This semester’s edition marks the 18th in the history of the Elon Journal and the first under the editorship of Professor Harlen Makemson.
The School of Communications has published the fall 2018 issue of the Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, featuring student research on topics ranging from how Jewish characters are presented on television to an examination of social media’s possible role in mass shootings in Orlando, San Bernardino, Las Vegas, Parkland and elsewhere.
The issue contains nine research papers authored by School of Communications students. The research studies highlight a diverse set of media subjects such as legacy media, social media, online branding, newspaper design, box office attendance and hashtag activism.
Two articles investigated how the media often portrays minorities, ethnic groups and the underrepresented, including Daniela Ceron’s examination of race within the context of online feminist movements.
Two other articles dove into the potential negatives effects of media. In addition to Kristina Lee’s study of social media’s possible role in mass shootings, Jenna Sachs examined how a map feature in Snapchat can contribute to adolescent anxiety.
Perplexed about today’s fragmented media audiences? Three young scholars dove into this topic, researching participatory fan culture on Broadway, why moviegoers still head to the theater, and role of music in influencing collective memory.
Lastly, Abby Dionise studied the online branding of modern monarchs, while Stephanie Hays analyzed what characterizes award-winning newspaper pages.
Accompanying the online articles are video introductions by the authors, who explain their research methods and their interest in the topics they chose to study.
This semester Professor Harlen Makemson took over the editorship of the Elon Journal, succeeding Associate Professor Byung Lee. Under Lee’s direction, the journal published 17 issues featuring 174 student works, and research in the publication has been cited in master’s theses, book chapters and popular articles.
For this fall 2018 issue, Makemson assembled an editorial board of 30 communications faculty members who participated in the multiple blind-review process to select the best student work.
“Having taught at Elon for more than 17 years, I have consistently been impressed with our students’ willingness to tackle complex questions related to media and the communications field,” wrote Makemson in his journal editor’s note. “This semester … finds me humbled by the ability of our best undergraduate students to study these difficult issues in a meaningful and rigorous way.”
The Elon Journal began in spring 2010, with spring and fall editions each year. The fall 2018 journal marks the 18th edition.
The Council on Undergraduate Research catalogs more than 200 student research journals in the nation, and the Elon Journal is the only one that focuses on undergraduate student research in journalism, media and communications.