Public Communication Research Articles

ROLE OF MEDIA IN HEALTH AWARENESS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the essential role of media in disseminating public health information, influencing health behaviors, and combating misinformation. This paper explores how media channels—traditional and digital—shaped public understanding and attitudes toward health guidance during the pandemic. It examines the successes and challenges faced by media in conveying accurate information, promoting preventive practices, and supporting vaccination campaigns. The analysis also addresses how misinformation spread through social media created obstacles for public health efforts. Finally, this paper offers recommendations on enhancing media strategies in future health crises to improve public health communication and outcomes.

Hype in the Public Communication of Science-Intensive Entrepreneurship: An Analysis of the Spanish Radio Show ‘Los Revolucionarios’

This paper investigates the phenomenon of hype in the public communication of science-intensive entrepreneurship. It analyses 70 episodes of the Spanish radio show ‘Los Revolucionarios’, encompassing the two complete seasons of emissions (2022–2024). It conducts a content analysis that aims to determine the main features of the companies whose technologies are showcased in ‘Los Revolucionarios’, to elucidate whether ‘Los Revolucionarios’ conveys a hyped representation of science-intensive entrepreneurship, and, finally, to disclose whether nationalist ideologies may underpin the content of the show. The main conclusion is that science-intensive entrepreneurship has been greatly ‘hyped’ in ‘Los Revolucionarios’. The primary indicator in this respect is that the frequency of mentions to benefits or advantages of the technologies showcased trebles the number of references to risks, threats or limitations. Results from other analytic categories lend further support to this conclusion. In turn, the analysis refutes our preliminary hypothesis that there might be a nationalist component underpinning the content of ‘Los Revolucionarios’, thus nuancing and qualifying the findings made in previous studies. The ultimate aim of this paper is to lay the groundwork for more theoretically and empirically oriented research that addresses the public communication of science and technology from a critical perspective.

Factors of Fake News Sharing in the Context of the Ukraine-Russia Conflict: The Effect of Suspicions About European Unions' Intentions.

This study examines the separate and joint effects of potential factors of fake news dissemination. A sample of 359 Romanian participants (61.3% female), aged between 18-79years (M = 45.01; SD = 15.69) filled questionnaires assessing their perceptions of conflict between European Union (EU) and Ukraine; fake news sharing, and various socio-demographic data. Our results revealed that the behaviour of sharing fake news is positively associated with age and more prevalent in men. Also, people who perceive a conflict between EU and Ukraine and thus suspect that behind the EU's consistent support for Ukraine lies a hidden interest are more inclined to spread fake news. In the female group, age was found to moderate the relationship between perceptions of conflict between EU and Ukraine and fake news sharing. We also discuss the relevance of our findings for public communication efforts aiming to mitigate the dissemination of fake news.

'Incense is the one that keeps the air fresh': indoor air quality perceptions and attitudes towards health risk.

Air pollution is of significant environmental and public health concern globally. While much research has historically focused on outdoor air pollution, indoor air pollution has been relatively under-explored despite its strong connection with health outcomes, particularly respiratory health. Studies on air pollution exposure mitigation consistently reveal a significant knowledge gap between the understanding of air pollution as a health risk among lay individuals and expert scientists. This study aimed to assess how people define and understand the concept of 'clean air' within their home setting. We adopted a mixed-methods approach which used a guided questionnaire designed to elicit both quantitative and qualitative data, collected as digital voice notes. The total sample (n = 40) comprised data from two socially different sites of science and non-science events. We compared whether the notion of clean air inside homes differs between these two different social contexts and how views and 'sense' of indoor air pollution are formed. The concept of 'place' facilitated fluidity in our explorative analysis. Insights allowed us to assess the extent to which context mediates individuals' perceptions of indoor air pollution and attitudes towards health risk. We found that individuals' insights were embodied in repetitive day-to-day activities (e.g. cleaning and cooking). Three key themes emerged (1) Stimulative Effects, (2) Contextual Conditions, and (3) Risk Attitudes. Sensory perceptions such as sight, smell and temperature primarily motivated participants to assess air quality inside their homes. These perceptions were shaped by contextual conditions, influencing how individuals perceived their health risk and were subsequently motivated to spend personal time considering or seeking information about household air pollution, or improving their home air quality. Our insights revealed that social, geographical, and contextual factors play a crucial role in individuals' understandings of indoor air pollution. These dimensions should be integrated into designs of effective public health risk communication strategies. Our findings highlight that common lay perceptions and practices intended to improve air quality may pose health risks. Therefore, risk communication about household air pollution must extend beyond objective information by considering contextual factors that shape how people interpret and respond to air quality issues. Not applicable.

Migration communication campaigns: towards a research agenda and open database

ABSTRACT Every year, government agencies, international organisations, and civil society associations produce public communications campaigns designed to inform, persuade, and motivate behaviour regarding numerous facets of migration. Despite their increasing ubiquity, resources, and – possibly – impact, as well as the profound scientific relevance in understanding them, such campaigns remain relatively understudied and existing research is disjointed across various disciplines. This article takes three steps to propose and initiate a unified, interdisciplinary research agenda on migration communication campaigns (MCCs). First, we overview the need for a research agenda based on their increased substantive importance and scientific interest. Second, we outline what such a research agenda should look like, proposing six research themes. Third, we contribute to this proposed research agenda in two ways: with a typology of MCCs and by presenting our open-access, collaborative database to kick-start more systematic research in this field, including theoretical justifications for each variable. The database includes 301 MCCs conducted in 32 European countries between 2012 and 2022. We invite submissions of all types of MCCs globally to create a bridge between communities of academics, policymakers, and communicators.

Fuel, Fear, and Fault: Mass Media and Cartel Criticism During the German Coal Crisis of 1900

This article examines the role of the mass media in driving anticartel debates during a coal crisis in Germany in 1900. Threatening the fuel supplies of millions of people, the nationwide energy shortage marked the beginning of the anticartel movement, adding a decisive thrust to antimonopoly sentiment toward the cartelized Ruhr coal industry. While hitherto overlooked, this symbolic chapter of German antimonopoly history was profoundly shaped by daily newspapers, a medium that revolutionized public communication during this period. By cross-referencing newspaper articles with records of the coal industry, this paper investigates how newspapers raised public concern for the fuel shortage and thereby forged narratives blaming the coal industrialists as well as how the coal producers responded to the ever-intensifying public scrutiny. As such, this study would serve to identify the mass media as a key determinant in the broader history of cartels and cartel politics in the twentieth century.

Implementation outcomes of disaster risk reduction (DRR) policy in public facilities (PFs): Aceh perspective, Indonesia

PurposeAceh province has established various infrastructure and regulations related to disaster risk and management after the Indian Ocean Tsunami (IOT) hit the province. Hence, this study investigates the implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Public Facilities (PFs) in Banda Aceh municipality using implementation outcome variables (acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, compliance, implementation cost, coverage and sustainability).Design/methodology/approachQualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and document reviews, were applied to collect data for this study. The data were then analysed thematically using NVivo 12 software.FindingsThe lack of public communication regarding DRR in PFs to all involved stakeholders resulted in poor acceptability, adoption, coverage and compliance with the policy implementation among public facilities’ chiefs, owners or managers. Additionally, they were reluctant to implement DRR plans and activities within their facilities due to limited DRR funds.Practical implicationsThis study’s results can contribute to reviewing the policy and practices of Aceh government authorities and other involved stakeholders to improve policy implementation of DRR activities comprehensively across eight groups of public facilities in Banda municipality, other districts in Aceh province, and local areas in Indonesia. Further, the methods used in this study to assess DRR regulations’ progress towards the eight implementation outcome variables can be applied widely to other settings.Originality/valueNo research was found on examining the policy implementation of DRR in PFs in Aceh province, which motivated the author to conduct this work.

Putative risk and resiliency factors after an augmented training program for preventing posttraumatic stress injuries among public safety personnel from diverse sectors

ABSTRACT Mental health disorders are particularly prevalent among public safety personnel (PSP). Emotional Resilience Skills Training (ERST) is a cognitive behavioural training program for PSP based on the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (i.e. Unified Protocol). The current study was designed to assess whether ERST is associated with reduced putative risk factors for mental disorders and increased individual resilience. The PSP-PTSI Study used a longitudinal prospective sequential experimental cohort design that engaged each participant for approximately 16 months. PSP from diverse sectors (i.e. firefighters, municipal police, paramedics, public safety communicators) completed self-report measures of several putative risk variables (i.e. anxiety sensitivity, fear of negative evaluation, pain anxiety, illness and injury sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, state anger) and resilience at three time points: pre-training (n = 191), post-training (n = 103), and 1-year follow-up (n = 41). Participant scores were statistically compared across time points. Participants reported statistically significantly lower scores on all putative risk variables except pain anxiety, and statistically significantly higher resilience from pre- to post-training. Changes were sustained at 1-year follow-up. The results indicate that ERST is associated with reductions in several putative risk variables and improvement in resilience among PSP.

The Efficacy of Open Performance Review and Appraisal System on Teachers’ Work Performance in Tanzania. A Case of Selected schools of Vwawa, Iyula and Msangano Secondary Schools in Mbozi District

This study mainly sought to determine the effectiveness of the Open Performance Review and Appraisal System (OPRAS) on Teachers' work performance in the selected secondary schools of Vwawa, Iyula and Msangano in Mbozi district council. The study was also driven by the following main objective, which includes; how the practice of OPRAS has improved the work performance of secondary school teachers in Mbozi district council. A mixed research approach both qualitative and quantitative approach with 93 respondents was employed. Questionnaires and interviews were used to obtain data. Quantitative data was analyzed through descriptive statistics where inferences were presented in the form of frequencies and percentiles. Qualitative information was also analyzed through thematic and content analysis and presented in the form of concepts and narrations. Although Mbozi district has been effectively implementing OPRAS for the past 15 years, active data show that the district has a stable progression performance rate of 30.1 % since 2018 to date. The key variable that was tested was increased teacher commitment. Considerably, this has been established due to constant growth rates of indicators of performance against the performance of teachers from 2018 to 2023. The study recommended that the government should set and engage a realistic budget for training, and empowerment workshops and highly capacitate the Office of the public communications for the purpose of intensifying communication and feedback in public organizations including secondary schools

Exploring how to widen the acceptability of public health interventions: a systematic review protocol

IntroductionHealth interventions that require significant change to individual lifestyles or social norms can pose a challenge for widespread public acceptability and uptake. At the same time, over the last two...

Research on the Technology and Application of Remote Wireless Transmission of Digital Image Signal

Abstract. With the increasing demand for remote real-time high-quality video transmission, especially in the context of large area applications of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and remote location instant live broadcast, traditional wired transmission methods have been surpassed by digital transmission methods due to their superior performance in image quality, transmission distance and delay. Therefore, this study focuses on the application of digital image wireless transmission in remote scenarios such as UAVs, including key digital transmission technologies such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM), as well as public network link communication technologies such as 4G and 5G, by means of a literature study and a case study. It also analyzes the development of WiFi, Lightbridge and OcuSync graphics transmission systems using DJI brand products as case studies. The analysis shows that digital image wireless transmission, especially COFDM and advanced proprietary systems such as DJI's OcuSync, has significant advantages in terms of transmission distance, interference immunity, encryption techniques, and reusability. However, factors such as building obstruction, frequency interference, and weather conditions can affect the transmission quality. To mitigate these challenges, solutions are proposed, such as auxiliary signal enhancement systems, adaptive frequency hopping and software-defined radio technologies.

Defining vulnerabilities and enabling community engagement in epidemics preparedness: the CAVE model from Austria.

During the COVID-19 outbreak the transdisciplinary research project CAVE (Community Engagement and Vulnerability Assessment in Epidemics) investigated perceptions and practicability of public health communication among stakeholders of care and social facilities in Austria. It aimed at finding accurate definitions of vulnerability in the context of epidemics and at developing operational models for engagement of vulnerable groups in co-creating epidemic response mechanisms. Transdisciplinary methods included semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and desk reviews as well as spatial analysis and composite indicator-based mapping methods. Informants and participants in the community engagement phase represented clients as well as middle and lower management levels of Austrian care and social facilities for older persons and persons with cognitive impairments, persons depending on mobile healthcare services, homeless people, and socially deprived communities. A narrow definition of vulnerability as well as missing strategies for participation and community engagement limited communication with stakeholders and the implementation of protective measures. An inclusive definition of vulnerability beyond medical and physical indicators should be employed to account for social, psychological, and emotional aspects contributing to a higher risk of being affected by epidemics. The CAVE model provides a multi-level definition of vulnerability that allows for participatory engagement in co-creating adapted crisis response measures. We suggest policymakers and health authorities to consider a broader definition of vulnerability and to commit to pro-active engagement with stakeholders representing these sectors. This requires the establishment and maintenance of communication structures as well as political recognition of civic participation in the creation and implementation of epidemic response measures.

Modeling of network public opinion communication based on social combustion theory under sudden social hot events.

Sudden social hot events spread rapidly in the Internet era, which can easily cause group behaviors. Therefore, studying the law of public opinion communication has important theoretical and practical significance for controlling public opinion. This paper constructs the DBUS (Divorced-Burning-Unburning-Stable) model according to the social combustion theory deduced from the analogy of natural combustion phenomena. This paper comprehensively considers the influence of individual characteristics and external environment on the dissemination of online public opinion, introduces indicators such as individuals' self-awareness ability, authority to reflect individual differences, and takes the surrounding individual influence as an external environment factor. Through simulations, we find that (1) the speed of public opinion communication and the dissipation speed are related to cognitive ability, conformity and the network structure; (2) the credibility of the government and the media and the transparency of the information released are the most important factors affecting the scale of public opinion communication; In addition, the rationality and effectiveness of the model established in this paper are verified by an example.

Lifetime prevalence of questionable health behaviors and their psychological roots: A preregistered nationally representative survey.

A growing body of evidence suggests that questionable health behaviors- not following medical recommendations and resorting to non-evidence based treatments-are more frequent than previously thought, and that they seem to have strong psychological roots. We thus aimed to: 1) document the lifetime prevalence of intentional non-adherence to medical recommendations (iNAR) and use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) in Serbia and 2) understand how they relate to 'distal' psychological factors-personality traits and thinking dispositions, and 'proximal' factors-a set of beliefs and cognitive biases under the term 'irrational mindset'. In this preregistered cross-sectional study on a nationally representative sample (N = 1003), we observed high lifetime prevalence of iNAR (91.3%) and TCAM (99.2%). Irrational beliefs, especially magical health beliefs and medical conspiracy theories, were the strongest predictors of TCAM. They also mediated the relation between Disintegration/lower cognitive reflectiveness and TCAM. High Disintegration, and low Conscientiousness predicted iNAR directly, whilst negative experiences with the healthcare system facilitated both types of questionable health practices. The established psychological profile of people prone to questionable health behaviors and the fact they can be tracked to negative experiences with the system can be used to tailor public health communications.

Abordagens teóricas e definições mínimas na pesquisa em Comunicação Pública: construindo o conceito de Comunicação Pública de Estado

Public communication is a rapidly developing scientific and professional field. However, the perception that it remains a concept under construction persists. To elucidate its definition, this study seeks to recognize and systematize the contributions of Brazilian research on public communication. The literature review found three aspects that delimit the area: the agents promoting communication, the content and production ethos, and the communication channels. Such aspects constitute minimum requirements for the concept of state public communication, which, in turn, includes a normative-democratic dimension that enables participation, transparency, accountability, defense of social rights, and governance; and an institutional dimension related to links and trust in institutions and democracy.

Comunicação pública nos municípios brasileiros: canais, serviços e atendimento ao cidadão

How does the municipal public administration communicate to citizens in Brazil? Based on this research question, this study overviews remote communicational services from the city halls in the 5,570 Brazilian municipalities following data from the Municipal Basic Information Survey in 2019 and other investigations about the use of internet in the country. Its establishes a dialogue between public communication and the municipality. This study localizes gaps the public administration must address in its interface with the population.

El efecto tabla redonda comunicación y política pública

The construction of public policy, in addition to political action, is communicative action. As a mechanism that complies with and gives dynamism to the principle of publicity and as an exercise in public communication that admits agreements, consensuses and commitments, it organizes and gives character to citizen participation. The “round table” effect uses metaphor to refer to the kind of broad, horizontal and inclusive conversation that this democratic exercise requires, both in public deliberation and in direct spaces of participation.

Comunicação pública, emoções e afetos: estratégias de comunicação de universidades federais no Instagram

This study reflects on public communication based on the platform society. It analyzes the discourse of Brazilian federal public universities on Instagram by focusing on strategies for capturing emotion and forming emotion in persuasive speech. Results found the mobilization of affections around the speaker (ethos) and the audience (pathos) without dispensing with public communication information (logos).

Cultura, comunicação pública e cidadania: práticas de deliberação cidadã no campo das artes/cultura (Brasil-Canadá)

This study describes a stage of research linked to the international cooperation plan that investigates practices of citizen deliberation and public communication in municipal management planning documents and citizen mobilization practices — such as the culture and tourism plans in Brazil (Salvador and Belo Horizonte) and Canada (Montreal) — and online public consultations. It presupposes conflicting public administrations interests as sometimes they aim to implement public policies with a view to citizens, such as those to promote Arts/Culture and, on the other hand, strictly mercantile practices toward tourists and the construction of cities merchandise by place branding.

“That’s not how abortions happen”: a qualitative study exploring how young adults navigate abortion misinformation in the post-Roe era

BackgroundMisinformation about abortion is widespread and was exacerbated by the overturn of Roe v Wade. Young adults are among those facing the most direct impacts of new abortion restrictions and...