Abdulaziz Al Nazer

COMM 240 Communication Research Methods, 02

Assignment 4: Annotated Bibliography
02/19/2016

Bachmann, I., & Harlow, S. (2012). Opening the gates. Journalism Practice, 6(2), 217-232.
doi:10.1080/17512786.2011.622165
Newspapers have struggled to remain relevant in the digital age, to readers and contributors
alike. This article examines the migration towards the multimedia approach to communications,
and the advent of user-generated content. The study looked at nineteen Latin America and
determined that websites for the individual newspapers have begun to create a virtual newsroom
forum and affords readers a valued opportunity to exchange ideas and dialog with one another.
All of the outlets examined had social media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram,
which allow readers to comment on stories together, create their own content, and even tip off
reporters to new stories as they unfold. While the online content is common with photos, there is
less integration of hyperlinked videos, audio, and other communications medium, than might be
demonstrated by the same news users through social media channels. This of course gives rise to
the argument that user generated commentary, or even user generated news somehow impinges
upon the old-school qualities of journalism, and the gatekeeping function that the newsmakers
used to enjoy exclusively.

Boyle, K., & Zuegner, C. (2013). Magatweets: A content analysis of magazines' use of twitter.
Journal of Magazine & New Media Research, 14(2), 1-12.

In this article, the authors consider the impact of the social media outlet, Twitter, in the context of
magazine users from a grouping of magazines known to have a large legion of followers on
Twitter. The ensuing study determined that the number and frequency of Twitter followers was
not largely correlated with the number of tweets that particular publication chooses to publish.
The study also shows that magazines are more successful with Twitter in terms of interacting
with their user audience, than newspapers and other communications channels which also
employ Twitter to communicate with their audiences. As noted in the study, digital media has
continued to erode readership bases in traditional hard copy sectors including newspapers and
magazines. What was evident from the study is the fact that readers are not leaving print media
such as magazines wholesale, but instead are experiencing reader migration to mobile and digital
versions of the same. With respect to Twitter postings, the article confirmed that Twitter content
turns on the particular magazines subject matter niche.

Emery, S. L., Szczypka, G., Abril, E. P., Kim, Y., & Vera, L. (2014). Are you scared yet?
Evaluating fear appeal messages in tweets about the tips campaign. Journal of
Communication, 64(2), 278-295. doi:10.1111/jcom.12083
This article examines the impact of Tips from Former Smokers: in the CDCs $54 million
campaign nationwide regarding the deleterious long term effects of smoking. The approach
employed by the CDC in its campaign was one to promote strong, if not shocking evidence
grounded in fear, gruesome images, and testimonials. As demonstrated in the article, these tactics
not surprisingly, resulted in changes in behavior and attitudes of smokers. There has been
constant debate about the necessity of such shocking images and whether inciting fear was the
best tactic for long term change. The resulting study examined the Tips initiative related Twitter
messages and whether those tweets were indicative of acceptance or rejection of the campaign

message. Not surprisingly, the message was clear and in favor of readily demonstrating that the
fear inducing and reality inducing campaign was indeed effective, and that the rejection rate of
the scare message is far smaller, if not limited in scope entirely.

Park, H., Rodgers, S., & Stemmle, J. (2013). Analyzing health organizations' use of twitter for
promoting health literacy. Journal of Health Communication, 18(4), 410-425.
doi:10.1080/10810730.2012.727956
This study looks at the use of Twitter by health organizations for the purpose of promoting health
literacy. At issue is whether Twitter is an effective method for disseminating such information.
The study examined hundreds of Twitter messages and determined that much of the health
organizations messages were re-tweeted and/or repeated in one form or another, by readers. This
is indicative of the fact that the message was heard loud and clear by the intended audience, at
least through the Twitter venue. Non-profit organizations and community groups were far more
likely to take to Twitter for purposes of promoting health literacy, than for profit entities,
corporations, educational institutions, and/or government agencies. The most effective messages
were those that were disseminated in plain and simple language. The authors find this is
indicative of the need amongst for-profit or institutional entities to employ a more strategic
approach towards managing their social media messages and using social networking to their
advantage, in terms of ensuring that their exposure and message dissemination to the general
public is at an optimal level. Twitter is a very cost effective and convenient method for turning
out information in short digestible bursts. The content is limited in scope and length, and as a
result, far easier for people to absorb and retain in a relatively short period of time. As such, it
makes sense that this information is best dealt in brief, easier to understand soundbytes or
snippets. Whether the information communicated is urgent in nature or simply factually

important, Twitter is shown, at least in this study, to be an effective means of communication to a

wider reader base.

Zamora Medina, R., & Zurutuza Munoz, C. (2014). Campaigning on twitter: Towards
the personal style" campaign to activate the political engagement during the 2011
Spanish general elections. Comunicacin Y Sociedad, 27(1), 83-106.
This article absolutely affirms the importance and necessity of using social media in order to
communicate with constituents during political campaigns. The 2011 Spanish General Elections
were examined in terms of messaging and content output from politicians to their potential
constituents. Politicians have learned quickly that the use of social media is imperative as a cost
effect and immediately gratifying method of communicating with voters. While news and
television advertisements take a long time to conceive, produce, and expend, social media
outlets, like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can facilitate a candidates ability to communicate
directly with voters and to initiate critical conversations. For instance, Twitter provides an
opportunity to create a blog type of situation almost instantaneously and to give the reader real
time feedback in response to community issues and events. The impact on the elections and the
messages that candidates wish to impart is readily evidenced by results and by feedback volume
in terms of social media and other content. This is clearly a harbinger of trends to come and more
evidence of reliance on instant messaging capability to a large scale audience as being far more
critical than what one might be able to reach through traditional print or media advertisements
such as television or newspaper. To the extent that the citizenry can interact with their elected
officials and/or candidates on a real time basis, there is real opportunity for current issues to be
presented, discussed, and possibly even integrated into a campaign platform or other discussion.

By promoting user generated dialog and interaction with candidates, Twitter and other social
media outlets ensure a genuine connection with the popular voters.