Mass Media Research Articles

The Surge in Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Rejection in Nigeria.

In October 2023, Nigeria integrated the single-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its routine immunization program, aiming to protect 7.7 million girls aged 9 to 14 years. This milestone in the fight against HPV-related cancers, especially cervical cancer, faces significant challenges due to high vaccine rejection rates driven by misinformation and cultural barriers. Despite the vaccine's proven safety and efficacy, uptake remains low. This communication highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive public health education campaign to address these barriers. Proposed strategies include leveraging digital health technologies, integrating HPV education into school curricula, training community health workers, engaging religious and cultural leaders, and launching media campaigns featuring personal narratives. Implementing these evidence-based interventions is crucial for dispelling myths, misconceptions, and skepticism surrounding HPV vaccines. This will enhance acceptance and uptake, ultimately reducing cervical cancer mortality in Nigeria.

The Influence of Mass Media on Tourist Behavior of People Living in a Country Bordering War

The Influence of Mass Media on Tourist Behavior of People Living in a Country Bordering War

Knocking Down the Pillars of Democracy in Europe: Politicisation of Science and Law in Response During COVID-19

Abstract The European Parliament has stressed on numerous occasions in public documents and speeches its non-conditional support for the principles of democracy, the rule of law, good governance, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Yet as the pandemic has developed these principles have not been defended by various member states of the EU, being traded for public health and public good. This presentation seeks to critically analyse the content of key rhetoric and narratives from the outbreak of the pandemic until the present time through public statements that shall be contrasted against the “unconditional principles” above within the theoretical frame of Situational Crisis Communication Theory. Attention shall be paid to key political officials and understand the role of mainstream mass media and social media as gatekeepers of the orthodoxy of knowledge established. Orthodoxy of knowledge is group consensus on defining and constructing ‘realities’ in the physical realm, even when the consensus is coerced. Given the increasing lack of scientific debate, which is a fundamental element of good scientific practice, and the use of heavy handed and largely unsuccessful responses to the virus (such as lockdowns, vax passports and vaccination campaigns), Europe (not only) is in a precarious position in terms of its societal principles and practice. Crisis management is expediently rushed through face of fear and time constraint based upon a lack of consideration for the consequences and long-term effects, some of which are already emerging but being silenced. Hence a creeping crisis of significant psychological and physical impact is in the making.

The effects of refugees’ emotional tears on felt emotions and helping behaviors

Tearful faces are frequent in mass media portraits of refugees, but the consequences of such depictions for different kinds of intergroup helping remain poorly understood. While existing research suggests that individuals tend to be more willing to support those who display tears, the impact of emotional tears on tangible helping behavior, such as monetary donations, has not been examined. Understanding these dynamics could have significant implications for fundraising strategies employed by civil society organizations. Across three experiments relying on nation-wide panel data (N = 2647) and a quasi-experimental citizen science study (N = 191) conducted in the Netherlands, we tested the effects of refugees’ tearful (vs. non-tearful) expressions on people’s emotional reactions, intentions to offer refugees both dependency- and autonomy-oriented help, as well as actual helping behavior (i.e., money donated to an organization supporting refugees). Data from three online experiments unveiled a positive relationship between exposure to emotional tears and both dependency- and autonomy-oriented intentions to help, as well as donation behavior (in Study 4, two initiatives encompassing both dependency- and autonomy-oriented help), via felt compassion. Across all studies, the visual representations of refugees with tears consistently resulted in more helping intentions and donations indirectly via the perceived sadness of the refugee(s) and the subsequent felt compassion. Our findings illuminate critical questions regarding visual representations of refugees that might motivate solidarity. They also encourage future collaborative research at the convergence of art, social and emotion science, and activism. Our research also provides a platform for initiating fundraising campaigns aimed at generating resources to support initiatives focused on sharing the narratives of displaced individuals and empowering the refugee community.

The Anticolonial Turn in Journalism and the Media in Pre-Independence India: How Newspaper Coverage by Foreign and Indian Newspapers of the Champaran, Dandi, and Dharasana Movements Made Gandhi a Household Name

ABSTRACT This article argues that the role played by the print media in India’s anticolonial struggle was a pivotal point of departure in the episteme of postcolonial histories—one that provided an impetus and guiding light to similar struggles worldwide, a position often ignored by Eurocentric academia studying media historiographies. It is based on extensive reviews of newspaper archives from the northeastern and northwestern states of Bihar and Gujarat in India, as well as archival review of the British press, and it outlines the coverage of Gandhi’s interventions in the two states that ultimately resulted in nationwide mobilization. The authors argue that the journalistic tradition of anti-colonial protest that developed in India provided an impetus to the advancement of anticolonial sentiments and the movement as a whole. This was supplemented in some measure by the more radical members of the British press, while the mainstream British press remained committed to the colonial project.

Correlations Among Appearance Satisfaction, Self-esteem, and Satisfaction with Learning Among College Student

This study aims to examine how appearance satisfaction, self-esteem, and learning satisfaction affect one another among college students. It also seeks to find ways to develop programs in communities and schools that can enhance all three aspects together, while collecting crucial data to support these initiatives. To achieve this, a survey was conducted with 160 college students from Daejeon and Chungcheongnam-do. Before starting the survey, the study’s purpose was explained, and it was administered only to those who consented to participate. The analysis of correlations among appearance satisfaction, self-esteem, and learning satisfaction revealed that factors related to appearance satisfaction—such as self-satisfaction, satisfaction with others’ perception, and satisfaction with mass media—are significantly positively associated with self-esteem factors, including personal, family, and social self-esteem. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between appearance satisfaction and learning satisfaction. Additionally, personal, family, and social self-esteem were all significantly positively correlated with learning satisfaction. These findings suggest a strong connection among appearance satisfaction, self-esteem, and learning satisfaction. It is anticipated that the study results will provide foundational data for developing programs aimed at enhancing these aspects among college students.

An analysis of the role of disinformation in elections

Electoral disinformation poses a significant threat to democratic processes, particularly in politically polarised environments like Zimbabwe. This paper examines the efficacy of the CITE project, a six-month high-impact initiative aimed at countering electoral disinformation during the August 2023 plebiscite. The primary objective was to mitigate the impact of disinformation on citizen participation by training citizens and community journalists to identify, flag, and combat misinformation. Methodologically, the study employed a qualitative exploratory approach, including workshops, social media campaigns, and a systematic desk review of existing literature and primary data sources. Key findings indicate that the project successfully raised awareness about disinformation, reaching over 100,000 people on Facebook with a campaign debunking election boycott rumours. However, the initiative faced limitations such as poor internet connectivity in rural areas and resistance from political actors benefiting from disinformation. The study underscores the importance of tailored strategies for different media platforms and highlights the efficacy of infographics and low-literacy data packaging methods in building trust. The research also identifies the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration and the potential of AI and machine learning in detecting disinformation. The significance of this work lies in its contribution to understanding the dynamics of disinformation in electoral processes and its practical implications for enhancing media literacy and democratic engagement. By comparing Zimbabwe's challenges and solutions with those of other countries, the study offers valuable insights for developing robust counter-disinformation strategies globally.

The post-digital literary journal: Media and funding implications

Literary journals are post-digital publications where digital and print media blend and shape one another. They play an important role in Australian literary culture but rely on funding to survive. Recent discourse about funding Australian literary journals has been characterised by debates about publication media – print and digital. With the upcoming establishment of a new body for writing in Australia, ‘Writers Australia’, this study examines literary journals’ relationships with these media, how editors’ use of these media affects the operations and economics of their publications and the field as a whole. The study finds that federal project funding is unsuited to the type of work that literary journals do, as well as evidence of an increasingly entrenched two-tier field, where journals with operational backing from institutions like universities are more competitive than their smaller, unsupported counterparts in obtaining existing funding. While digital publication has many advantages for literary journals, skill shortages in digital publishing, marketing and data analysis limit the scope of some journals to demonstrate their reach and effectiveness. This study finds that print publication remains important, particularly for writers, and that the community-building capacity of literary journals is a highly significant contribution which, while not evidenced on the page or screen, should be given weight in assessments of journals’ success.

Coupled information-epidemic spreading with consideration of self-isolation in the context of mass media

Modern social media can facilitate the diffusion of epidemic-related information during pandemics, thereby enhancing individual epidemic awareness. However, current research places less emphasis on self-isolation behaviors stimulated by such awareness, which are crucial for long-term epidemic response. Thus, we propose a coupled information-epidemic spreading model that incorporates the impact of mass media and self-isolation behaviors. Using the Microscopic Markov Chain Approach, we analyze the model, determine the epidemic threshold, and investigate parameters contributing to intertwined dynamics. Experiments show that self-isolation effectively raises the epidemic threshold and reduces outbreak scope. Besides, stronger mass media diffusion enhances self-isolation's inhibitory effect on epidemic spread. There exists a meta-critical point in information diffusion impact; only when exceeding it does information diffusion increase the epidemic threshold, but mass media presence can eliminate this point. This research underscores the critical role of mass media and self-isolation in controlling epidemics, offering valuable insights for prevention strategies.

Stakeholder Participation in The Revitalization of Peneleh Tourist Area in Surabaya City

This study aims to identify the form of stakeholder participation and collaboration in the revitalization of Peneleh tourism area to become an area of historical value and maintain the authenticity of the area. A qualitative method with stakeholder analysis was used to examine the participation and collaboration of stakeholders, including the government, local communities, academics, mass media and financial institutions. The analysis found that the active involvement of stakeholders through the Pentahelix model is crucial for successful revitalization. The results show that stakeholder participation in Peneleh revitalization includes the participation of ideas, skills, energy, property, and money. In addition, collaboration between stakeholders in idea development, decision making, human resource development, revitalization implementation and preservation of revitalization results play an important role in the revitalization of Peneleh. Begandring Soerabaia community, as one of the key players in this project, successfully collaborated with various parties including the city government, academics, pokdarwis, mass media, Bank Indonesia and international institutions such as Time Amsterdam. The conclusion of this study is that strong collaboration between various stakeholders, supported by active participation from the local community and support from other institutions, is the key to success in revitalizing a historical area such as Peneleh. This research also underlines the importance of a holistic approach, which includes physical, historical and cultural aspects in preserving historical heritage. Keywords: Stakeholder Participation, Form of Participation, Pentahelix, Stakeholder Analysis, Revitalization

The Gaza Crisis and the Indian Urdu Press

Urdu is widely spoken in India, and due to historical, demographic, and political reasons, it is commonly associated with the Indian Muslim population. India has a vibrant Urdu press represented in both electronic and print media that caters largely to the Muslim population and reflects their views. Issues related to Israel, Zionism, and Jews, in addition to other Middle Eastern developments, are widely covered in the Indian Urdu press due to religious and historical factors. The coverage also reflects the ignorance, biases, and prejudices that are widely held among South Asian Muslims regarding Jews, Zionism, and Israel, which at times acquire extremist and anti-Semitic overtones. The Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, and the Israeli military response have been widely covered and commented upon in the Indian Urdu press, reinforcing the established ideas of the oppressive Israeli state and the perpetual Palestinian victimhood. However, one witnesses certain nuances and a diversity of opinion within the Urdu press. A systematic content analysis of the Indian Urdu press and its coverage of the Gaza crisis provides an understanding of views held among a large section of the Muslim population in India toward the Israel–Hamas conflict, in particular, and toward the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, in general.

Maintaining Malay Culture amidst the Current of Globalization

This globalization has led to political, economic and cultural integration. Malay culture is now being hit by globalization. This is because many foreign cultures have been allowed to enter regions that have a Malay feel, both through print media and electronic media. With the fading of Malay culture, the identity of the Malay community has also faded, which is characterized by people who are innocent, polite, modest, and able to adapt to various cultures without letting go of their Malayness. The aim of this article is to explain the efforts that can be made to preserve Malay culture amidst the rapid flow of globalization. This paper uses library research research methods. The results of this research are that the process of preserving Malay culture must of course come from public awareness first, then it can be done by means of culture experience and culture knowledge.

Mediating Change: Pamphilus Gengenbach, Print Culture, and the Vernacular in Early Reformation Basel

The relationship between the Reformation movement and print media has long fascinated scholars, yet much of the focus has centered on renowned figures, often overlooking local lay protagonists. This article shifts the spotlight onto one such unsung figure: Pamphilus Gengenbach, a Basel writer, printer, and publisher. Gengenbach, a fervent supporter of political and religious reform, emerged as a leading advocate of Protestant thought in Basel. His aggressive promotion of the vernacular and his adept use of intertextual references to contemporary debates and events reveal a sophisticated grasp of print media’s potential beyond mere dissemination. Leveraging his experience as an author, printer, and publisher, Gengenbach engaged his audience effectively, translating and transmitting Protestant teachings with remarkable impact. This article asserts that Gengenbach’s strategic communication and local influence were instrumental in paving the way for the Basel Reformation, underscoring the vital role of grassroots actors in the Reformation’s success.

The influence of trekkers’ personal and subjective norms on their pro-environmental behaviors

The call for pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) is increasing amid the growing negative impact of human activity on the environment. Most studies in this domain have focused on the environmental impact of specific human behaviors, overlooking how these behaviors evolve over time. The purpose of this study is to elucidate how trekkers maintain and practice environmentally friendly behaviors in daily life. To achieve this goal, this study examined the influence of subjective norms and personal norms on daily PEBs and adopted environmental awareness as a mediating variable. This study recruited trekkers in Taiwan (n = 528) as the research subjects and employed structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses. The results showed that subjective norms, personal norms, and their interaction effects all indirectly influenced PEBs through environmental awareness. In particular, the influence of subjective norms was much greater than that of personal norms, indicating that people's behaviors are more significantly impacted by others' expectations than by their own personal beliefs. These findings not only highlighted the importance of subjective and personal norms in shaping PEBs but also revealed that the PEBs cultivated during trekking activities may extend to behaviors in daily life. Management implicationsThis study offers practical implications for management teams and practitioners at trekking destinations: they should promote daily PEBs and effective communication with trekkers. Since 2020, the number of trekkers in Taiwan has surged by 57%, resulting in significant environmental degradation. This increase can largely be attributed to insufficient staffing, as the overwhelming number of trekkers places additional burdens and stress on existing personnel. Therefore, it is essential to implement measures to regulate the number of trekkers in sensitive areas. Furthermore, the government should enhance recruitment efforts for mountain rangers to ensure adequate oversight and support.Trekking activities often take place in remote and sparsely populated mountainous areas, where the natural environment is relatively undisturbed. As a result, environmental management faces greater challenges in these regions. In this context, local governments should consider adopting nature-oriented recreation and tourism activation strategies through direct and indirect experiences. These could include formal and informal educational programs and services, mass media, internet resources, and interpretive programs. Such initiatives aim to enhance human understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of nature, thereby shaping personal norms and subjective norms while fostering environmental awareness.In terms of durable outcomes, it is recommended that destination management agencies and environmental protection organizations invite trekkers to participate in destination environmental management and provide a platform for expression, organize public welfare activities (such as mountain garbage cleanup, and tree planting), and provide spiritual incentives and economic rewards, durable outcomes for travelers and continued PEB (Liu et al., 2024).

Dissemination of Information on Investor Attention, Firm Size, and Year-End Market Dynamics: An Empirical Study of the Indian Stock Market

This paper investigates the dissemination and presence of the “Year-End Market Surge”, commonly referred to as the “Christmas Rally”, in the Indian stock market. In developed nations, this phenomenon describes a notable increase in stock prices typically observed during the last week of December and the first two trading days of January. Recent reports in the popular press suggest that a similar trend has been witnessed in the Indian stock market over recent years. However, there remains a lack of systematic research on this subject. Therefore, this study rigorously examines whether this market surge, which poses a potential challenge to the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH), is observable in the Indian context. Furthermore, the paper explores the dissemination of firm-specific trading patterns to identify characteristics of companies that have consistently delivered positive returns during this period over multiple years. The findings reveal that larger stock portfolios in the Indian market consistently benefit from the Year-End Market Surge effect, delivering higher abnormal returns compared to smaller portfolios. These results provide important insights into the role of firm size in capturing the benefits of this seasonal market anomaly.

Economic Improvement and MSME Empowerment Through Digitalization of Marketing and The Concept of Syar'i Capital in Sontang Village

Economic Improvement and MSME Empowerment through Marketing Digitalization and Syar'i Capital Concept in Sontang Village. Sontang village, known as the center of fishing activities and salai fish production, faces conventional marketing challenges and fuel constraints that are not in line with syar'i principles. This Community Service activity aims to improve the economy and empower MSMEs through marketing digitalization strategies and the application of the concept of syar'i capital. Participatory methods are used to actively involve communities in decision-making processes and identify common solutions. Through lectures, discussions, and business training, it is hoped that the people of Sontang Village can stimulate their creativity in developing the economy. Digital marketing strategies, including the use of mass media and business training, will increase product visibility and public knowledge about digitalization. The importance of the concept of syar'i capital is conveyed through counseling, with a focus on avoiding the MAGHRIB principle. The ultimate goal of this activity is the realization of market expansion and an increase in MSME income, along with a just economy in accordance with Islamic principles. With the hope that this approach will have a positive impact, this abstract summarizes efforts to improve the welfare of the people of Sontang Village through economic innovation based on Islamic values.

Artificial intelligence and the digitalization of finance in Latin America: evidence from Brazil

ABSTRACT For decades, the data-centric digital circuits of global finance have been driving financial markets toward algorithmic management. The penetration of algorithms into finance dates back to the 1980s, well before becoming a significant trend in Internet and social media companies. AI is now considered the new frontier of this process. This paper examines Brazil, the most important financial center in Latin America, as a case study to explore Machine Learning applications in capital markets, providing new evidence on the penetration of automated trading systems in the region. Grounded in a historical overview of the digitalization of capital markets in Brazil, the paper draws on the STS definition of infrastructures and the political economy of digitalized finance to analyze AI as an emerging financial infrastructure. Beyond its physical and material aspects, this approach also addresses how digitalization and AI relate to financialization and the emergence of new financial risks.

A cross-sectional study of knowledge and stated practices regarding HIV among truck drivers in Basirhat health district, West Bengal

Background: HIV is an important public health problem throughout the world as well as in India and truck drivers are a vulnerable population. A cross-sectional study was designed aiming to assess the knowledge and stated practices of truck drivers regarding HIV transmission, and prevention of its associated factors in Basirhat Health District, West Bengal. Methods: This study employed a rigorous cross-sectional design to assess the knowledge and practices of 111 truck drivers in Basirhat Health District, West Bengal, regarding HIV. Participants were selected using simple random sampling from parking zones and Dhaba. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Results: The study uncovered intriguing insights into the knowledge and practices of truck drivers regarding HIV/AIDS. While the majority of participants had heard about HIV/AIDS, around half of the participants demonstrated good knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Surprisingly, misconceptions prevailed, including the belief that mosquitoes can transmit HIV. Participants displayed limited knowledge of AIDS symptoms and preventive measures, with uncertainty surrounding free HIV testing locations and free treatment availability. Alarmingly, a staggering 88.29% of truck drivers had never sought HIV testing, citing various reasons. Conclusions: The study underscores the necessity of targeted interventions to address knowledge gaps and promote safe sexual practices among truck drivers in the Basirhat Health District. Health workers and media campaigns can play a pivotal role in increasing awareness and prevention of HIV/AIDS among this population.

Analysis of the Effect of Sharia Bank Financing and Investment on Economic Growth through Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Credit

This study seeks to examine the impact of sharia bank financing and investment on economic growth in Indonesia by analyzing lending to micro, small, and medium companies (MSMEs) utilizing time series data. This research characterizes economic growth through the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) for each province in Indonesia. This study utilizes secondary data from 2011 to 2022 sourced from BPS, OJK, and Bank Indonesia, analyzed using the Path Application. This report assesses the direct and indirect funding of Islamic banks and their involvement in economic growth via Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) credit. The research findings indicate that the Islamic bank funding variable does not significantly influence the MSME credit variable; nevertheless, the investment variable does have a substantial impact on the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) credit variable.

Investigation of the Impact of New Media on Movie Advertising

As the landscape of mass entertainment shifts towards new media—characterized by short-form videos, interactive content, and decentralized platforms—the traditional film industry is undergoing significant changes in its advertising strategies. This paper investigates the impact of new media on movie advertising by analyzing how digital channels, such as social media and streaming services, have transformed traditional promotional methods. Utilizing reliable secondary sources, this research explores various aspects of new media’s influence on film marketing, focusing on case studies like “Avengers: Endgame” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” to highlight effective strategies. The findings reveal that new media offers unprecedented opportunities for audience engagement through dynamic and interactive content, surpassing the effectiveness of traditional methods. Social media campaigns, marked by high levels of engagement, viral content, and influencer collaborations, have proven particularly successful in driving film visibility and box office success. The research concludes that future studies should incorporate emerging platforms like TikTok, which present novel ways to connect with younger demographics and create shareable content. By understanding the evolving trends and integrating new media strategies, filmmakers can optimize their advertising approaches to enhance audience reach and maximize commercial success.