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Theses and Dissertations - Department of Advertising and Public Relations

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Browsing Theses and Dissertations - Department of Advertising and Public Relations by Author "Brown, Kenon A."

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    The framing of Caitlyn Jenner: a textual analysis
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2017) Pettway, Morgan; Brown, Kenon A.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    In April 2015, Caitlyn Jenner, formally known as Bruce, announced that she was transitioning into a woman. Through the observation of framing models and framing devices, a textual analysis was conducted within print and audiovisual data to gain an understanding of how framing was used to manage or shape Jenner’s unfolding image as a transgender woman. The researcher also investigated the overall tone of Jenner’s representation to decipher whether she was portrayed in a negative or positive manner. Based upon the findings, the prominent framing models that were observed in the texts were the framing of situations and the framing of attributes. The prominent framing devices of contrast and spin were also present. Furthermore, the findings indicated that Jenner was portrayed in an overall positive manner. The findings of this study build upon the current knowledge of framing and demonstrate the utility of framing in the management of a transgender celebrity’s image. The utility of framing is also presented as an opportunity for application among other celebrity happenings in the media.
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    The (mis)representation of interracial couples in television advertisements
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2020) Hackenmueller, Erin; Holiday, Steven; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Interracial couples are becoming more common, but they still face stigmatization and discrimination. The present study aimed to gain a preliminarily understanding of if and how interracial couples are represented in television advertisements. This study performed a content analysis of 543 couples in television advertisements from 2019 for differences in representation and portrayal between interracial and intraracial relationships. All advertisements were taken from three different networks within one conglomerate. Findings suggest that interracial relationships are overrepresented. However, interracial couples are found at further distances from each other, a relationship between nonwhite males and white females are underrepresented within interracial relationships, and zero interracial relationships are portrayed on Disney channel. The potential effects of this representation and portrayal are driven by cultivation theory and social cognitive theory.
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    Risk communication and crisis management: lessons learned from the hurricane katrina experience
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2018) Smyth, Justice; Horsley, J. Suzanne; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    In August of 2005, the City of New Orleans and its surrounding environs fell victim to Hurricane Katrina, one of the most destructive natural disasters to occur in the United States over the past 100 years. This study addressed the question of whether, and, if so, to what extent, local media in the greater New Orleans area communicated to the population groups with the most limited resources the grave risks associated with hurricanes in general and Katrina in particular. This study examined two local newspapers, the Times-Picayune and the Louisiana Weekly, for risk communication content published from June 1, 2005, through August 29, 2005. The results of the study found that while adequate information was published in the pages of the newspapers under examination, many citizens in the Greater New Orleans Area either did not, or could not, act upon the advice and instructions given. Possibilities for this inaction included distrust of the messages or messengers, optimism bias due to previous personal experiences during storm season, or an inability to act due to circumstantial realities related to socio-economic status of the many at-risk citizens living at, or below, the poverty level. Hurricane Katrina resulted in more than 1,300 deaths and property damage in excess of $100 billion. Effectively communicating about risk is important, and the consequence of failure can be very serious. This research has endeavored, therefore, to provide meaningful analysis of certain effects which were visited upon vulnerable population groups in New Orleans, at least in part, as the result of the risk communication process related to Hurricane Katrina.
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    Seeing through the smoke an analysis of the Volkswagen emissions crisis
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2017) Seay, Leah; Lamme, Margot Opdycke; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    In September 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accused German automaker Volkswagen of fitting more than 11 million vehicles with illegal software that caused vehicles to emit reduced amounts of toxic nitrogen oxide when detecting they were being tested but that actually emitted more than 40 times the legal standard of gases when not being tested. These “defeat cheat” devices, along with Volkswagen’s reactionary crisis communication, proved to have detrimental financial, global, and environmental ramifications on the corporation. The automaker’s deception also led to a loss of consumer trust in Volkswagen’s vow to behave as a good corporate citizen. After recalling more than 8.5 million vehicles, ceasing the sale of numerous diesel vehicles in the U.S, and seeing its first quarterly loss in 15 years, Volkswagen managed to regain its title as number one carmaker in the world, despite scrambling to find answers to the company’s worst crisis in its 79-year history. This study examines media coverage of Volkswagen’s communication of its emissions crisis to key stakeholder groups and the effects of that communication on the company’s reputation as a corporate citizen.
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    Shattering the concrete ceiling: exploring the moderating effects of mass media messages as it relates to the perceived self-efficacy of African-American women
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2016) Galloway, Brittany Joyce; Brown, Kenon A.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Past research has shown that there are few positive ethnically diverse role models in American society (Hackett & Betz, 1981). African-American women have identified the lack of racially identical role models as a significant barrier to attaining leadership positions within Corporate America. A cross-sectional survey was administered to explore how mass media images depicting counter-stereotypical images of African-American role models affect the self-efficacy beliefs of African-American women (195 respondents, 51%). The researcher also examined the participant’s ability to cope with stress and their reported level of career aspirations as predictors of their level of identification with the potential role model. The results indicated that African-American women have lower levels of both self-efficacy and career aspirations than women of other races (187 respondents, 49%). The results also indicated that the participant’s ability to cope with stress and level of career aspirations predicated their level of identification. Furthermore, the study found that a potential role models race significantly influenced the participants level of identification. This research will foster social change by identifying an effective approach to combating historical stereotypes that lower the self-efficacy of African-American women. Increasing the self-efficacy of African-American women could advance opportunities for minority women’s leadership and reduce the leadership gap in Corporate America.