presented using the factors.