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Institutional communication is becoming a strategic instrument for universities, since it facilitates the relationships with their various publics and allows positioning of the institutional brand, which will contribute to building a distinctive reputation. The types of content disseminated by universities via their social media accounts will contribute decisively to these objectives, since the way in which the different topics are communicated may influence the publics’ perceptions of these higher education institutions. This research analyses the different types of content disseminated by universities (in Europe, the United States and Latin America) via their accounts on social networks (Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn), to assess the main content topics that define the universities’ communicative positioning. A content analysis of the publications by universities on their social networks was carried out, representing an appropriate method to recognize the main themes and topics of their communication strategy. The results reveal two main thematic blocks of content: functional (teaching, research and social commitment topics) and institutional (organizational and contextual topics). Institutional publications are the most relevant block of content, far above the functional posts. In terms of specific topics, the organizational ones are the most common, well above publications on teaching or research, while contextual and social commitment content is used marginally. Most universities, in all regions and on all social networks, follow a dominant strategy of institutional content. So, the higher education institutions are mainly using social networks as a strategic tool for institutional positioning, more than informing about their daily activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer hospitals manage social media platforms in a professional way to improve their relationships with internal and external stakeholders and reinforce their corporate brand. To do so, they need their health professionals to be involved: these professionals become brand ambassadors able to influence society. Nevertheless, they face different challenges: legal issues, new patients' demands, privacy-related matters, or the difficulty of disseminating scientific content. This literature review paper analyzes how cancer hospitals manage their social media platforms to improve their reputation. To do this, we carry out a systematic literature review focused on papers published in the USA and Spain, based on the Salsa framework proposed by Grant and Booth (2009). We then define an online corporate communication model allowing cancer hospitals to improve their reputation through Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube (MedPac Model for Building Cancer Hospital Brands). The paper concludes that this model is useful for cancer hospitals because it prioritizes persons (brand ambassadors) rather than companies, focuses on scientific and emotional content rather than business information, and is based on human values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analyses the main challenges perceived by communication consulting sector in Spain in a post-convergence context. An in-depth questionnaire to communication agency professionals and content analysis of their corporate websites and social platforms was used as methodology. The results point to a situation in transition between old and new practices, in which digitalisation is perceived as a current need and a challenge to sector's adaptation capacity, while only some agencies use the new channels offered by Internet for their own management of transparency and online visibility. A double reactivity is detected: with respect to their vision of the future, and to digital brand leadership. The research provides clues that can help researchers, professors and professionals to evaluate the sector and detect adaptation needs for the present and the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research on the presence and activity of hospitals in social media is abundant, but that is not the case of other health-related organizations. In this research we have examined the profiles on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram of 240 health-related entities. It has been proven that health insurers are more present in social networks than the rest, followed by manufacturers of healthcare products, technology companies, pharmaceutical laboratories, biomedical products companies and hospitals. Nevertheless, users interact more with hospitals, although they are less frequent and less active on these platforms. These findings confirm that a greater presence and activity in social media does not correlate with a greater interaction by the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this work is to obtain an in-depth understanding of digital communication strategies employed by hospitals by comparing and contrasting the digital communication of two hospitals of reference in Spain. The main method is content analysis of Facebook and Twitter along with in-depth interviews of hospital communication directors. Results show different communication strategies that depend on organizational goals. The public participated in digital communication within three themes: 1) general, sensitive, and topical health issues; 2) personal and professional projects, as well as initiatives for struggle or sensitization; 3) corporate novelties that encourage public involvement. The use of currently existing platforms of social media from which to manage the online communication should be a priority for hospitals. Multimedia content can help to disclose health information. Online communication strategies are adapted to overall communication strategy and differences in cultural profiles lead to differences in priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]