Media Professionals Research Articles

Navigating Information Equity, Access, and Literacy in the Context of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In today's interconnected world, the ability to access and critically analyze information is essential for fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. This proposal seeks to explore challenges and strategies related to information literacy amidst political and policy confrontations to continuously achieve fundamental principles. Objectives:•Highlight the importance of information literacy in promoting diverse perspectives and combating bias.•Discuss strategies for equitable access to accurate information, particularly for marginalized communities.•Explore the role of media and education in shaping inclusive narratives and fostering informed dialogue.•Address the impact of misinformation and polarization on efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Panel Topics:Understanding Information Literacy: Define information literacy and its significance in empowering individuals to navigate complex information landscapes. Promoting Diverse Perspectives: Examine how access to diverse sources and viewpoints contributes to a more inclusive understanding of societal issues. Equitable Information Access: Discuss barriers to access reliable information, particularly in underserved communities, and propose solutions for greater equity. Expected Outcomes:•Increased awareness of the importance of information literacy in promoting diversity and inclusion.•Identification of actionable strategies for improving information access and combating bias in media.•Inspiration for collaborative initiatives aimed at fostering inclusive dialogues and empowering marginalized communities. Audience:Our target audience includes educators, media professionals, community organizers, policymakers, and individuals passionate about promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion through enhanced information literacy.

The Influence of Strategic Media on Nation Building: The Case of Sudan

The study systematically investigated the hypothesis that strategic media initiatives promote and accelerate nation-building processes (NBP) in Sudan. The strategic media variables examined included three essential ones: media language perfection (MLP), qualitative media coverage (QMC), and information building plan (IBP). Using a multilinear regression model (MLRM), the study analyzed the relationships among these predicting variables and their impact on the dependent variable. The evaluation of how the three predictors impact nation-building and state stability required the distribution of a survey containing 21 questions. 200 Sudanese journalists from different parts of the country received the questionnaire. They represent diverse backgrounds across private and public media institutions, including male and female participants. The principal data collection technique adopted by the study was the online survey, supplemented by other secondary sources such as journals, books, and professional internet websites. The use of a five-point Likert scale was feasible to evaluate responses. The analysis indicated that the three predictors collectively explained 94.2% of the variation in NBP (R² = 0.942, p < 0.001). Among these predictors, IBP demonstrated the highest impact (β = 0.624), followed by MLP (β = 0.589) and QMC (β = 0.247). These findings underscore the significant role of professional media in Sudanese nation-building by facilitating practical initiatives and addressing internal conflicts. The study contributes robust empirical evidence and theoretical insights into the efforts of Sudanese journalists, emphasizing the critical role of strategic media in fostering nation-building and enhancing state stability.

Exploring Current Challenges and Opportunities in Media Literacy Skills for Youth: Stakeholders’ Perspectives

The widespread dissemination of contradictory information through various media platforms can increase anxiety and confusion among younger generations. This highlights the need to promote Media Literacy (ML) skills, enabling them to evaluate online information's validity critically. Video game-based learning can be valuable in this context, fostering active learning and critical thinking. Therefore, developing and sharing innovative resources like interactive content and video games is crucial to enhancing young people's ML skills and resilience to disinformation. The YO-MEDIA project, involving three universities in Italy, Portugal, and Spain and a journalist association, aims to develop ML in young people during times of crisis (e.g., pandemics and wars) through game-based learning strategies and professional training. The project carried out 29 semi-structured interviews in the partner countries with various stakeholders to understand perspectives on media design practices and ML formulation for young people in crises. These interviews aimed to collect education and media professionals' insights on promoting ML and critical thinking among youth during crises. It also seeks to gather best practices and understand these professionals' challenges when fostering ML among youth. This study's findings suggest that the interviewees deem ML vital for distinguishing accurate information from misinformation during crises, especially relevant for young individuals. Essential skills for these young people include critical thinking, filtering information, and recognizing online threats. Effective strategies involve operating within digital environments frequented by young people, encouraging critical thinking, and nurturing collaboration. Professionals face challenges such as a lack of training, engaging young people's attention, and keeping pace with digital environments. The interviewees also emphasized the importance of ML training for informal educators and media professionals. They recommended Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) for their flexibility and accessibility. According to the interviewees, an ML game should involve research, interpretation, and decision-making processes and be accessible to young people with disabilities. They identified several ML projects and resources, including multimedia labs, youth parliaments, and critical thinking tools. This study contributes to developing games that promote critical thinking and ML in young people. It also aids in establishing ongoing professional training in ML for informal educators, teachers, media professionals, and other stakeholders.

Social media profiling: The influence of personal and professional social media content on hiring ratings

AbstractThis study integrates identity and situational strength theories into a realistic accuracy model framework to develop and test hypotheses regarding how hiring managers perceive social media (SM) information, and how those perceptions translate into ratings. In Study 1, 310 h professionals rated which SM content they perceive as most useful in assessing applicants on various work‐related constructs. The provided a foundation for Study 2, where 151 h professionals participated in an experimental hiring simulation to understand whether these perceptions of SM information translate into rating behavior. Results indicate that manipulating SM content influenced HR professionals’ ratings of applicants. Non‐job‐related SM content influenced ratings of work‐related constructs more strongly than job‐related content. Professional SM was rated more favorably than personal SM.

Step-by-step: A clinical pathway for stepped care management of fear of cancer recurrence-results of a three-round online delphi consensus process with Australian health professionals and researchers.

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is not routinely addressed in clinical practice, meaning many cancer survivors forego effective interventions. We established expert consensus on a clinical pathway to help health professionals identify and manage FCR in early-stage cancer survivors. Australian health professionals and researchers working with adult cancer survivors participated in a three-round Delphi study promoted via oncology professional bodies and social media. The Round 1 online survey presented 38 items regarding FCR screening, triage, assessment, referral, and stepped care, based on a literature review, related pathways/guidelines, and expert input. Participants rated how representative of best-practice items were on a 5-point scale (strongly disagree-strongly agree), with optional qualitative feedback. Consensus was defined as ≥ 80% of participants strongly/agreeing with items. Items not reaching consensus were re-presented to Round 1 participants in two subsequent rounds with new items, derived from content analysis of qualitative feedback. From 94 participants in Round 1 (89% health professionals), 26/38 (68%) items reached consensus. By round 3, 35/38 (92%) items, including 8 new items, reached consensus. Routine FCR screening and triage conversations and stepped care management (i.e. tailored and staged treatment) were endorsed. However, the timing of FCR screening/triage did not reach consensus. This world-first FCR clinical pathway incorporating contemporary evidence and expert opinion recommends routine screening and triage to stepped care management of FCR. Some pathway components, such as screening or triage timing, may need tailoring for different contexts. Implementation of the pathway could aid routine identification and management of FCR, reducing its burden on cancer survivors and the healthcare system.

Exploring the impact of volumetric graphics on the engagement of broadcast media professionals

Exploring the impact of volumetric graphics on the engagement of broadcast media professionals

25 Years of Türkiye’s Media Initiatives in Africa

Since around 2005, Türkiye has focused on establishing close relations with African countries, spanning politics, economics, culture, and media. This study aims to briefly touch upon the transformation of press and media in Africa and examine Türkiye’s initiatives in the African media landscape, particularly since 2005. This original work aims to serve as a guide for both media professionals and decision-makers in Türkiye’s foreign policy. Additionally, it seeks to ensure that the country’s media relations with African countries are based on a solid foundation. Due to the broad scope of the subject, Türkiye’s media initiatives have been analyzed under separate headings. Moreover, Türkiye’s steps in media relations with African countries, especially since 2005, have been investigated. To gather information on the topic, news articles, official statements, agreements signed by Türkiye with African countries in the media field, and decisions made during this process have been examined. Upon examination of the country’s media relations with African countries, it is observed that various initiatives have been taken, particularly since 2008. These relations in the media field have seen an upward trend through the 2020s. However, there is a need for further steps to be taken, particularly in areas such as the employment of African media professionals and collaboration in the media field, as well as producing more content related to Africa.

Agenda Setting Theory in The Age of Digital Media: An Analytical Perspective

This paper explores agenda-setting theory within digital media. It aims to evaluate changes in these paradigms due to digital platforms and their impact on mass communication theories. The discussion includes a historical overview of agenda-setting theory, grounded in foundational works and expanded by contemporary insights on user agency and information dissemination in the digital age. Using qualitative methods, the study incorporates thematic analysis, content analysis, and interviews with media professionals and users to collect comprehensive data. Key findings indicate that the traditional linear flow of information from media to the public has shifted to a multidirectional exchange influenced by user-generated content and social media dynamics. The study emphasizes the need for scholars to adapt traditional media theories to the participatory nature of modern platforms. This research enhances understanding of current media ecosystems and lays the groundwork for future studies on media influence in complex digital environments.

Media parenting in a pandemic: Understanding U.S. Parents’ motivations for parental mediation during the COVID-19 lockdown

ABSTRACT Little is known about how parents utilized parental mediation strategies during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw an upsurge in youths’ technology use and increased family time at home. The current study surveyed the parents of 964 U.S. school-aged children for their mediation behaviors, perceptions of media risk, views about youth media use, and awareness of and reliance upon professional youth media guidelines to identify key factors influencing the use of media parenting strategies (i.e. parental mediation) during the lockdown (March – May 2020). Structural equation modeling revealed that parents’ use of professional media use guidelines and their perceived changes in media views during the lockdown were positively related to their use of active mediation, restrictive mediation, and coviewing. Further, perceptions of media risk were associated with restrictive mediation, but not other mediation types, and single parents were less likely to engage in active and restrictive mediation than parents with a partner.

Public Awareness of Blindness Caused by Hyaluronic Acid Injection in China: A Questionnaire Survey

Background: The occurrence of blindness resulting from facial injection is a catastrophic complication that remains a significant safety concern for patients. The aim was to assess public awareness of blindness caused by hyaluronic acid injection. Methods: The Tencent questionnaire platform was used to gather self-reported demographic data, information about injection experience, and factors influencing the understanding of blindness. Additionally, we included an educational section on blindness caused by hyaluronic acid injection and evaluated the respondents’ intention to undergo injections. Results: A total of 1000 respondents completed the questionnaire, 15.4% had received filler injections, and 53.7% expressed their consideration of facial filler injections. The majority of respondents (68.3%) reported being aware of the risk of blindness associated with filler injections, with professional health blogs, social media, and news serving as the primary sources of information. Furthermore, 93.4% of the respondents believed that plastic surgeons should discuss the risk of blindness with patients before injection. Conclusions: The majority of the respondents in this study were aware of the possibility of blindness resulting from filler injections. Health blogs, news outlets, and social media platforms are likely the primary channels through which the public obtains information on this topic.

‘What will the lawyers say?’: Australian newsroom perspectives on journalism ethics and naming criminal suspects in a digital world

This article examines journalism ethics and identifying criminal suspects in Australian news coverage. This study builds off our previous research, which established that naming is so commonplace, it is occurring on a daily basis in the state of Victoria, even in cases with little public interest justification. A survey of 410 Australian news media professionals, as well as twelve semi-structured interviews, found journalists believe naming is an ethical decision, but it is not high on their agenda with naming treated as their default position. Media lawyers play a key role in newsroom naming practices with the legal strongly influencing what is deemed ethical. These findings are significant because it is the first empirical data from Australia and the findings are in stark contrast with news reporting practices in other countries. This article argues for stronger ethical guidelines in a digital news media environment where naming is now global and forever.

Подкасты в информационном пространстве московских студентов-журналистов: материалы эмпирического исследования

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in interest in podcasting. Young people are becoming not only media consumers of this type of media, but also active producers of it. This is especially true for journalism students who are involved in the process of mass communication both as an audience and as media professionals. Their life-world turns out to be closely connected with the process of media socialization, which is typical for other groups of “digital youth”. The article presents the materials of a representative survey of students of the Faculty of Journalism at Lomonosov Moscow State University. The study was conducted at the stage of modeling an artistic and educational podcast about science and considers students as media consumers and active participants in the process of mass communication. Based on the data obtained, the authors reflect on the possibilities of using elements of expressive techniques and elements of radio drama in the creation of popular science podcasts, the use of non-verbal components of media content to convey more information and meanings, taking into account the preferences of students. The results show that journalism students “care” about their own lifeworlds, but have an extramural respect for others' lifeworlds and the bigger picture of the world. The characteristics of the scientific and educational podcast for representatives of the “digital youth” presented in the article, compiled on the basis of the opinions of this socio-demographic group, can be used in the implementation of projects related to youth policy to promote youth education and career guidance. The local nature of the study does not allow us to draw conclusions about the opinions and moods of the student body as a whole, but gives grounds to formulate assumptions about the situation in the community of holders of special knowledge in the field of journalism and mass communications.

Can the Phenomenon of Automobile Electrification be transformed into the Development Direction of the Automobile Industry?

Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung Show in 2023 just came to an end. In April, 2024, German Federal Chancellor Scholz led a huge business delegation to visit China (China Digital Space, 2024) Germany, which has always been proud of the automobile industry and technology, has caused a heated discussion about the development direction of the automobile industry from professional automobile media to online self-media[2]. As an international student studying advanced business management expertise in Germany, the author is curious about this changes. In particular, the latest media reports show that Apple has given up pushing forward the car-building project for nearly 10 years. Subsequently, Källenius, Chairman and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group, also said that Mercedes-Benz would no longer adhere to the original goal of fully turning to electric vehicle sales in major markets by 2030. Previously, Mercedes-Benz's pursuit of motorization was fanatical. In 2021, Mercedes-Benz proposed an all-electric strategy. The goal is that the sales of all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles will reach 50% by 2025. Starting from 2030, Mercedes-Benz will be basically transform into an all-electric vehicle. These developments once again aroused the author's interest in whether motorization will become the development direction of the automobile industry. Hegel, a German philosopher, once pointed out in Science of Logic that existence is a phenomenon but it is not an illusion. Illusion corresponds more to existence, and phenomenon is higher than existence with richer connotation, because phenomenon contains its own reflection and reflection of other things, and phenomenon itself also has its own internal stability contradiction. Germany is a country of rational speculation, and the appearance of any phenomenon will not affect the Germans' thinking and exploration of its essence. Similarly, from the perspective of subjective feeling and rational analysis, this paper will try to discuss the change of German automobile consumption trends from the perspective of commercial marketing, and then prove the inherent logic of some industry behind the trend. With interest in learning and thinking, the author tried to drive a fuel-powered car and an electric car by himself. One is a German Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 manufactured and sold in China. This car is very popular among middle class consumers in China. Another model that I test drive is the M9, which was launched in the fourth quarter of 2023. It was jointly developed by Huawei, a network intelligent terminals supplier in China, Energy storage battery maker called Ningde Times and Seres Veicles. According to the report of China's mainstream media, China National Radio Network, on March 19,2024, the media once again held the top five positions of luxury brands with a weekly sales volume of 86,000 vehicles, and tried out two models. Another market factor is that the sales price of these two models are in the range of 500 thousand to 600 thousand RMB.

Media Literacy and Fact-Checking as Proactive and Reactive Responses to Misinformation in Kenya and Senegal

ABSTRACT This study examines how media professionals in Kenya and Senegal respond to misinformation using fact-checking and media literacy strategies and how they perceive these strategies for mitigating the spread of misinformation. We conducted 42 semi-structured in-depth interviews with people belonging to one of the following three groups: individuals employed in the news media such as journalists, reporters and editors; individuals working for either independent fact-checking organisations or doing fact-checking within the newsrooms of online and offline media; and individuals engaged in media policymaking. Findings indicate that media professionals in both Senegal and Kenya employ fact-checking strategies such as cross-checking information from primary, secondary and expert sources and verifying images and videos using reverse image search as reactive strategies. Consistent with inoculation theory, participants also promote media literacy as a proactive strategy to equip media producers and consumers with the knowledge and skills to critically engage with media content. Lastly, journalists, fact-checkers and policymakers lauded fact-checking and media literacy as effective strategies for mitigating the spread of misinformation, suggesting that both strategies should be used simultaneously to empower both media consumers and producers against misinformation.

Exploring Gender and Homicide: Insights from Turkish Media Professionals of Generations X, Y, and Z

This study examines how media professionals interpret homicides committed in Turkey and depict murder suspects. The article aims to analyse how journalists from different generations respond to, negotiate and resist the editorial ideology that frames gender-based violence from an anti-feminist perspective. The study includes in-depth interviews with nine media professionals from X, Y, and Z generations and forms conclusions about the helplessness of women, the necessity of murder, involving the female suspect. The study reveals that media professionals reproduce gender roles by employing masculine language, and their commitment to “so-called” objective journalism restricts the critical examination and analysis of facts from a feminist perspective. The study demonstrates that journalists, whether consciously or unconsciously, contribute to the dissemination of manipulated messages by reproducing them without conducting thorough analysis. The perspectives of Gen X, Y, and Z Turkish media professionals on gender and murder provide valuable insights into evolving societal attitudes and media representation. It is crucial for journalists and media professionals to critically analyse their biases and strive for fair, inclusive, and responsible reporting that promotes gender equality and challenges harmful stereotypes.

WP6.6 - Sentiment Analysis of Social Media Posts by Medical Professional in the UK

Abstract Aims Notoriously described as being controversial in nature, we aim to objectively assess the language used amongst medical professionals in social media (SM). Methods Data was extracted from the Reddit SM website under the sub-page "r/DoctorsUK" forum, through a data-extraction code written in the python language. This was then analysed through a Natural Language Toolkit algorithm to classify language used into positive, negative and neutral sentiments with an overall polarity score ranging from -1 noting most negative to 1 being most positive. Results A total of 992 articles were examined over a 24-day period, as limited by Reddit data application programme interface (API) protocols. A total of 210 positive, 218 negative and 564 neutral articles were noted with an average of 43 articles posted per day. Headlines sentiment on average was overall marginally positive at 0.0154. Comment tree within each headline was also examined, noting a more positive 0.173. Through regression analysis, it was noted that headline and comment sentiments was directly correlated, and this was statistically significant(P=1.24*10-10). It was also noted that more negative headlines had higher “likes” and were therefore featured more prominently within the forum. Conclusions Although SM posts are overall positive in sentiment, it is noted that more negative sentiments are often up-voted and therefore featured more prominently due to their more provocative nature and emotions incited amongst readers. As SM posts elicits strong psychological and psychosocial reactions from a community, there is an urgency to more accurate data driven models in developing future policies to maintain an effective professional morale within the NHS.

Enhancing the hiring process: A predictive system for soft skills assessment

Human Resource Management faces the ongoing challenge of identifying top-performing candidates to enhance organizational success. Traditional recruitment methods heavily rely on assessing hard skills alone, overlooking the importance of soft skills in identifying individuals who excel in their roles. To address this, our paper introduces a novel predictive model that leverages Artificial Intelligence in the hiring process. By analyzing soft skills extracted from CVs, cover letters, websites, professional social media, and psychometric tests, the model accurately predicts potential candidates suitable for specific job roles. This system effectively eliminates poor hiring decisions, reduces time and effort, minimizes recruitment costs, and mitigates turnover risks. The implementation of our proposed model employs various predictive machine learning classifiers, with key input soft skills including creativity, collaboration, empathy, curiosity, and critical thinking. Notably, the Support Vector Machine classifier emerges as the top-performing model in terms of predictive accuracy

‘Journalism in another form’: How exile experiences from Burundi renegotiate key elements of journalism

Since the renewed outbreak of the ongoing crisis in Burundi in May 2015, triggering a media crackdown, over one-third of the country’s reporters have gone into exile. They therefore joined an increasing number of journalists worldwide who are forced into exile. Between 2015 and 2021, many of the exiled Burundian journalists continued reporting for newly founded exile media in neighbouring Rwanda. Before their forced closure in 2021, these exile media had established themselves as successful outlets providing the only independent information from an otherwise blacked-out country. Based on semi-structured interviews with 10 exiled Burundian journalists conducted in Rwanda in 2020, this article exemplifies how the condition of exile impacts journalistic practice and norms, and renegotiates ideas of media professionalism. It is shown how Burundian exiled journalists display a strong personal conscience as journalists highlighting the voice of the voiceless and attempting to separate activism from their journalism. At the same time, the findings identify the main struggles of Burundian exiled journalists in maintaining operational objectivity, which depends on funding, providing balanced reporting without access to official sources and conducting verification of information in the unattainable field. These challenges are in line with the findings of several other case studies with exiled journalists from different regions. Therefore, this article complements the rapidly growing body of literature on exile journalism with a Global South perspective, which to date is not well represented on the map of exile journalism that mostly features cases of exile in the Global North. Furthermore, this article shows that situating exile experiences within existing theories and frameworks of journalism presents limits as exile journalism, as in the Burundian case, is journalism ‘in another form’ with new practices and renegotiated standards of professionalism.

Exploring the Innovative Path of Comprehensive Management of Dynamic Online Public Opinion in China Under the Threshold of New Media

Internet public opinion is a dynamic process of change, which is characterised by hiddenness, suddenness, complexity and volatility. The governance of online public opinion is a systematic project that involves network communication, government governance, social organisations, public will and other subjects. Strengthening the comprehensive governance of online public opinion requires innovating governance concepts and mechanisms to solve the problem of online public opinion at source; strengthening institutional construction and collaborative governance to improve the mechanism for managing online public opinion; enhancing professional skills and media literacy to improve the ability to govern online public opinion; and innovating information dissemination means and methods to enhance the dissemination efficacy of online public opinion. By innovating governance concepts and mechanisms, integrating social resources, improving the construction of the network communication system, and enhancing the media literacy and professional skills of netizens, the capacity and level of network public opinion governance will be enhanced.

Spirulina/Arthrospira/Limnospira-Three Names of the Single Organism.

Recent advances in research techniques have enabled rapid progress in the study of spirulina, an ancient edible cyanobacteria. Nowadays, spirulina species are classified into three genera: Spirulina, Arthrospira, and Limnospira. The latter now refers to industrially manufactured spirulina strains. Whole-genome sequencing revealed gene clusters involved in metabolite production, and the physiology of spirulina. Omics technologies demonstrated the absence of hazardous compounds in spirulina cells, confirming the safety of this biomass as a food product. Spirulina is a good source of different chemicals used in food manufacturing, food supplements, and pharmaceuticals. Spirulina's enrichment with inherent biologically active substances makes it a potential supplier of natural products for dietary and pharmaceutical applications. Spirulina is also a prospective component of both terrestrial and space-based life support systems. Here, we review current breakthroughs in spirulina research and clarify fallacies that can be found in both professional literature and public media.