tao papaioannou | University of Nicosia (original) (raw)

Papers by tao papaioannou

Journal of Communication Inquiry, Nov 5, 2023

International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning

European Journal of Communication

News coverage of protests typically employs a protest paradigm: framing strategies for marginaliz... more News coverage of protests typically employs a protest paradigm: framing strategies for marginalizing protest actors and reducing the significance of protest issues and aims. However, recent studies are detecting less prototypical media responses, indicating the need to identify the extent of application of the protest paradigm and the underlying determinants for variations within media politics of dissent. This analysis of the framing of a Cypriot environmental campaign ‘Save Akamas’ by three national newspapers indicated that the coverage deviated from the protest paradigm. The results showed little emphasis on social deviance but validation of the protests in varying magnitudes through frames articulating governmental responsibility, environmental conservation, and ambivalence towards economic grievances. Finally, supplemented with interviews with two protest organizers and journalists, respectively, this article examines the conditions under which citizen protests mitigate media ...

This special issue has resulted from the work of the Task Force on "Media Literacy" of the COST A... more This special issue has resulted from the work of the Task Force on "Media Literacy" of the COST Action, "Transforming Audiences, Transforming Societies," IS0906, http://www.cost.eu. COST is an intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in Science and Technology, enabling the coordination of nationally funded research at the European level. The Action "Transforming Audiences, Transforming Societies" (2010-2014) coordinates research efforts into the key transformations of European audiences and identifies their complex interrelationships within the social, cultural and political dimension of European societies. A range of interconnected but distinct topics concerning audiences is being developed by four Working Groups: (1) New media genres, media literacy and trust in the media; (2) Audience interactivity and participation; (3) The role of media and ICT use for evolving social relationships; and (4) Audience transformations and social integration. As part of Working Group 1, the task force on "Media Literacy" examines conceptual, methodological and policy issues concerning audiences within the changing media and communication environment.

The Routledge International Handbook of Children, Adolescents, and Media, Apr 1, 2022

Journal of Media Literacy Education, 2021

Public Policies in Media and Information Literacy in Europe, 2017

The continuing information and communication technology revolution is resulting in the developmen... more The continuing information and communication technology revolution is resulting in the development of more accessible and easier-to-use mobile and social media. This is leading to a transformation of the media and communication landscape in such a way that media engagement is presenting both opportunities and challenges for children and young people as content consumers and creators in and outside schools. This chapter investigates the definitions of ML and MIL circulating among EU member states and beyond, and their associated norms and values, drawing on a qualitative and interpretative analysis of the TRANSLIT/COST country reports, especially the section of the template survey dealing with the dimensions “Historical background” and “Main concepts and legitimizing values” (see Appendices 2, “Template with guidelines for reporting phase”, and 3, “Scoreboard for scoping phase”).Focusing on definitions and values, the various approaches to ML, MIL and the attendant notion of ME are examined cross-culturally. The historical perspective seems more appropriate since ML has been framed within several contexts. An overview of the current conceptual framings of ML in relation to how ME has developed and been implemented in Europe is provided, and the various perspectives and developments are compared and contrasted. Based on the country reports, the focus lies on the notion of ML constituted by official designations. Formal definitions of ML found in the legal documents that frame ME and ML policies in the involved European nations are considered. Rather than providing a list of virtues and weaknesses, the objective is to highlight the slight variations detectable in theemphasis given to the various elements constituting ML. The examination of the different ways official definitions take account of the socio-cultural context of ML, and the nature of the communicative processes through which it is promoted and its ultimate objective allows a framing of ML as a multifaceted and evolving social challenge that is enriched by cultural diversity within Europe. The complexities that emerge require not only recognition of conceptual plurality, but also an ongoing exploration of the changing nature of MIL, and especially the diverse social locations that condition and shape it. With respect to this, the development of the concepts of ME and ML as well as its transition to an approach to MIL referring to societal changes connected with processes of mediatization are central. Further, this analysis appraises the power of European Commission policies against a shifting focus from ML to digital and information literacy, as well as the possible risks that are connected with these developments.

International Journal of Communication, 2020

The year 2008 marked the beginning of a global financial crisis that severely affected how social... more The year 2008 marked the beginning of a global financial crisis that severely affected how social, political, and media spheres are perceived by citizens. Its impact reached longer than its negative economic cycle, posing vital questions about power elites and social movements for social sciences. This Special Section aims to provide a better understanding about how the civil society of 5 Southern European countries (Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain) channeled their discontent toward their political authorities and the austerity economic decisions taken to solve the crisis. A comparative approach is completed among 6 articles tackling these critical times from different perspectives and applying several research methods to observe how collective action was organized in the streets and in mediated environments. The final picture confronts us with several unsolved challenges for representative democracies, as the growing distance between political leadership and a civil so...

European Journal of Communication, 2018

ris.uvt.ro

... of personal data they disclose on their profile pages, yet oblivious to the dangers that can ... more ... of personal data they disclose on their profile pages, yet oblivious to the dangers that can ... as by e-mail, in a chatroom or in a gaming website, social networking sites and ... Furthermore, in respect to the possible engagement opportunities that social media such as Facebook offer ...

COST Action 'Transforming Audiences, Transforming Societies' (IS0906) brings together researchers... more COST Action 'Transforming Audiences, Transforming Societies' (IS0906) brings together researchers from across Europe to coordinate research efforts into the key transformations of European audiences within a changing media and communication environment, identifying their complex interrelationships with the social, cultural and political areas of European societies. See http://www.cost.esf.org/domains_actions/isch/Actions/IS0906-Transforming-Audiences-Transforming-Societies-End-date-February-2014 COST action Working Group 1, Task Force 4 The COST Action's research is divided into four closely related areas of research, each of which is explored by a Working Group. This report was produced by one of the task forces in Working Group 1, which works under the heading "New media genres, media literacy, and trust in the media". The group's members examine the ways in which people relate to the overall media landscape of old and new media, and the various sense-making strategies they bring to bear on the media ensemble, as well as on the individual media and their content. One salient concern within this remit, and the focal research area of Task Force 4, is to what extent audiences can be seen to be media-savvy, i.e. whether they possess the critical abilities necessary to function as enlightened citizens and consumers in the mediatized society: are they audiovisually and digitally literate so as to be able to handle sensibly whatever the media expose them to? In order to answer this question Task Force 4, under the leadership of Sonia Livingstone, has been keen to put dialogues between academic, policy and industry stakeholders on its agenda, and this report testifies to the Task Force's success in this effort. The conference, Transforming Audiences, was held in Zagreb, 7-9 April 2011. The day before the conference was devoted to Stakeholder Roundtables, the first of which addressed the potential for cooperation between academic and non-academic approaches to media literacy. The Media Literacy Round Table, together with a Media Literacy Conference Panel presented at the conference itself, draw on and develop the work of COST action Working Group 1, Task Force 4.

European Journal of Communication, Feb 28, 2022

Earlier research on media coverage of social protests has yielded evidence of a protest paradigm:... more Earlier research on media coverage of social protests has yielded evidence of a protest paradigm: framing patterns that articulate support for entrenched interests and values. However, recent studies are detecting less predictable media responses, indicating the need to identify the extent of application of the paradigm and the underlying determinants within the changing media politics of dissent. This study investigates whether and how the protest paradigm is incorporated in the portrayal of the 2013 Cypriot protests in international online news media. A framing analysis of protest coverage by the news websites of the New York Times (NYT), BBC News andEuronewsreveals contrasting results. NYT demonstrates the tendency to employ spectacle frames, privilege official sourcesandsituate the protests within strict economic analysis. Alternatively, BBC News – more sympathetic than Euronews – constructs stories with frames legitimating protestors’ perspective and questioning governing insti...

Research on news coverage of protests has revealed evidence of a protest paradigm: framing strate... more Research on news coverage of protests has revealed evidence of a protest paradigm: framing strategies that disparage protestors and diminish protest claims and significance. However, recent studies are detecting less predictable media responses, indicating the need to identify the extent of application of the paradigm and the underlying determinants for variations within media politics of dissent. This analysis of the framing of the 2013 Cypriot anti-austerity protests by three national newspapers and a public television channel indicated that the coverage deviated from the protest thesis. The results showed little emphasis on the law and (dis)order frame but validation of the protests in varying magnitudes through frames articulating national sovereignty, social injustice, and acceptance of austerity policies, wavering between blaming international and national political actors for irresponsible politics. Finally, this article examines the conditions under which news media relax so...

COST is an intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in Science and Technology, enabli... more COST is an intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in Science and Technology, enabling the coordination of nationally funded research at the European level. The Action “Transforming Audiences, Transforming Societies” (2010-2014) coordinates research efforts into the key transformations of European audiences and identifies their complex interrelationships within the social, cultural and political dimension of European societies. A range of interconnected but distinct topics concerning audiences is being developed by four Working Groups: (1) New media genres, media literacy and trust in the media; (2) Audience interactivity and participation; (3) The role of media and ICT use for evolving social relationships; and (4) Audience transformations and social integration. As part of Working Group 1, the task force on “Media Literacy” examines conceptual, methodological and policy issues concerning audiences within the changing media and communication environment.

Media Dialogues – Medijski dijalozi

International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning

The usage of the internet-based technologies, particularly social networking sites such as Facebo... more The usage of the internet-based technologies, particularly social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter as business platforms can be a critical strategy in enhancing an online retail outlet’s reach and operational efficiency. This study employs a qualitative study with 20 in-depth interviews to explore the factors/strategies that influence students’ acceptance of e-shopping. The objectives of the study were to examine students’ perceptions of e-shopping via the social media fan pages of Konga and Jumia online stores and their perceptions about the difference in the influence of the online marketing strategies on acceptance of e-shopping between Konga and Jumia online stores. The results highlight students’ perceptions of e-shopping via the social pages and they find e-shopping experience very interesting and fun. The most important motivating factor which influenced the online shopping in Konga and Jumia online stores are the marketing strategies that companies use and convenience followed by time saving and price for consumers.

Journal of Communication Inquiry, Nov 5, 2023

International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning

European Journal of Communication

The Routledge International Handbook of Children, Adolescents, and Media, Apr 1, 2022

Journal of Media Literacy Education, 2021

Public Policies in Media and Information Literacy in Europe, 2017

International Journal of Communication, 2020

European Journal of Communication, 2018

ris.uvt.ro

European Journal of Communication, Feb 28, 2022

Media Dialogues – Medijski dijalozi

International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning

The Routledge international handbook of children, adolescents, and media. Routledge. , 2022

This article first reviews recent literature on youth and participatory politics within the realm... more This article first reviews recent literature on youth and participatory politics within the realm of civic learning. Next, it examines how children and adolescents make selective use of digital technologies for civic purposes in view of the participation opportunities and challenges that digital media offer and media literacy interventions promoting varied civic and digital forms of media literacy. Finally, this article identifies strategies to further enhance digital engagement including pedagogical practices augmenting youth interest in lifestyle politics and information analysis in response to the spread of misinformation. This review includes recent research that aim to provide new insights into advocacy scholarship and practice, and these works are presented as a new starting point for further research, validation, and debate.

In S. Livingstone (Ed.), Media literacy: Ambitions, policies and measures (p. 22-27). London: LSE., 2011

Introduction by Sonia Livingstone, London School of Economics Theoretical and pedagogic ambitio... more Introduction by Sonia Livingstone, London School of Economics

Theoretical and pedagogic ambitions for media literacy among audiences are often huge, with the promotion of media literacy heralding the promise of empowerment, critical literacy, democratic engagement and participatory culture in a thoroughly mediated world. But historically, these ambitions for media literacy have often foundered in the face of insufficient resources, policy commitment and problems of measurement. The measurement problems are attracting renewed interest now that Europe’s Digital Agenda demands a digitally literate citizenry, and now that the Audiovisual Media Services Directive demands three-yearly reporting on improvements in media literacy by all member states. The Round Table asked how the ambitions held for media literacy can be, and are being, operationalised into practical measures. Will the use of such measures reveal genuine improvements over time in the audience’s media literacy? How best can we promote dialogue across academic, policy and industry stakeholders? It brought three kinds of expertise. At the level of European policy, Susanne Ding presented the ambitions, analysis and policies of the European Commission as regards media literacy. Paolo Celot represented the audience’s own perspective, presenting a unified approach to research on media literacy. Jane Rumble, from the UK communications regulator, presented empirical findings on recent trends in media literacy. The Conference Panel comprised five papers. The first and last frame the issue of media literacy as it faces audience researchers, considering the framing and interpretation of the research and policy agenda (Sonia Livingstone) and then questions of politics and implementation as academic research interfaces with the policy world (Kirsten Drotner). In between, we present three empirically-focused papers that tackle key issues of media literacy, both in relation to children. Ben Bachmair related media literacy research to the emerging literature on social networking sites, considering youthful digital literacy in a web 2.0 world while Conceição Costa considered issues of commercialisation of childhood (and media literacy as a possible defence). Tao Papaioannou critically examines the pedagogic contribution of semi-formal settings to digital literacy learning, offering future directions for work in this complex domain. Kirsten Drotner acted as respondent to both the Round Table and the Conference Panel, and the paper that follows draws together her responses to both events.

In M. Hadjimichael (Ed.), Arts and social justice: The media connection (p.17-32). London: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015

Prior to moving to Cyprus, She practised public relations and taught communication in the U.S. He... more Prior to moving to Cyprus, She practised public relations and taught communication in the U.S. Her current research interests include social networking sites and youth practices, media literacy and media education, and youth civic and political participation. She has authored and co-authored over a dozen articles on these subjects. Also, individually and in collaboration with others, she has obtained a number of large grants from the European Union.

In D. Frau-Meigs, I. Velez and J. Flores Michel (Eds.), Public policies in media and information literacy in Europe: Cross-country comparisons (p. 91-115). London: Routledge., 2017

Public Policies in Media and Information Literacy in Europe explores the current tensions in Euro... more Public Policies in Media and Information Literacy in Europe explores the current tensions in European countries as they attempt to tackle the transition to the digital age, providing a comparative and cross-cultural analysis of media and information literacy (MIL) across Europe.

In S. Iordanidou (Ed.), Εγγραμματισμός στα Μέσα - Media Literacy: σε αναζήτηση της έννοιας και της λειτουργίας της (p.35-54). Athens: Special Quality Publications (Μεταμεσονύκτιες Εκδόσεις) and Advanced Media Institute, 2018

This chapter describes and evaluates current research and policies regarding how media literacy e... more This chapter describes and evaluates current research and policies regarding how media literacy education is developed in contemporary Cypriot society. First, it considers conceptions and perceptions of media literacy and media education among students and educators in Cyprus, informed by evidence from recent research. The complexities and uniqueness revealed necessitate a continuous exploration of the changing nature of media literacy with an emphasis on the diverse
social locations that shape media literacy among different segments of the public. This discussion leads to subsequent analysis of the policy framework and some successful implementations in both
informal and formal learning contexts. Finally, the article considers the implications of the current state of media education in Cyprus for media literacy research and evidence-based policy agenda which might be adopted to recognize, support and promote effective pedagogical practices and address attendant challenges, both at present and in the future.

Audience Transformations Shifting Audience Positions in Late Modernity, Jul 17, 2013

International Journal of Communication, 14(1): 3256-3265. , Oct 2020

Journal of Social Informatics, 8(15):36-48., 2011

This project aims to assess digital media literacy demonstrated in the uses of Facebook among Cyp... more This project aims to assess digital media literacy demonstrated in the uses of Facebook among Cypriot high school students. Adopting the conception of two dimensions within media literacy-that of individual competences and environmental/contextual factors which affect individual competences (Celot & Tornero, 2009), this study first evaluates individual competences reflected in the social practices on Facebook, and then it examines the role of media education-one of the contextual factors which impact the broad span of media literacy-in improving youth digital literacy. Individual competences are measured by three variables including technical skills of media access and usage, critical understanding skills and communicative abilities. A set of contextual factors have been identified as potentially fostering media literacy among youth; however, the present study explores only the influence of media education which currently is not formally included in the national curriculum of secondary education in Cyprus. Using stratified random sampling, 300 students, ages 14-19, and 100 teachers from 10 public high schools participated in a survey respectively. The student survey results indicate that the majority of the students have the technical skills to use a number of basic applications on Facebook although a far smaller percentage of them have advanced production skills, or the interest, to engage in more creative and participatory activities such as building their own blogs. Also, less students demonstrate skills in conducting critical search and evaluation of information or adequate awareness of media regulation. The students show a range of critical safety skills, with some skills, particularly concerning public display of personal data, less in place than the others. High school student do use Facebook as a convenient means of expanding their social circles and participating in civic activities online, but such effort does not lead necessarily to additional offline engagement. Perceptions of media education among students indicate lack of knowledge and bias. Most (90%) do not know whether the government has policies on media education in high school. Although 80% think that they need media education, their primary interest is to improve their technical skills. The results from the survey of the teachers suggest that the teachers seem to be overly confident about the technical skills and communicative abilities their students have, which may result in an under appreciation of the value of media education in students. The teachers believe that their students have relatively much weaker critical understanding skills, and their estimations are fairly comparable to the results from the student survey. The teachers also identified issues concerning the use of technology which they believe may have negative effects on students. Many of these issues are further discussed as possible themes in a media education course. Finally, based on the findings from the surveys, pedagogic recommendations are made to policy makers and educators.

Journal of Arab & Muslim Media Research, 6(2): 99-114. , 2013

While the use of social media in articulating citizens' actions and social change in the Arab Spr... more While the use of social media in articulating citizens' actions and social change in the Arab Spring movement has challenged more traditional participation and public deliberation practices, important questions are emerging about the potential of the networked sphere to contribute to the democratic process in these countries. This article aims to analyse the role of cultural identity in facilitating civic participation and empowering citizens through the use of Facebook in the Libyan context. A content analysis of posts within three months in 2012 on three Libyan Facebook pages is performed in order to identify collective goals shared among the participants and their use of Facebook in reference to these objectives. The results reveal that new cultural values based on human rights and political freedom, in particular participation in free elections, are disseminated via Facebook, highlighting Libya's transition

Cyprus Review, 27(1): 35-70, 2015

Earlier research on media coverage of social protests has yielded evidence of a protest paradigm:... more Earlier research on media coverage of social protests has yielded evidence of a protest paradigm: framing patterns that articulate support for entrenched interests and values. However, recent studies are detecting less predictable media responses, indicating the need to identify the extent of application of the paradigm and the underlying determinants within the changing media politics of dissent. This study investigates whether and how the protest paradigm is incorporated in the portrayal of the 2013 Cypriot protests in international online news media. A framing analysis of protest coverage by the news websites of the New York Times (NYT), BBC News and Euronews reveals contrasting results. NYT demonstrates the tendency to employ spectacle frames, privilege official sources and situate the protests within strict economic analysis. Alternatively, BBC News-more sympathetic than Euronews-constructs stories with frames legitimating protestors' perspective and questioning governing institutions. Finally, in consideration of the media's orientation to the destabilising elite consensus embedded in the crisis and their representations of relevant social criticism, this article examines the possibility of international news media conditionally moving away from the protest paradigm towards multi-perspective approaches, permitting a more credible discourse to emerge from social conflicts.

International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 10(3): 218-234. , 2018

The usage of the internet-based technologies, particularly social networking sites such as Facebo... more The usage of the internet-based technologies, particularly social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter as business platforms can be a critical strategy in enhancing an online retail outlet's reach and operational efficiency. This study employs a qualitative study with 20 in-depth interviews to explore the factors/strategies that influence students' acceptance of e-shopping. The objectives of the study were to examine students' perceptions of e-shopping via the social media fan pages of Konga and Jumia online stores and their perceptions about the difference in the influence of the online marketing strategies on acceptance of e-shopping between Konga and Jumia online stores. The results highlight students' perceptions of e-shopping via the social pages and they find e-shopping experience very interesting and fun. The most important motivating factor which influenced the online shopping in Konga and Jumia online stores are the marketing strategies that companies use and convenience followed by time saving and price for consumers.

Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Komodromos, M., Papaioannou, T. and Adamu, M.A. (2018) 'Influence of online retailers' social media marketing strategies on students' perceptions towards e-shopping: a qualitative study', Int.

Etudes, 54(4): 653-671, 2018

Using the case of the “Save Akamas” campaign, an environmental initiative protesting for the prot... more Using the case of the “Save Akamas” campaign, an environmental initiative protesting for the protection of the Akamas National Park in Cyprus during the Cypriot financial crisis in 2015 – 2016, this study explored whether and how the campaigners utilised collective action frames to enhance their articulation of protest legitimacy. Based on 15 interviews with key protest organisers, the results illustrated that the protestors creatively employed several collective action frames in their struggle for public recognition, contextualisation and amplification of protest grievances. These frames were purposefully aligned to protest legitimacy while taking into consideration of clearly identifying direction/locus of responsibility attribution, enlarging the interpretive scope of a symbolic act and augmenting credibility of the proffered frames through social media. Combining collective action framing analysis with empirical legitimacy research, this study contributes to further understanding of strategies and processes of legitimation in issue-based citizen protests within the sociological theory of collective action.

Journal of International Communication, 14(1), 3289-3308., 2020

Journal of Media Literacy Education, 13(3). Early access online publication, 2021

Situated within research on youth, participatory politics, and media framing of obesity, this stu... more Situated within research on youth, participatory politics, and media framing of obesity, this study examined how undergraduate students in a media literacy course engaged with obesity discourse as a nexus of civic participation. Twenty-nine students enrolled in the course identified frames of obesity in plus-size model Tess Holliday’s Instagram posts surrounding her controversial Cosmopolitan cover in 2018. Analysis of these frames – self-validation, injustice of fat-shaming and stigmatization, influences of Instagram celebrities on fat embodiment, and health stereotypes of obese people – enabled the students to critique activist responses to accepted body norms and moral values facilitating weight bias. In efforts to reframe obesity within their social media communities, the students created and shared online media content, prioritizing societal influences in obesity representation. In this process, students cultivated participatory practices of comprehending and sharing (social) media framings of bodies and health. Hence, this article offers contextualized understandings into youth digital engagement learning.

Round Table 1: Media literacy: ambitions, policies and measures Participants: • Sonia Livingsto... more Round Table 1: Media literacy: ambitions, policies and measures
Participants:
• Sonia Livingstone, Professor, LSE - Chair
• Paolo Celot, Secretary General, EAVI – European Association For Viewers’ Interests
• Susanne Ding, European Commission, Directorate General "Education and Culture"
• Jane Rumble, Media Literacy Group, Ofcom
• Kirsten Drotner, Professor, University of Southern Denmark and DREAM (Respondent)
Conference Panel: Media literacy: ambitions, policies and measures
Participants:
• Sonia Livingstone, Professor, LSE - Chair and paper presenter
• Ben Bachmair, Professor, University of Kassel, and Institute of Education, University of London
• Conceição Costa, Assistant Professor and researcher at CICANT-Lusófona University, Lisbon
• Tao Papaioannou, Assistant Professor, University of Nicosia, Cyprus
• Kirsten Drotner, Professor, University of Southern Denmark and DREAM (Respondent)

Routledge, 2018

This book analyzes constructions of injustice, group identification and participation in news and... more This book analyzes constructions of injustice, group identification and participation in news and social media in anti-austerity protests within the European Union (EU). Since 2008, EU member-states have witnessed waves of protests and demonstrations against the adoption of austerity measures and alignment of domestic economies with the prevailing global neoliberal order. Understanding how the media represents dissent and how it influences public deliberation is of critical importance. It is accordingly necessary to explore the strategies deployed and role played by news and social media in representing and perhaps acting upon anti-austerity protests in the Eurozone crisis. This volume undertakes such a critical exploration.