A Network View of Tone at the Top and the Role of Opinion Leaders

This article presents a study of Twitter-based communication in order to identify key influencers and to assess the role of their communication in shaping country images. The analysis is based on a 2-month dataset comprised of all tweets including hashtags of the three countries selected for this study: Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Following a two-step flow model of communication, we initially identified the influential Twitter users in all three countries based on their centrality measures. Subsequently, we carried out a qualitative content analysis of tweets posted by these influential users. Finally, we assessed the similarities and differences across the three country cases. This article offers new insights into public diplomacy 2.0 activities by discussing influence within the context of country images and demonstrating how opinion leaders can play a more dominant role than states or other political actors in creating and disseminating content related to country image. The findings also provide practical insights in the production of a country’s image and its representation on new media platforms.

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Regional features of local elections in 2020: Poltava region

Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Public Administration ◽

10.17721/2616-9193.2021/13-1/9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 5-12

Author(s):

Petro Vorona ◽

S. A. Solovey

Keyword(s):

Political Parties ◽

Local Governments ◽

Political Elite ◽

Opinion Leaders ◽

Local Elections ◽

Parliamentary Elections ◽

Party Building ◽

Regional Features ◽

Electoral Law

The article considers the issue of holding local elections on the example of one of the regions of Ukraine - Poltava region. The research hypothesis is based on the study of the dynamics of party representation in local governments of Poltava region as a central, iconic region to study the evolution of electoral sympathies and features of party building from the standpoint of public administration science. The author conducted a comparative analysis of the electoral preferences of Poltava residents in the local elections in terms of political parties and their dynamics in accordance with the 2015 elections. The development of democratic processes is directly dependent on the mechanisms and procedures for both local and parliamentary elections - the extent to which electoral law allows the majority of voters to understand the wide variety of political parties and candidates, allows opinion leaders to participate in elections. It is pointed out that there is a certain regrouping («political mimicry») of some political parties in the country, as a reestablishment of the «old political elite» and a campaign for local elections in a new composition and with a new name. The article focuses on strengthening the role of regionally influenced political parties in local elections. They allowed the local political elite to be more independent of all-Ukrainian parliamentary parties. Attention is drawn to local political party projects led by charismatic or financially influential politicians. It is noted that the local elections in 2020 continued the positive dynamics of change - from the previous convocation, only a quarter of people entered the Poltava Regional Council, and its membership was renewed by almost 70%. The dominance of the post-Soviet communist and Komsomol elites in the region, which were characterized by exceptional unity, is disappearing, although they retain some of their political electoral influence in the region. It is pointed out the need to further improve the provisions of the Electoral Code where it is necessary to lay down the principle of fairness in the distribution of seats on the main electoral list in accordance with the electoral rating of candidates.

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The Role of Opinion Leaders in Influencing Consumer Behaviors with a Focus on Market Mavens: A Meta-analysis

Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications ◽

10.30958/ajmmc.1-1-3 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 43-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Young-Sung Kwon ◽

Hae Ryong Song

Keyword(s):

Meta Analysis ◽

Opinion Leaders ◽

Consumer Behaviors

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The impact of COVID-19 “infodemic” on drug-utilization behaviors: implication for Pharmacovigilance

10.31219/osf.io/zt5fv ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Marco Tuccori ◽

Irma Convertino ◽

Sara Ferraro ◽

Emiliano Cappello ◽

Giulia Valdiserra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Emergency Management ◽

Opinion Leaders ◽

Angiotensin Ii Receptor ◽

Angiotensin Ii Receptor Antagonists ◽

The World ◽

Potential Risks ◽

The Impact ◽

Hazardous Use

The COVID-19 pandemic that hit the world in 2020 triggered a massive dissemination of information (“infodemic”) about the disease channeled through the web and social media. This “infodemic” included also sensational and distorted information about drugs, which likely affected primarily opinion leaders and people particularly active on social media, and subsequently other peoples leading to inadequate choices by individual patients everywhere. In particular, for some drugs approved with other indications, namely chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, favipiravir and umifenovir, information has spread that has led to a hazardous use. In this article, we analyzed the rationale behind the claim for use of these drugs in COVID-19, the communication about their effect on the disease, the consequences of this communication on people's behavior and the response of some influential regulatory authorities in an attempt to minimize the actual or potential risks arising from this behavior. Finally, we discussed the role of pharmacovigilance stakeholders in emergency management and possible strategies to be put in place to deal with other similar situations in the future.

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Komunikasi dan Motif Penggunaan Toah Masjid Kecamatan Depok Yogyakarta

JOPPAS: Journal of Public Policy and Administration Silampari ◽

10.31539/joppa.v1i2.1326 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 48-55

Author(s):

Alen Manggola

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Interpersonal Communication ◽

Social Communication ◽

Phenomenological Theory ◽

Opinion Leaders ◽

Communication Model ◽

Two Stage ◽

Regional Office ◽

Call To Prayer

The purpose of this study was to determine the communication and motives for the use of Toah Masjid, Depok Yogyakarta District. This study uses qualitative research using description analysis methods. The theory used is a two-stage communication model and a phenomenological theory put forward by Alfred Schutz. The results of this study indicate that the application of guidelines for the use of loudspeakers in the mosque can be identified through two-stage communication that is established between the Regional Office with the instructor and from the instructor to the mosque Takmir. Two-stage communication using Interpersonal Communication and Social Communication. The important role of policy counselors as gatekeepers and opinion leaders in public policy socialization. Conclusion, the motive of using mosque loudspeakers to the outside other than the call to prayer in several mosques in the Sub-district of Depok, such as reading prayers, dhikr, prayers, prayers and announcements because they have not received policy socialization, no one has questioned their use, to attract the attention of others. Keywords: Communication, Motives, Mosque Toah

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Opportunity makes opinion leaders: analyzing the role of first-hand information in opinion leadership in social media networks

Information Communication & Society ◽

10.1080/1369118x.2018.1500622 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 267-287 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Stefanie Walter ◽

Michael Brüggemann

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Opinion Leaders ◽

Opinion Leadership ◽

Social Media Networks

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Practicing Civility in Two Canadian Congregations

The Politics of Evangelical Identity ◽

10.23943/princeton/9780691161303.003.0009 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Lydia Bean

Keyword(s):

Public Life ◽

Leadership Role ◽

Opinion Leaders ◽

Lay Leaders ◽

Moral Issues ◽

Political Views ◽

Conservative Christian ◽

American Churches ◽

The Church

This chapter contrasts the role of opinion leaders in the two Canadian churches. As in both American churches, Canadian lay leaders were expected to model orthodox positions on theology and moral issues, as part of their leadership role. But, unlike in the American churches, this moral conformity was combined with an acceptance of political diversity within the church. Both Canadian churches contained networks of conservative Christian activists who wished to mobilize the congregation around abortion and homosexuality. But politically conservative activists were unable to set the tone for the church's public life, since other prominent members held other political views. As a result, less politically engaged members did not receive clear cues about partisanship from the opinion leaders around them.

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Crowdsourcing Terrorism: Utopia, Martyrdom and Citizenship Reimagined

Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs ◽

10.1177/2347797017731955 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 337-352

Author(s):

Jennifer Yang Hui

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Participatory Culture ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Opinion Leaders ◽

Terrorist Attacks ◽

Islamic State ◽

Individual Contribution ◽

Internet Users ◽

The Relationship

The role of social media in aiding terrorist attacks worldwide has been widely discussed among counterterrorism officials and academics. Since 2014, the idea of ‘crowdsourced terrorism’, whereby the Islamic State (IS) outsourced the conduct of attacks to their followers and attempted to attract them to Syria, has been popularly used by Western policymakers. This article critically examines the phenomenon of crowdsourcing and the IS’s online appeal in the case of Indonesia. The participant–curator crowdsourcing model outlined by Laurie Philips and Daren Brabham explains the online appeal of the IS, with social media facilitating the IS’s establishment of the relationship with Internet users in faraway countries such as Indonesia and allowing them to participate in the making of the IS brand. Participatory culture therefore encourages an e-supporter’s faith in the importance of their individual contribution and social connection that transcend offline realities in areas such as citizenship. IS opinion leaders work alongside online supporters to craft the meaning of martyrdom and imagination of citizenship through social media posts about life in the Caliphate. The land of Syria is imagined simultaneously as paradise for those who take their faith seriously as well as the venue for the Islamic equivalent of Armageddon. Hijrah (jihad by emigration) to Syria and martyrdom are represented as obligatory in the quest for equalization of power and freedom from slavery of those who are against the establishment of the Caliphate. Crowdsourced imaginations of the IS have had implications in several areas of policymaking. The article will discuss the implications of online imaginaries on IS’s approaches to militancy in its operations, Indonesian decision makers’ debate to revoke the citizenship of those who had travelled to IS and for the Indonesian military in its quest for expansion of their role in counterterror operations.

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