Mi Rosie Jahng

Interacting Is Believing Interactivity, Social Cue, and Perceptions of Journalistic Credibility on Twitter

This study examined the effect of social cues and interactivity in social media on journalists’ credibility based on literature of journalists’ credibility, social information processing theory (SIPT), and social presence theory. Results from a mixed-design experiment showed participants rated highly interactive journalists to be more credible than those who are less interactive in social media. Findings are discussed in terms of theoretical implications for journalists’ credibility in social media and practical applications for journalists seeking to utilize social media to engage with their audiences.

When Scientists Tweet for Social Changes: Dialogic Communication and Collective Mobilization Strategies by Flint Water Study Scientists on Twitter:

Guided by the literature in social media and science activism, this exploratory study examined how scientists from Virginia Tech, known as the Flint Water Study team, utilized Twitter to communicate and mobilize the public in response to the contamination of water with lead in Flint, Michigan. Results from the content analysis indicated that the scientists utilized Twitter mainly to provide scientific information to the public and that public education was their main advocacy tactic. This study offers insights into how this particular group of science activists utilized social media for collective actions and suggests future directions for science communication on social media.

Who frames nuclear testing? Understanding frames and news sources in the US and South Korean news coverage of North Korean nuclear testing

ABSTRACT This study investigated how US and South Korean newspapers framed the North Korean nuclear test on 9 October 2006 and the diversity of news sources in constructing such frames. A content analysis of news articles in the New York Times, Washington Post, Chosun Ilbo, and Hankyore Daily found that US and South Korean newspapers framed the North Korean nuclear test differently. Results also showed that US and South Korean newspapers used news sources differently to support certain frames of the nuclear test coverage, implicating strategic media framing by which news media strategically construct aspects or meaning of the events by selecting different types of news sources. Findings are discussed in relation to news frames and news sources.

From reading comments to seeking news: exposure to disagreements from online comments and the need for opinion-challenging news

ABSTRACT This study examined the influence of exposure to blog comments on opinion-challenging news use. Based on studies in selective exposure and deliberative democracy, a 2 × 2 mixed factorial design experiment examined the role of blog comments on selective exposure to political news. When participants were exposed to blog comments that disagreed with their positions, they perceived the opinion-challenging news articles to be more useful than opinion-supporting articles. Results suggested both the significance of blogs and comments as a channel that provides frequent exposure to diverse opinions and the need for journalists to use blogs not only as a means of news distribution but also as a public sphere for deliberation.