BEA2025

Moderator: Ahmed El Gody, Orebro University
Hussein Amin, American University in Cairo; Case Study of Facebook in Egypt
Rasha Allam, American University in Cairo; Navigating Change: Assessing Social Media's Role in Reshaping News Distribution and Revenue Streams
Ahmed El Gody, Orebro University and Mahitab Ezz El Din, Linnaeus University; Clicks, Shares, and the Decline of Serious Journalism: A Content Analysis of Egyptian Newspapers in the Digital Age
Salma El Ghetany, American University in Cairo; Fast Moving Consumer News (FMCN): Context Deficit in News Consumption Among Younger Generations"

Moderator: Judith Chandra Clark, University of Alabama
Open Paper Competition
Open 1st Place Paper: Revisiting news work in 2024: Technology use by corporate owners and its impact on local television newsroom labor; Carey L. Higgins-Dobney, University of Kentucky
Open 2nd Place Paper: Stance and Mediated Identity Construction of Joe Biden in Televised News Discourse on 2024 Presidential Election Campaign; Shreyoshi Ghosh, College of Media, Communication and Information, University of Colorado Boulder; Jonathan Behr; Millicent Elewosi, University of Colorado Boulder
Debut Paper Competition
The Infrastructure of Trust: Examining the Role of Philanthropy, Social Media, and Audience Perceptions in News Consumption; Azade Asadi Damavandi, Bowling Green State University; Ghazale Asadi Damavandi, Boston University

Moderator: Rasha Allam, American University in Cairo
Panelists:
Rasha Allam, American University in Cairo; Media Perspectives and Narratives of Gaza- Israel War
This paper presents a content analysis of online news coverage of the Gaza-Israel conflict, focusing on both Arab and international news websites. By examining the narratives, themes, and the frames used, this study aims to show the different narratives that each platform uses in portraying the conflict. The findings reveal interesting outcomes on the use of language, story formats, and the use of multimedia reporting and underlying biases that may influence public perception. This study highlights the impact that the different narratives of coverage might have on audience understanding. The study aims to highlight the role of media in shaping narratives about the Gaza-Israel war contributing to discussion towards media responsibility and the media’s role in shaping public opinion.

Hussein Amin, American University in Cairo; Transnational Media Coverage of the War on Gaza
Abstract - This presentation will assess transnational news television media coverage of the war on Gaza. It examines unique challenges the journalists face when trying to cover this war? How does coverage of this war differ from coverage of other issues? What are the differences between Arab transnational news media coverage during the war on Gaza and the Western transnational media?

Nadine El Sayed, The American University in Cairo; This presentation will address how the same news agencies' coverage of the war on Gaza differed between their English and their Arabic versions (For example, BBC, CNN and AlJazeera), especially during the first month of the war.

Salma El Ghetany, American University in Cairo; The Civil War in Sudan No One is Talking About: A Case Study for Media of the Global North
This presentation will explore the critical gaps in media coverage of Sudan's ongoing civil war. By conducting a content analysis of select major media outlets in the Global North, the presentation will assess the extent to which this conflict has been overlooked or under-reported, sometimes at the expense of more coverage of other major conflicts such as the war on Ukraine or the war on Gaza. The analysis will highlight the media's role in shaping public perception and examine the implications of such coverage—or lack thereof—on global awareness. This study aims to provoke a discussion on the responsibilities of international media in reporting on conflicts in regions like Sudan.

News Division
Comparison Study of Broadcast Journalism Curriculum and News Reporter/Anchor Job Posts; Kevin Hull, University of South Carolina; Minhee Choi, Texas Tech University

From Ukraine to Gaza: Watching One War Displace Another on the U.S. Cable News Agenda; Kenneth Richard Blake, Middle Tennessee State University School of Journalism and Strategic Media; Jun Zhang, Middle Tennessee State University; Jason Bernard Reineke, Middle Tennessee State University

Radio & Audio Media Division
State of commercial radio post-COVID-19: Optimism in the face of continuous industry evolution; Kyle J. Miller, Northwest Missouri State University; Christina C. Smith, Georgia College

Local Podcasts Should Not Be Overlooked: An Interview with Matt Peiken, Host and Creator of The Overlook Podcast; Chad Whittle; Georgia College & State University

Aliens on the Radio: From Science Fiction to Contested Facts in the Early Years of Paranormal Radio, 1947-1972; William Evans; University of Alabama

Sports Division
Image Repair Differences between Human and AI-generated Messaging: The Case of the Chicago White Sox; Kevin Meyer, Illinois State University; Peter Smuddle, Illinois State University; Joseph R. Blaney, Illinois State University; Stephen Hunt, Illinois State University; Lance Lippert, Illinois State University; Megan Hopper, Illinois State University & Roy Magnuson, Illinois State University

More than “sitting on their backside?” A visual framing analysis of Esports podcasts; Rich Johnson, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University; Ryan Broussard; Lindsey A. Sherrill, University of North Alabama; Marcus Funk, Sam Houston State University

Interactive Media & Emerging Technologies Division
Beyond the Viewer: Exploring the Effects of Parasocial Relationships on Twitch Livestreamers; Ashley Adamian, Valdosta State University & Kisun Kim, Columbus State University

There is an ongoing negative view of journalism that has been festering on the fringes but has gone mainstream. This panel provides a combination of perspectives from academics and practicing journalists to address the implications of these negative public perceptions in the wake of the 2024 election. This panel continues a conversation started at BEA On Location 2023.
Moderator: Teresa (Terry) Filipowicz, Pima Community College
Panelists: David Deeley, University of North Florida
Robert N. Spicer, Millersville University of Pennsylvania