BEA2025

The 2024 BEA Research Grant recipients share their work.
Jesus Ayala, California State University - Long Beach; Covering Uvalde: Understanding TV Journalists Trauma Response to Covering Mass Shootings
Tara Marie Mortensen, University of South Carolina; The Influence of Visual Media Editors on Visual News Representation
Chris Roberts, University of Alabama; Differences in character strengths and ethical concerns among emerging adults still working in broadcast news, and those who left the industry
Olivia Deneige Cohen, Temple University; What’s your story? The influence of podcasts & scientist narratives on public attitudes

Moderator: Bridget Rubenking, University of Central Florida
Debut Paper Competition
Debut 1st Place Paper: Vlog Community Building for Social Support on YouTube: A Social Capital Perspective; Hyang-Sook Kim, Towson University; Heaseung Jeong, Inha University; Munyoung Chung, Wilkes University; Youjeong Kim, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Debut 2nd Place Paper: “You Are Not A Sin”: A Textual Analysis Of LGBTQ+ Experiences In Africa; Lilian Oluchukwu Onianwa
Open Paper Competition
Open 1st Place Paper: The Battle between Face-to-Face and Virtual Meetings: Who Wins in the Hybrid World?; Candace Saunders-Grewe, Regent University
Open 2nd Place Paper: Depiction of AI in the Film Ex Machina; Michael Sinclair, Regent University

This panel examines the evolution of reality TV, from An American Family to Love Island, focusing on the shift from authentic family portrayals to highly produced entertainment. Panelists will discuss how casting has driven this change, with research revealing producers' preference for individuals with narcissistic and sociopathic traits, leading to high-conflict, compelling television. The conversation will explore how these casting choices reinforce timeless archetypes, such as the hero, villain, and manipulator, offering insights into the intersection of media production, audience engagement, and psychological manipulation in modern reality TV.
Moderator: Ines Petrovic Garcia, Volunteer State/Regent University
Panelists: Michael Sinclair, Regent University; Allen Babiarz-Lira, Vol State Community College/Regent University; Candace Saunders-Grewe, Regent University

Moderator: Michel M. Haigh, Texas State University
Research Presentations:
An Examination of Cross-Cutting Political Discourse during the 2024 Election Cycle; Jonathan Jay Beutel, Regent University
Generational Differences in News Values; Sarah Fisher, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Immigration as Etiological in the 2024 U.S. Election; Arthur D Soto-Vasquez, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

This panel explores the significance of replication studies in advancing research reliability and credibility. Drawing on experiences from our PhD class, we delve into challenges, methodologies, and outcomes associated with replicating prior studies. Panelists will discuss their findings, including adaptations made for diverse participant groups, the value of qualitative insights, and the role of replication in identifying methodological gaps. The session aims to inspire future researchers to embrace replication as a cornerstone of robust scholarship.
Moderator: Amanda Czuprynski, Regent University
Panelists: Holly Diane Linford, Regent University
Larissa Krenzer, Regent University
Stephen Perry, Regent University
Candace Saunders-Grewe, Regent University

Does Communication Dry Up When Drought is Declared: Conversations with Stakeholders about Water Scarcity
Cory L. Armstrong, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Sharon Baldinelli, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Puppets, Vaccines, and Public Health - Harnessing Theater to Combat Misinformation in Albania
Elira Canga, Arizona State University
Cody Hays, Arizona State University

This session fills you in on the ins and outs of getting published in a BEA journal.

This session will discuss the need for continued scholarly inquiry into the practical, theoretical, and ethical dimensions of AI integration in public relations and strategic communication, offering insights for future research directions and practical implications. AI technologies such as chatbots, predictive analytics, recommendation engines, and supply chain management are reshaping strategic communication practices, offering efficiency and automation in various tasks. Despite concerns about job displacement, AI presents opportunities for professionals to focus on strategic planning, human resource management, influential marketing communication, internal communication, or crisis communication. On the other hand, ethical considerations surrounding AI in public relations and strategic communication, including transparency, bias, and privacy, require careful attention to ensure responsible use.
Moderator: Jae-Hwa Shin, University of Southern Mississippi
Ethical Guidelines for Public Relations Practitioners Using AI; Chuqing Dong, Michigan state university
AI Ethics: Moving toward a Universal Paradigm; Shannon Bowen, University of South Carolina
The Impact of AI on Influencer Relations: Bridging Organizations and Online Communities; Guy Golan, Texas Christian University
How to Respond to Deepfake Videos and Potential Threats to Organizations; Andrea Hickerson, Ole Miss University
Ethical Considerations for Working with Influencers in the age of Artificial Intelligence; Brian G. Smith, University of Mississippi

Moderator: Yiyi Yang, The University of North Carolina Wilmington

Algorithmic Intersectionality: Decolonizing AI Development Through Critical Social Theory; Atira B.E. Pressley, Regent University

Comparing Enjoyment, Empathy, and Trust in AI-Based and Human Translation: A Study of User Perceptions; Hyungseok Jang, Ball State University

Female Frames: A Content Analysis of News Media Portrayals of Women Accused of Violent Crimes; Haleigh Brooke Carter, Harding University; Jim Miller, Harding University

Forecasting Through The Lens of Bias: Exploring Gender, Race, and Appearance-Based Discrimination in Broadcast Meteorology; Tabitha Ann Bartoe, Regent University

Integrating AI in Public Relations Programs: Exploring Global Capability Framework (GCF) in Saudi Universities; Sara Alatmi, University of Colorado Boulder; Abdulqader Mahmoud Abdulbari, King Khalid University

Navigating the Controversies Surrounding LGBTQIA+ Influencers and Major Brands Endorsements; Kelsey Lynn Zook, Bowling Green State University

The Glass Ceiling in Cyberspace: How Online Harassment Affects Women in Sports Broadcasting; Kira Faith Fullington, Middle Tennessee State University; Christine C. Eschenfelder, Middle Tennessee State University

The Impact of Social Media on The Traditional Advertising Business Model and Content Format of TV Channel; Rania Sultan Sultan, American university in Cairo; Rasha Allam, American University in Cairo

A Cross-Cultural Critical Discourse Analysis of AI Representation in Egyptian and USA Drama; Nihal Alaqabawy, University of Colorado Boulder & Sara Alatmi, University of Colorado Boulder

Gen Z’s Social Media Choices in the 2024 Election: The Impact of Platform Owners’ Personalities; Dawson Henry Wagner, Kansas State University

The purpose of this panel is to explain our exploration of the impact of separating from technology while conducting ethnographic observations, with a specific focus on a university campus. By examining the observer's experience without technological aids, this research aims to uncover the challenges and advantages of media-free research.
Moderator: Michael Sinclair, Regent University
Panelists: Allen Babiarz-Lira, Vol State Community College/Regent University; Ines Petrovic Garcia, Volunteer State/Regent University; Klaire Elissa Smith, Regent University; Larissa Krenzer, Regent University; Holly Diane Linford, Regent University; AMANDA CZUPRYNSKI, Regent University

Beyond the Virtual World: Replicating Research on Parasocial Bonds in the Anime Community; Amanda Czuprynski, Regent University & Larissa Krenzer, Regent University

Siemens AG Communications Centralization Effort: 2014-2021; Donald R. Thompson, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

TikTok’ing about gender: Analyzing how people engage with risky Internet challenges on social media; Aslin Osmara Paxtor, California State University, Fullerton & Roselyn Du, California State University Fullerton

Verify, accept, or ignore: The complexities of media trust along Southeastern U.S. coastal communities during severe weather events; Cory L. Armstrong, University of Nebraska-Lincoln & Matthew VanDyke, The University of Alabama