Positive Portrayal Research Articles

The adventures of Przhevalskii in socialist China: performing friendship at the inter-imperial periphery

ABSTRACT The Russian explorer Nikolai Przhevalskii (1839–1888) conducted extensive expeditions in Xinjiang, Mongolia, and northern Manchuria: contested inter-imperial peripheries between the Russian and Chinese empires of the nineteenth century. In 1950, the biopic Przhevalskii, directed by Sergei Iutkevich, became the first collaboration on a fiction film between the Soviet Union and the recently founded People’s Republic of China. Intended as a performative affirmation of Sino-Soviet friendship, Przhevalskii was ultimately rejected by the Chinese government, which insisted the film’s positive portrayal of the explorer did not align with his historical status as an agent of Russian empire. Building on recent scholarship on Soviet cultural and cinematic internationalism, this article reads Przhevalskii as an allegorical vision of late-Stalinist Soviet internationalism, shaped by the simultaneous expansion of the socialist world into East Asia and the Russian-nationalist triumphalism that drove the anti-cosmopolitan campaigns. This hierarchical, centripetal mode of internationalism clashed with the priorities of a newly socialist Chinese state wary of any reduction to a periphery of a socialist world dominated by Moscow. These tensions find expression in the film’s complex treatment of performance as the mode through which both collaborative authorship and Soviet primacy are affirmed.

A Contingency View of Impression Management: Heterogeneous Investor Responses to CEO Positive Portrayal of Mergers and Acquisitions

AbstractExisting research has suggested seemingly contradictory conclusions about the efficacy of impression management (IM) tactics. While a growing body of research highlights the potential benefits of IM, other studies imply that the effectiveness of these tactics in shaping stakeholder perceptions may be limited. Our study advances theory on IM by drawing upon expectancy violations theory to develop a contingency theory of IM efficacy. Concentrating on CEOs’ positive portrayal of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, we hypothesize that the effectiveness of this IM tactic hinges on factors related to the communicator (CEO duality), context (acquisition foreshadowing), and audience (investor type). Our results indicate that investor reactions to CEOs’ positive portrayal are more favourable when M&A activity has been foreshadowed or when the institutional investor is transient. Conversely, reactions are less favourable for CEOs also serving as board chair. Our findings provide novel insights into IM theory, suggesting that potential expectancy violations associated with IM tactics could be shaped by the attributes of communicator, context, and audience.

Youth is Prized in Medicine, Old Age is Valued in Law: Analysis of Media Narratives Over 200 Years.

This is the first study to explore how age has influenced depictions of doctors and lawyers in the media over the course of 210 years, from 1810 to 2019. The media represents a significant platform for examining age stereotypes and possesses tremendous power to shape public opinion. Insights could be used to improve depictions of older professionals in the media. This study aims to understand how age shapes the portrayals of doctors and lawyers. Specifically, it compares the difference in sentiments toward younger and older doctors as well as younger and older lawyers in the media over 210 years. Leveraging a 600-million-word corpus of American media publications spanning 210 years, we compiled top descriptors (N=478,452) of nouns related to youth × occupation (eg, younger doctor or physician) and old age × occupation (eg, older lawyer or attorney). These descriptors were selected using well-established criteria including co-occurrence frequency and context relevance, and were rated on a Likert scale from 1 (very negative) to 5 (very positive). Sentiment scores were generated for "doctor/physician," "young(er) doctor/physician," "old(er) doctor/physician," "lawyer/attorney," "young(er) lawyer/attorney," and "old(er) lawyer/attorney." The scores were calculated per decade for 21 decades from 1810 to 2019. Topic modeling was conducted on the descriptors of each occupation in both the 1800s and 1900s using latent Dirichlet allocation. As hypothesized, the media placed a premium on youth in the medical profession, with portrayals of younger doctors becoming 10% more positive over 210 years, and those of older doctors becoming 1.4% more negative. Meanwhile, a premium was placed on old age in law. Positive portrayals of older lawyers increased by 22.6% over time, while those of younger lawyers experienced a 4.3% decrease. In the 1800s, narratives on younger doctors revolved around their participation in rural health care. In the 1900s, the focus shifted to their mastery of new medical technologies. There was no marked change in narratives surrounding older doctors from the 1800s to the 1900s, though less attention was paid to their skills in the 1900s. Narratives on younger lawyers in the 1800s referenced their limited experience. In the 1900s, there was more focus on courtroom affairs. In both the 1800s and 1900s, narratives on older lawyers emphasized their prestige, especially in the 1900s. Depending on the occupation, one's age may either be seen as an asset or a liability. Efforts must be expended to ensure that older professionals are recognized for their wealth of knowledge and skills. Failing to capitalize on the merits of an older workforce could ultimately be a grave disservice not only to older adults but to society in general.

Parenting Styles and Mental Health among Adolescents of Nawabshah (SBA), SINDH

Background: Parenting styles are crucial in shaping adolescents' mental health. With varying implications for child development, the authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting styles identified by Baumrind have been subjects of extensive research. The interplay between these parenting approaches and adolescent mental health outcomes remains a pivotal area of inquiry, especially in diverse cultural contexts such as Nawabshah (SBA), Sindh. Objective: This study aimed to identify the predominant parenting styles in SBA and to assess their relationship with the mental health of school-going adolescents. Specifically, it sought to explore the association between authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting styles and the prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescents. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 354 adolescents from both government and private secondary and higher secondary schools in Nawabshah. Participants were selected using non-probability convenience sampling. Data were collected via a survey incorporating the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for assessing mental health and the Parent Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) for evaluating parenting styles. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, employing the Pearson correlation coefficient to analyze the relationship between parenting styles and adolescent mental health. Results: The study found a predominance of the authoritative parenting style among participants' parents (56.2%). A significant yet low negative correlation was identified between authoritative parenting and moderate depression in adolescents (r = -.124, p < 0.05). Additionally, combinations of parenting styles were observed, with a notable presence of mixed authoritative-authoritarian practices. Adolescents experiencing authoritative parenting reported higher instances of moderate depression compared to those with other parenting styles. Conclusion: The findings challenge the universally positive portrayal of authoritative parenting, highlighting its complex relationship with adolescent mental health in the SBA context. The study underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of parenting styles and their impact, advocating for culturally sensitive approaches in parenting research.

Freedom in an Age of Repression: The Role of Black Theology and Black-Produced Media in Forging Freedom

This paper will explore the role that black theology and black-produced films of 2016 play in creating a narrative that seeks freedom for African Americans in the United States during this age of brutality and mass incarceration. Starting with Alexander's The New Jim Crow and Duvernay's 13th, this paper illustrates how the media and the legal system have worked together to create a culture of criminality still imposed on black youth. Theologians Cone and Brown Douglas rely on the concepts of God's freedom, God's revolutionary love and faithful action to resist such a hostile culture, but two black-produced films of 2016 also rely on the concept of freedom in the face of criminality. Birth of a Nation not only to shows a positive portrayal of black men in the media, but Moonlight illustrates the complexity of growing up in communities that are repressed by this hostile culture.

Visual representations of community in scholastic photojournalism: A thematic analysis of award-winning photographs from the national scholastic press association’s photo of the year contest

While journalism awards can enhance social capital and signify quality, they often reinforce a limited, negative perspective of what is newsworthy. This study builds on existing research examining award-winning photojournalism by focusing on the understudied population of student photojournalists. Via a qualitative analysis of 229 photographs from the National Scholastic Press Association’s Photo of the Year Contest, this research analyzes major visual themes and prevalent news values in award-winning scholastic photojournalism. The results from this exploratory study indicate that student journalists visually represent high school as a place for connection, collaboration, and citizenship and present a uniquely positive portrayal of their world. The findings also suggest that conventionalization of topics, tone, and techniques is present in student photojournalism award contests although the themes that are reinforced by this conventionalization are dissimilar to what has been observed in professional photojournalism contests.

The Discursive Clash Between the Portraits of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire in Relation to Their Foreign Policy: The ‘Victorious’ Turkey Versus the ‘Defeated’ Ottoman Empire

This article argues that the Turkish press of the early republican years was one of the instruments used by the Turkish political discourse of the early republican years to disseminate and reproduce its values in the public sphere. This article attempts to examine the discursive distinction between Turkey and the Ottoman Empire in terms of their international relations through the Turkish press discourse. To this end, this article focuses on the Turkish newspaper column "Sabah Gazeteleri ne diyorlar?" published in the Turkish newspaper Haber Akşam Postası on June 11, 1938, and conducts an argumentation analysis of the column by applying the Vienna School of Discourse-Historical Approach (Reisigl & Wodak 2001; Wodak 1990, 1994; Wodak & Meyer 2001; Wodak & Chilton 2005; Wodak et al. 2009). This article examines the rhetorical, discursive, and argumentative strategies used by the editorial writer Asım Us to persuade readers. One of the key findings of the article is the following: the negative portrayal of the Ottoman Empire versus the positive portrayal of Turkey. While the Ottoman Empire was described as "defeated" in World War I, Turkey was portrayed as a "victorious" country that was able to sign the Treaty of Lausanne with the Entente powers on an equal footing.

Representations of public caning in Serambi Indonesia: A linguistic approach to news framing analysis

With its distinctive autonomy in implementing Sharia, Aceh allows public caning as a form of corporal punishment not seen in other parts of Indonesia. This article examines how a prominent local newspaper, Serambi Indonesia, portrayed the implementation of public caning in Aceh over the past decade. This study combined transivity analysis and Gamson and Modigliani’s (1989) four framing devices: metaphors, exemplars, catchphrases, and depictions. The analysis focused on 45 articles related to public caning in Aceh published between January 2012 and December 2020 in Serambi Indonesia. The findings reveal that caning is a key theme in these news stories, signalling its execution for Sharia violators in Aceh. The findings also found an ambivalent representation of public caning. Depictions of paramedics, audiences, and public support, along with the use of exemplars, highlight a positive portrayal of the current practice of public caning in Aceh. The punishment is depicted as a way of educating offenders and a means to deter similar offenses in the future, which overshadows the severity of the punishment. The media also conveys a message that Aceh’s caning punishment differs from practices in the Middle East and suggests a “lighter” interpretation of Sharia. However, the coverage raises concerns about the effectiveness of caning as a deterrent and the fair implementation of the punishment. Therefore, the representations of public caning in Serambi Indonesia reflects ongoing controversy surrounding the event within Acehnese society.

How well does the Index of Race-Related Stress-brief function in a trauma-exposed Black community sample? An item response theory examination of discrimination and difficulty parameters.

Race-related stress negatively impacts the mental health of Black Americans to a greater degree than other racialized groups. Additionally, trauma exposure is associated with more severe levels of posttraumatic stress disorder for individuals who also experience race-related stress. Therefore, an accurate assessment of race-related stress in a trauma-exposed sample of Black Americans is necessary to ensure the validity and reliability of empirical findings regarding race-related stress and intervention efficacy. The Index of Race-Related Stress (IRRS) is one of the most commonly used measures to assess race-related stress among Black Americans. Due to a lack of psychometric support for the abbreviated version of IRRS-brief (IRRS-B) on a trauma-exposed sample of Black Americans, our study aims to address this gap in literature. We used item response theory (IRT) to assess item difficulty, discrimination, and factor structure in a sample of trauma-exposed Black Americans (n = 226). We employed a multidimensional graded response model with corresponding items loaded on to the three previously established factors of the IRRS. The most discriminating items asked about observing harsh treatment of Black individuals, experiencing less courtesy in establishments, and being stared at as though you do not belong. The item with the lowest difficulty described negative media representation of Black individuals while the item with the highest difficulty described lack of positive media portrayals of Black Americans. These results indicate that items varied considerably in the degree to which they adequately captured race-related stress. Future research should use IRT with newly worded questions to further improve the assessment of race-related stress in Black Americans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Corpus-Based Discourse Analysis of Chinese Kung Fu in the Media Along the Southern Line of the “Belt and Road”

This study presents a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of Chinese Kung Fu, utilizing a corpus-based approach to examine media portrayals along the southern line of the “Belt and Road” initiative. The research underscores the role of the “Belt and Road” Initiative in promoting Chinese martial arts culture and fostering cultural exchanges. By constructing a specialized corpus from mainstream media reports on Chinese Kung Fu, sourced from the LexisNexis database, this study employs corpus linguistics tools such as AntConc to analyze word frequency, collocation, keyword, and index line. The findings reveal a predominantly positive portrayal of Chinese Kung Fu in the media of countries along the southern route of the “Belt and Road.” This positive representation is instrumental in enhancing the understanding of these countries’ attitudes towards Chinese culture and paves the way for more effective foreign discourse construction for China. The study’s insights into media discourse provide valuable perspectives for cultural diplomacy, reflecting the positive impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on spreading Chinese culture.

Unveiling narratives: representation of same-sex love in bollywood films

The cultural history of India has been ignorant of various sexual orientations and gender identities leaving LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) community with a life of guilt and shame. Visual Media plays a key role in shaping society’s opinion of LGBTQIA+ people and individuals who come to terms with their gender and sexuality at a particular phase of their lives. The representation of homosexual characters is constantly diversified in Bollywood, and the change is evident from being caricatured and even scorned to being shown as prominent protagonists. The growing visibility and the positive portrayal of homosexual characters in Bollywood help to create a more inclusive society. This paper focuses on the select Bollywood films, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (2019) by Shelly Chopra Dhar and Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2020) by Hitesh Kewalya. The paper analyses the visual elements in select films and their role in shaping the portrayal of homosexuality within the narrative. The paper also reads the chosen films through the lens of familial resistance to same-sex relationships. By analysing the select films, the paper concludes that, though prior Bollywood films have explored the theme of individuals disclosing their sexual identity to their families, the primary narrative focus is not on seeking acceptance from their family members. Thus, the unique emphasis on seeking acceptance and understanding between family members and homosexual individuals set the select films as exceptional narratives within the context of Bollywood’s portrayal of homosexuality.

Experiences of a fine dining event held inside a working prison

ABSTRACT Fine dining experiences offered inside working prisons are one type of hospitality initiative attempting to support prisoner rehabilitation and offer a memorable dining experience for the paying public. Previous hospitality research has not explored how fine dining delivered in a working prison, offered through this type of social initiative, is experienced by those involved: the inmates volunteering in the event, the celebrity chefs who mentor them, paying diners and other event stakeholders. This case study research examined the “Gate to Plate” fine dining event held inside Rimutaka men’s prison in New Zealand. We analysed publicly available material online about this hospitality initiative to discern the key experiences of those involved. Thematic analysis of the data revealed four main themes relating to the experiences of those involved in the fine dining event: a quality food and meal experience; pride and passion arising from being involved; skills for change; and shifted perceptions. While the case study research revealed positive experiences of the prison’s fine dining event and suggested it was a potentially transformative experience for all those involved in it, we critically discuss wider implications of the event, and the positive portrayals by all those involved, for hospitality initiatives in working prisons.

News Media Representations: Audience Perceptions of News Frames About Latinxs and Hispanics

This study includes a survey of 1,077 participants to explore the audiences’ perceptions of news representations about the largest minoritized group in the United States: Latinxs and Hispanics. The findings suggest that news exposure, age, ethnicity, education, and income are significant variables for the public to perceive more positive portrayals of Latinxs/Hispanics. Also, some negative stereotypical interpretations of Latinx/Hispanic news frames continue to be pervasive. The results point to the need for updated theoretical approaches focused on the role of media in the minoritization process of ethnoracial populations.

Comparative sentiment analysis of grand renaissance dam controversy in Egyptian and Ethiopian newspapers

Through a 3-year period of content analysis, this study compares predominant sentiments, stakeholder portrayal, framing techniques, and prevailing tone in Egyptian ‘Ahram Online’ and ‘The Reporter’ Ethiopian newspaper coverage of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) controversy. Despite the relatively extended, ongoing nature of GERD negotiations, throughout the last 3 years, 2020 – 2023, representing the time frame of the current study, the news coverage of both the Ethiopian and Egyptian media has portrayed the sentimental pillars of controversy in a contemporary manner.The results revealed that Ahram Online, the Egyptian newspaper, predominantly conveys a positive sentiment, echoing Egypt's focus on diplomacy and negotiation to resolve the Grand Renaissance Dam dispute, fostering an optimistic and cooperative tone. Conversely, 'The Reporter,' an Ethiopian newspaper, exhibits varying sentiments over time, with positive portrayals of Ethiopia's perspective on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and negative sentiments concerning external actors and evolving Egypt-Ethiopia tensions.Ahram Online portrays Egypt as advocating for its water rights and comprehensive agreements, emphasizing diplomacy and casting Egypt positively. 'The Reporter' presents Ethiopia as dedicated to its development, emphasizing the GERD's importance while critically covering external stakeholders.Both newspapers employ framing techniques. Ahram Online emphasizes cooperation, regional stability, and responsible water use, framing the GERD issue positively. 'The Reporter' highlights Ethiopia's historical challenges and the urgency of the GERD project while critically framing external actors.Al-Ahram's tone remains optimistic and cooperative, emphasizing diplomatic solutions. 'The Reporter' exhibits varying tones, including optimism, urgency, skepticism, and negativity, reflecting Ethiopia's perspective and concerns about external actors and evolving tensions.

“Once You Become a Parent, You are a Parent Forever”: An Examination of Memorable Messages About Having Children and Becoming a Parent

This study examined memorable messages about the decision to have children and become a parent. A total of 440 memorable messages were coded, and three main themes were found. Advice and considerations included warnings, messages about delaying having children, predictions about changing one’s mind, messages about financial and relational stability, and messages emphasizing personal choice. The theme of positive emphasis included children bring meaning/purpose to life, general positivity, messages about how children complete a family, and messages about how the parent–child relationship is unique and special. Family expectations and influence included messages about a family expectation to have children, family lineage, how the child becomes the caregiver, the parents’ desire to become grandparents, and marriage being a necessity. The memorable messages overall offered both positive and negative portrayals of having children. The continued theorizing about memorable messages is also discussed.

ОБРАЗ ЖІНКИ-ТРУДІВНИЦІ НА СТОРІНКАХ РАДЯНСЬКОЇ ЖІНОЧОЇ ПЕРІОДИКИ (1950-ТІ – 1980-ТІ РОКИ)

The article critically analyzes the idealized portrayal of the woman worker in the Soviet public sphere from the 1950s to the 1980s. One of the primary instruments shaping women's images within the official discourse of the Soviet state was womenʼs periodicals. These publications mirrored stereotypical perceptions of women and diverse expectations concerning their social roles, encompassing their professional engagements. Drawing upon materials sourced from prominent women’s magazines such as “Rabotnitsa,” “Sovetskaya Zhenshchina,” and “Radianska Zhinka,” the article endeavors to reconstruct the representation of a woman worker in the USSR. This representation amalgamated womenʼs activity, industriousness, selflessness, and a heightened level of motivation. Official propaganda consistently emphasized women’s emancipation in the USSR and advocated for gender equality, facilitated by the opportunity for women to work in traditionally "male-dominated" fields, including various sectors of heavy industry. The persistent promotion of this idealized image aimed to stimulate greater female involvement in production. Additionally, the positive portrayal of the woman worker was actively leveraged in propaganda rhetoric to showcase the purported "achievements" of the Soviet government in addressing the "woman question," attaining gender equality, and highlighting the "advantages" of living in a socialist state. However, the propagated image, upon closer examination, diverged significantly from reality. In their professional pursuits, women consistently encountered discrimination, exclusion from highly skilled professions, limitations in opportunities to assume leadership roles, and numerous stereotypes regarding women's competence in professional spheres.

Is mental health normalised in Norwegian news media?

News media can influence audience opinions. Thus, the media have enormous potential and responsibility when writing about societal issues, such as mental health. Mental health coverage has traditionally been criticised for creating stigma, as the topic is often presented in combination with violence and crime. Since the 1990s, researchers have found that more positive representations challenge negative portrayals, and that such representa- tions change the audience’s attitudes towards the issue. Few studies on the topic have been conducted in Norway; therefore, one cannot confirm or deny whether the exact coverage change is occurring. Using a quantitative framing analysis, this study argues that mental health issues were normalised in the two most-read online news sources, Verdens Gang (VG.no) and Norsk Rikskringkasting (NRK.no), in 2018–2021.

Neoliberal Multiculturalism and Changing Colonial Racial Hierarchies in International Development

This research examines a shift in international development discourse away from more overtly colonial and abject depictions of people from the Global South toward foregrounding positive portrayals of people from the Global South who are self-reliant and empowered through entrepreneurship and market labor. Through interviews, observations, and content analysis of university-based development programs and development organizations, we examine the racial meaning and consequences of this shift. We argue that this discourse reformulates colonial racial hierarchies in development by suturing racial value to adherence to free market ideals, such as freedom and fulfillment through markets, while legitimizing these changes through affirmations of multiculturalism. This shift in development aligns with a broader context of neoliberal multiculturalism, which has reconfigured racial hierarchies based on adherence to multicultural global citizenship and free market principles. This research illustrates the changing intersections of race, colonialism, neoliberalism, and development and speaks to the importance of universities and development organizations in shaping racial meaning and inequalities in a global context.

Analisis Pemanfaatan Media Penyiaran dalam Diseminasi Nilai-Nilai Keagamaan Islam: Studi Kasus Program Islam Itu Indah di TRANSTV

This research examines the utilization of broadcast media in disseminating Islamic religious values through a case study of the program "Islam Itu Indah" on TRANSTV. The research method used is qualitative descriptive research with a case study approach. The main findings of this study include an analysis of the program's effectiveness in spreading religious values, public response and participation, and factors influencing the utilization of broadcast media in this context. The study aims to analyze the utilization of broadcast media in disseminating Islamic religious values through a case study of the program "Islam Itu Indah" on TRANSTV. The research method used is qualitative descriptive research with a case study approach. Data were collected through program content analysis, interviews with stakeholders such as producers, media observers, and program viewers, as well as observations of the public's response to the program. The results of the study indicate that the program "Islam Itu Indah" is effective in conveying religious values through broadcast media. The public's response to this program varies, with the majority expressing appreciation for the positive and inspirational portrayal of religious values. Factors such as high-quality program content, selection of credible speakers, and effective promotion strategies contribute to the success of this program in disseminating religious messages. However, there are also challenges faced, such as competition with similar programs, changing audience preferences, and criticism of religious representation in the media. Thus, this study not only provides an overview of the effectiveness of the "Islam Itu Indah" program in spreading religious values but also highlights the complexity and dynamics in utilizing broadcast media for religious purposes.The practical implications of this study include recommendations for developing more innovative and audience-relevant program content, more effective communication strategies to reach a wider audience, and efforts to enhance the production quality and promotion of religious programs in broadcast media. Therefore, this study makes a significant contribution to understanding the role of media in conveying religious messages and formulating more effective strategies for media utilization in a religious context.

Rethinking agency in literacies: Malawian children’s and teachers’ perspectives

ABSTRACT This qualitative study contributes theorised and empirically enriched insights from local practices into children’s agency. The authors trace a converging interest in multimodal literacies, postcolonial philosophies and early childhood pedagogy to document and critically engage with children’s agency in stories experienced by Malawian children in their primary schools. Agency is understood as the identities that children assign to their stories and understandings of self [Pahl, K. and Rowsell, J., 2012. Literacy and education (2nd edition), London: SAGE Publications]. Interviews with twenty-five children and two teachers from two primary schools in semi-urban Malawi and drawings from 49 children were analysed using the Sense-making Method [Weick 1995. Sensemaking in Organizations. Vol. 3. Sage]. Children’s drawings and interviews revealed children’s positive portrayals of collective agency in contexts typically associated with subdued identities (domestic chores). Gendered, age-restricted and otherwise limited agency in orchestrating diverse stories in the classroom were explicit in the teachers’ accounts. The discussion imbues contemporary early childhood studies with a new understanding of children’s agency, as a communal and context-dependent phenomenon.