#deflategate: Sports journalism and the use of image repair strategy on Twitter

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Lou Sheffer ◽  
Brad Schultz ◽  
Willie Tubbs

This study investigated how different groups of sports journalists covered the NFL “deflategate” scandal through social media, specifically in terms of employing image repair strategies via Twitter. Image repair strategy is typically used within public relations, but its use within journalism has not been examined. A content analysis revealed that while many journalists employed objective reporting, many others engaged in a variety of repair strategies, notably minimization and stonewalling. Discussion and implications focused on two main issues: conflicts of interest between journalists and sports organizations, and the evolving role of social media in crisis coverage.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasaai Masngut ◽  
Emma Mohamad

BACKGROUND Good leadership image in times of health emergency is paramount to ensure public’s confidence towards government’s ability to manage a crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented challenge for governments worldwide to manage and communicate about the pandemic effectively, while maintaining public trust. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to identify types of image repair strategies utilized by the Malaysian government in their communication about COVID-19. The study then analyzes public opinion towards these communication on social media. METHODS Content analysis was employed to analyze 120 media statements and 382 comments retrieved from Facebook page of two mainstream newspapers, Berita Harian and The Star. These samples were collected within a span of 6 weeks prior and during the implementation of Movement Control Order by the Malaysian Government. The media statements were analyzed according to Benoit’s Image Repair Theory to categorize strategies employed in government communication. Public opinion responses were measured using modified lexicon-based VADER sentiment analysis to categorize positive, negative and neutral statements. RESULTS The Malaysian government employed all 5 strategies of the Image Repair Theory in their communication in both newspapers. The strategy most utilized was the reduce offensiveness strategy (62.5%). This is followed by corrective action strategy (25.0%), evading responsibilities (8.3%), denial (3.3%) and mortification (0.8%). This study also found multiple sub-strategies in government media statements including denial, shifting blame, provocation, defeasibility, accident, good intention, bolstering, minimization, differentiation, transcendence, attacking accuser, resolve problem, prevent recurrence, admit wrongdoing and apologize. This study also found that 64.7% of public opinion were positive towards media statements made by the Malaysian government. This study also revealed a significant positive association between Image Repair Strategies utilized by the Malaysian government and public opinion. CONCLUSIONS Communication in the media may assist the government to foster positive support from the public. Suitable image repair strategies could garner positive public responses and help build trust in times of crisis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Silvia Widya Kusumaningtyas ◽  
Zon Vanel

<span lang="IN">Social media is one type of new media that facilitates the process of communication among human. Social media makes it easy for users to communicate and share information in a wider range. At present, not only people use Instagram, but the government also needs to keep up with the time to participate in using Instagram as an online information media. Public Relations of the Salatiga Government is one of the public relations departments that uses Instagram as an online information media to provide information needed by the community.<br /> This research aimed to find out how the content of the information was<span>  </span>and how the role of instagram was as an information deliverance to the citizen by the public relations of Salatiga. Through qualitative methods research, data is collected by means of interviews and observations. The results showed that the Salatiga <span> </span>Government Public Relations Instagram account had a role to increase brand awareness, connect many people and as a source of information/ business promotion.Public Relations of the Salatiga Government considers that Instagram plays an active role in conveying information to the public. This is seen from the many positive responses received by the Salatiga City Government Public Relations during managing Instagram as a modern information deliverance.<span>     </span></span>


Author(s):  
Ogbu S. U. ◽  
Olupohunda Bayo Festus

In Nigeria, during the agitation for Biafra by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra between 2013 and 2017, the role of Facebook in the dissemination of hate messages by the protagonists and those in opposition to the agitation raised concern about the role of social media as a tool for the spread of hate messages. It is against this background that this research was designed to evaluate the role of Facebook in the spread of hate messages over the agitation for the separate state of Biafra. The study adopted the exploratory design and the mix method approach; both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed. For the quantitative data, 400 questionnaires were administered on purposively sampled respondents. The surveys were analyzed using simple percentages and frequency distribution. Also, content analysis of some purposively selected Facebook messages was carried out. In the end, the research found that hate messages were propagated through Facebook using six major channels during the agitation for Biafra between 2013 and 2017. They include; Facebook Personal Profiles, Status Updates and Wall Postings, Facebook Group Chats, Facebook Video Uploads, Individual Comments and Likes, Video Shares and Reposts, and sharing of articles and links to other social media platforms. In line with its findings, the research recommended that Facebook should review its community standards and policies on postings of hate messages through its medium and also strengthen its regulatory mechanisms to ensure that it does not provide a platform anymore for propagators of hate messages in Nigeria and around the world.


2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-35
Author(s):  
Seerat Sohal ◽  
Harsandaldeep Kaur

The present study is an endeavour to broaden the research on the use of social media websites in political campaigns beyond the ambit of developed countries. This article focuses on scrutinizing the role of YouTube during 2014 Indian Parliamentary elections—the first ‘social media’-based elections in India. The methodology of data collection incorporates the content analysis of 147 YouTube-based audio–visual political advertisements, associating the message characteristics (natures, types and appeals) with message reach (number of views) and viewer engagement (types of comments). The results reveal the failure of the viewers to recognize the association between message reach and viewers’ engagement with message characteristics, confirming the ‘marginal’ use of YouTube. However, the study recommends the incorporation of contemporary, Internet-based social media advertising tools along with the traditional tools in the future political marketing campaigns. This article is instrumental for political marketers and consultants in devising political marketing strategies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Princewell Nwanganga Achor ◽  
Justie O. Nnabuko

Background  Existing literature depicts public relations practitioners as gatekeepers. Despite this, limited research exists on how much of a gatekeeping role public relations practitioners play in their organizations’ communication with the publics in the social media domain. Analysis  This article bridges the research gap by examining the dual role of quasi-gatekeeping and quasi-gatewatching performed by public relations practitioners in their attempt to communicate, regulate, and manage information in the social media domain and market-space media environment. Conclusion and implications  Discussion of these two distinct roles expands the frontiers of gatekeeping studies in public relations practice and communication studies, through the introduction of a new mixed-flow model of the gatekeeping function of public relations practitioners in the digital media landscape.RÉSUMÉContexte  En dépit de la littérature existante montre que les spécialistes des relations publiques en tant que gardiens, cependant, il y a peu de recherches sur la quantité de rôle de surveillance les spécialistes en relations publiques jouent dans leurs organisations la communication avec le public dans le domaine des médias sociaux. Analyse  Par conséquent, cet article se ferme cette lacune en examinant le rôle de la dualité de pouvoirs quasi-control et quasi-gatewatching effectuée par le spécialistes des relations publiques dans leur tentative de communiquer, réglementer et gérer l’information dans le domaine des médias sociaux. Conclusion et implications  La discussion sur ces deux rôles distincts a enrichi la compréhension et les frontières d’un contrôle dans la pratique des relations publiques par l’introduction d’un nouveau modèle de flux mixtes de contrôle dans le paysage médiatique numérique.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geetanjali Panda ◽  
Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay ◽  
Komal Khandelwal

This article discusses the concept, benefits, application, impact and role of artificial intelligence (AI) in public relations (PR) industry. It examines the application of AI-based systems and their role as strategic disruption in the PR industry. This article is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews of 31 PR professionals and is grounded in the insights from the review of relevant research papers, articles, and case studies. It highlights the developments in research and practice related to AI application in the PR industry. AI-powered systems can scan social media and are smart, intelligent and experts in handling queries. These AI-enabled systems can post responses on social media in real time for the client and manage the crisis. With AI, PR professionals can save time spent on mundane activities like creating media lists, scheduling meetings and sending follow-up emails. Mass personalization and customization using AI are improving the effectiveness of PR activities. It is too early to say whether AI will act as strategic disruption in the PR industry. Based on the insights and discussion in this article, the PR professionals and researchers can make decisions on whether to invest in AI tools and solutions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia S. Harrison ◽  
Jan Boehmer

To explore the role of sports journalism in communicating complex social issues, we seek to understand how sport for development and peace (SDP) programs are covered by newspapers around the world. To achieve this goal, we conducted an exploratory content analysis of 284 English-language articles from 2013 to 2016 using Iyengar’s (1991) thematic and episodic frames and Semetko and Valkenburg’s (2000) five generic news frames. Results indicate that coverage of SDP is often episodically framed, attributed to wire reports rather than individuals, and emphasizes responsibility and human interest. These frames may provide limited understanding of SDP issues in the general public and show that sport journalists still need to embrace their role as sport journalists for good. Recommendations are made for journalists covering this topic globally.


2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (12) ◽  
pp. 3051-3076
Author(s):  
Jasmina Ilicic ◽  
Stacey M. Brennan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce and examine the effect of a celebrity’s eye gaze on self-celebrity connection. A celebrity’s direct (vs averted) eye gaze can be used as a tactic in social media posts to increase self-celebrity connection and behavioral intentions. Examining the effectiveness of a celebrity’s eye gaze is important, as celebrities regularly use social media to manage their brand image and to build a relationship with consumers. Design/methodology/approach Study 1 examines the effect of a celebrity’s eye gaze (direct vs averted) on self-celebrity connection. Study 2 investigates the role of celebrity authenticity in explaining the effect of a celebrity’s eye gaze on consumer–celebrity brand relationships. Study 3 examines the moderating role of a non-Duchenne smile (fake, social smile) in diluting the effect of a celebrity’s direct eye gaze on self-celebrity connection and the downstream consequences on behavioral intentions. Findings The findings from Study 1 indicate that a celebrity’s direct (averted) eye gaze strengthens (weakens) self-celebrity connection. Study 2 provides evidence of celebrity authenticity as the explanation for stronger consumer–celebrity connection when a celebrity is featured with a direct eye gaze. The results of Study 3 show that a fake smile in a celebrity’s social media posts can weaken relationships with and behavioral intentions toward celebrities with a direct eye gaze. Research limitations/implications This paper is limited, as it focuses only on eye gaze and smiles as non-verbal cues depicted in celebrity images on social media. Practical implications This paper has important implications for celebrities, celebrity brand managers (including digital/social media marketing managers and public relations professionals) and advertisers. Celebrities, celebrity brand managers and advertisers should develop social media posts that can strengthen consumer–celebrity relationships and positively influence behaviors toward the celebrity through: 1) ensuring that photographs are taken with the celebrity looking directly into the camera at the target (audience); and 2) avoiding posting images of a celebrity’s direct eye gaze with a non-Duchenne (fake) smile. Originality/value This paper introduces and provides evidence of a celebrity’s direct eye gaze–self-celebrity relationship effect. Tactics, such as eye gaze, can strengthen consumer–celebrity relationships, which is crucial in building brand equity and in increasing financial value for the celebrity.


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