Journalism Graduates Win Top Paper Awards at Journalism and Communication Research Conference

Alexis Campbell & award ceremony via Zoom
Alexis Campbell

Alexis Campbell & award ceremony via Zoom

Two U of A former journalism students, Alexis Campbell and Rachel Braun, had their honors theses win the Top Six Paper award at the 2021 Annual Symposium of the Southwest Education Council for Journalism and Mass Communication on Oct. 15-16.

Campbell presented her honors thesis, Alcohol Advertising on Social Media: A Content Analysis on Message Strategies of Alcohol Advertisements on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, which examined the message strategies of alcohol advertisements on social media.

Braun's paper, Save the Amazon Rainforest!: Message Strategies of Charity Advertising in Social Media, studied the different advertising tactics that are beneficial in gaining donations for charities. Braun hopes to one day be employed with a non-profit organization that focuses on deforestation or ocean pollution.

Both papers were virtually presented in the "Getting Your Message Out: Advertising and Communication Strategies in Online Media" research session on Oct. 16.

"I am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute valuable research to my field; it would not have been possible without support from my mentor Dr. Chung, the U of A faculty and my honors college research grant," Campbell said. She is expanding this topic as her master's thesis in an experiment to directly explore how such alcohol advertisements influence behavior of the viewer.

Campbell and Braun both graduated this past spring summa cum laude with honors Bachelor of Arts degrees in journalism, both with a concentration on advertising and public relations. This year Campbell is attending the U of A to pursue her Master of Arts in journalism and works as a graduate assistant for the Center for Ethics in Journalism. Braun has been traveling the country and recently began a position as a digital advertising associate at DealerOn, a social media/web marketing company for auto dealership.

Jee Young Chung, assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, served as the thesis chair for both Campbell and Braun and co-authored both papers. Assistant professor Lucy Brown and professor Chris Tompkins III served on Campbell's committee, and assistant professor Ray McCaffrey and professor Sarah Jensen served on Braun's committee.

Chung said each paper made a meaningful contribution to social media advertising: understanding alcohol advertising messages in social media and developing charitable advertising message strategies.

The SWECJMC promotes the recognition, welfare and progress of journalism and mass communication education in the Southwest of the United States. The annual symposium recognizes significant research by faculty and students in journalism and mass communication programs in the Southwest. The top six papers will be eligible for publication in the Southwestern Mass Communication Journal spring edition without additional review.

About the School of Journalism and Strategic Media: The School of Journalism and Strategic Media is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and media discourse. Students in our journalism degree programs receive instruction, guidance and access to hands-on experience from our seasoned, award-winning faculty and staff. Areas of study include news editorial and reporting, broadcast, public relations, advertising and digital media. Follow us at @uarkjournalism.

Contacts

Jee Young Chung, assistant professor
School of Journalism and Strategic Media
479-575-5213, jychung@uark.edu

Headlines

Food Scientists Show Rice Malt Has Potential to Play a Bigger Role in Beer

With Arkansas growing about half of the rice in the United States, and shortages of traditional raw materials such as barley, evaluating rice cultivars for use in malted brewing was one goal of U of A researchers.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Senior Design Projects Reviewed by Alumni

Students condensed their design work into senior design projects and presented them for department alumni and other industry professionals, gaining insights from peers and faculty members.

An Evening With NWA Soldier Songs and Voices: The Healing Power of Music

Members of the Northwest Arkansas chapter of Soldier Songs and Voices will share their experiences and perform music in the Pryor Center atrium at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 5.

University Not Pursuing Full External Management of Custodial and Grounds Services

Following an evaluation process that provided the U of A with the opportunity to learn more about its current operations compared to the market, the university will maintain its current workforce.

NAHJ UARK: Free Churros and Sodas During J-Days Celebration

 The U of A chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists will offer churros and sodas on the north patio of Kimpel Hall from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday. Stop by and support your local journalist.

News Daily