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University educators and administrators have used "Journalism & Mass Communication Educator" as an outlet to share ideas. As the journal enters its 75th year of publication, it is also decades into the transition to peer review. Thus, it is important to review publication trends since this development. This study analyzes 30 years of research articles printed from 1990 to 2019. Aspects of article authorship are examined and reveal trends in the publication history. Results demonstrate the growing amount of diversity across a number of aspects and remains on par with publication trends throughout the discipline.

This study examines Hispanic voters' use of campaign information to form beliefs about candidates, evaluate them, and make voting decisions. Accordingly, we test a model of Hispanic voting using survey data (N = 424) collected during the 2018 Texas senate election and featuring Anglo Democrat, Beto O'Rourke, and Hispanic Republican, Ted Cruz. Although pathways leading to voter support differed for the two candidates, results suggest that exposure to political communication guides voter perception of candidate attributes, such as the candidate's ethnic identity, which in turn can influence vote choice. Taken together, findings highlight the contribution of campaign communication to Hispanic voters' candidate preference and voting behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines reporting on protests in Iran between late December 2017 and early January 2018 by global news agencies located in the United States (Associated Press [AP]), United Kingdom (Reuters), France (Agence France-Presse [AFP]), China (Xinhua), and Russia (Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union [TASS]). A census of reporting on the protests (N = 369) was content analyzed. Results demonstrate that news agencies varied considerably in their portrayal of issues defined as problems, diagnosis of causes, moral evaluations, and treatment recommendations. Reporting by Xinhua differed considerably from Western news agencies and featured a greater proportion of stories recommending maintenance of the status quo in Iran. Calls for political change received more attention in privately owned news agencies based in democratic nations. While the use of sources in news stories was generally similar across agencies, protesters were absent in reporting by state-owned agencies. Results conclude that differences in national interests and/or ownership of global news agencies may explain findings and provide insight into news reporting on foreign protest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

News distributed via Facebook feature comments, which influence audiences. Integrating hostile media bias and two-step flow, this study tests whether an individual's issue positions, experiences, and exposure to comments influence how Top Fans and others perceive news bias. A survey experiment using a nationwide sample of Facebook users (N = 319) tested the influence of the opinion climate on COVID-19 vaccinations and federal student loan forgiveness. Results show visible opinion leaders (i.e., Top Fans) differently perceived bias in news content [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for alternative energy sources is growing. Currently, the United States is the second largest producer of wind energy, one form of alternative energy. This study investigates news about wind energy. Using a longitudinal content analysis (2001–2016) of news transcripts from the three major U.S. broadcast television networks (ABC, NBC, CBS), news was content analyzed to assess frames, issues, and sources used in reporting. Results show that American television news coverage of wind energy decreased and consistently featured thematically framed stories and a mix of sources, but sources were minimally utilized. Further, reporting during the time of significant U.S. investment in the industry lacked depth and failed to discuss issues necessary to enhance public understanding. Results demonstrate the trend to frame science-related mass communication differently than other topics, such as politics. Practical implications of this study provide guidance for issue advocates and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the growing use of and dependency that individuals have on media, the relationship between media use and political engagement has been a subject of study among scholars across nations. The current study expands this line of research using a secondary analysis of a worldwide survey (N = 1,775) collected by Pew Research to examine antecedents of political engagement in three nations: the United States, Kenya, and Nigeria. This study examines country-specific differences in how views on national politics and media use differently relate to political engagement. Results identify differences in the effects of traditional and new media use on political engagement between countries. Specifically, accessing news from social media and online news platforms is related to higher levels of political participation across countries. However, the influence of positive perceptions of the economy on political participation is found to differ in each nation. Implications for research on media use and political behavior across countries varying in democratization are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study helps bridge the existing divide between the knowledge on health news reporting in mainstream mass media and health reporting in media outlets serving Native American populations in the United States. The current work presents the first survey of journalists working in Native-serving media outlets to identify role conceptions, perceived importance, and actual practices of health reporting. Aided in data collection by the Native American Journalists Association, findings indicate journalists (N = 100) place a high value on their role as disseminators of culturally relevant health information. However, results conflict in regard to the prioritization of health news reporting. Although journalists recognize health news should be a top priority, they point to a general lack of will from news leadership to make it an organizational priority. Additionally, results show that although journalists have comfort and confidence in health-related reporting, access to qualified sources remains an area for opportunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study helps bridge the existing divide between the knowledge on effective use of mass media to target mainstream populations and similar tactics for improving health reporting for indigenous populations. Using a 2 × 2 × 2 between-subjects design, participants (N = 209) at a Native American powwow responded to questions assessing knowledge and intent to read stories. Results revealed thematically framed stories encouraged knowledge acquisition among non-Natives. An interaction between diabetes news with thematic framing enhanced knowledge among Natives and the general population. Results suggest messaging strategies can effectively convey health information to Native Americans and non-Native populations alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although research has tested the spiral of silence theory using a variety of issues, little attention is paid to how the nature of the issues affects the spiral of silence processes. This study adopts issue typologies provided by Yeric and Todd and recommended by Salmon and Glynn to test the theory using three issues: immigration (transitory), gay marriage (emerging), and abortion (enduring). Using a nationwide survey of Facebook users (N = 1,046), this study investigates how the nature of issues influences the dynamics of the spiral of silence processes. Results identify issue-specific differences, especially regarding the opinion congruency. Theoretical implications for future tests of the spiral of silence theory and public opinion research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health status of Native Americans is known to be lower than that of other Americans. One way to get relevant health information to this population is through Native-produced media. Tribal newspapers are the most popular form of Native media, consumed more often than their mainstream counterparts. As such, these community-based newspapers are meaningful tools for relevant health information gathering. This study content analyzes a census of health-related newspaper articles (N = 644) over a 1-year period from 20 Tribal newspapers across 10 regions designated by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Findings profile the nature of health topics reported in Native news publications. Health news stories were shown to use episodic frames significantly more than thematic frames. Inclusion of supplementary information (e.g., causes/symptoms, treatment, and prevention) and inclusion of mobilizing information (i.e., provides readers resources for further action) were both shown to significantly differ by health topic. Results provide an important baseline understanding of how health news is reported in Native news publications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Social network sites (SNSs) such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Linkedln have recently attracted the attention of public opinion scholars. However, research testing existing public opinion theories in a social media context is scarce. This study represents arguably the first empirical examination of the spiral of silence theory in the social media environment. Through an experimental manipulation embedded in an Internet survey, respondents (N = 760) were presented with a hypothetical scenario (i.e., friendly or hostile) concerning gay bullying, an issue suited for investigation due to its moral components. Willingness to self-censor and to some extent, congruency with the national opinion climate were significant predictors of various online opinion response strategies, indicating the presence of the spiral of silence phenomenon in the social media environment. However, individual characteristics such as issue importance were related to willingness to communicate about the issue, suggesting a liberating effect on opinion expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined 1371 TV news transcripts on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from 6 TV news networks during a 25-year period (1984-2008) employing the news framing perspective. Issues, sources, and episodic-thematic news about AD derived from the news framing perspective were analyzed. Results revealed that AD issues, such as treatments, personal stories, celebrities, and policy increased over time, whereas other issues including facts, causes, signs, and diagnosis received relatively limited news attention. Correlation analyses among episodic-thematic frames, issues, and sources found that episodic-thematic frames were positively linked with such issues as personal stories and policy and sources, including patients and politicians. The results suggest that although TV news covers episodic frames more than thematic ones, both frames can interact with each other to influence personal and social news about AD. Particularly, the role of celebrity affecting AD news at both individual and social levels is salient. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]