Publication Type: Session Paper
Abstract: Many pan-Arab and regional Arab news media outlets offer editorial content that promote media frames describing United States policies and communications. This paper describes how these frames reveal the episodic construction of U.S. credibility through what Zhongdang Pan and Gerald Kosicki have called "strategic framing." Through an analysis of media arguments made around the Haditha Massacre incident in Iraq and the Lebanon War in 2006, this paper explores how framing strategies reveal specific argument moves that sustain perceptions of United States credibility. The narrative construction of credibility is described as a "strategic" framing objective. This analysis seeks to further elaborate the notion of media frames in the context of Arab editorial content, while highlighting the international dimension of media-based argument. This paper illuminates how these media strategies entrench intercultural divides and complicate U.S. attempts at international communication programs and dialogue-based public diplomacy initiatives.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: A content analysis assessed the privacy practices of 405 media Web sites drawn from four categories of media types (Daily News, Internet Media, Magazines, and Weeklies). Although a majority of sites collected personal identifying information, only 37.8 0x1rovided any form of disclosure of privacy practices. Internet media sites and magazine sites were more likely to include a privacy policy statement than other media types. The use of cookies was prevalent, with 68.41003410535f sites implementing this cryptic form of information collection. Less than half of these sites disclosed such practices, with the majority of cookies originating from third party tracking or for advertising purposes. Dailies and Internet sites were more likely to set cookies than other media types. Among sites that addressed fair information practices, choice and redress appeared most frequently, followed by access, security, and data integrity. Discrepancy between information practices and information disclosure are discussed with respect to Internet self-regulation and findings from the Federal Trade Commission.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This study examines a 15-year timeframe to assess publication trends in and outlets for new media research with respect to the communication discipline. The three main findings reveal: 1) publication of new media research is increasing steadily, 2) authors tend to favor certain article title keywords and particular journals over others, and 3) a core set of ten communication journals currently publishes new media research. We conclude by discussing these results within the context of two earlier studies that examined similar patterns.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Using a socio-ecological framework, this paper examines the relationship between alcohol availability and distribution policies and alcohol-related injury, homicide, assault, domestic violence, and disorder in the District of Columbia. The key research questions include: (1) Do increased availability and liberal distribution policies increase the incidence of homicide, domestic violence, disorderly conduct and alcohol-related deaths? (2) Do certain types of alcohol-selling establishments have a relationship with these adverse outcomes? (3) Are there other characteristics of the environment (both physical and socio-economic) that may be attracting crime around alcohol-selling establishments? and (4) Are certain types of homicide (i.e., motivations behind homicide incidents) more likely in areas with crime-generating institutions? Point data are analyzed using hierarchical Bayesian models. The results show that the density of alcohol outlets influences numerous types of crime and disorder.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This project explored how media frames were used within small regional newspaper editorials and op-ed pieces about homosexuality during the time period from July, 2002 to June 2003. The central research question of this project was: how often, and in what ways are frames utilized as a means to support or refute pro-gay and anti-gay stances regarding topics pertaining to homosexuality within editorials and op-ed pieces? This research provided a quantitative and qualitative look at how small regional newspapers vary in the framing of debates over homosexuality. I investigated how those on both sides of debates used different framing strategies to support their arguments in response to claims made by the other.
The most significant findings of this research dealt with how frames were supported and refuted. Regardless of the proportional difference in pieces written with a pro-gay stance in relation to an anti-gay one, results indicated that a large proportion of pro-gay pieces were written to defend against, or refute, anti-gay framing of an issue. This was not found to be the case in the anti-gay pieces. Consequently, for pro-gay groups the battle was not only one of achieving equal access within the limited confines of editorial page, the battle also entailed finding room within those pages to defend their stances; a burden by which the opposite side did not seem to have to bear. Hence, while pieces with pro-gay frames and stances were found to be more numerous, one could conclude they were not necessarily more prolific.