September 18, 2023 • Jonathan McVerry

A wealth of research has focused on prosocial communication’s effect on the behavior of publics and stakeholders. There are also studies on prosocial’s influence on civic discourse. However, there is a lack of research on how prosocial communication can alter one of the key ingredients to improving social conditions and solving social problems – policy. For their Page Center study, scholars Minhee Choi, Texas Tech University, and Kelli Boling, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, are interviewing 25 advocacy communicators… More

September 5, 2023 • Jonathan McVerry

It’s become common for companies to take stands on social issues. But what about the leaders who decide what stances to take? And how does their decision relate to their employees? Young Kim and Katharine Miller from Marquette University are leading two studies to learn the effects of CEO activism on company stakeholders, particularly employees. The first-time Page Center scholars will examine different forms of messaging from CEOs leading Fortune 500 companies. They will follow that research up by… More

August 21, 2023 • Jonathan McVerry

A team of Page Center scholars is taking a global look at prosocial communication, particularly the role of public relations in helping international organizations implement initiatives based on stakeholder needs and cultural values. Scholars Luke Capizzo, University of Missouri; Jeannette Iannacone, University of Tennessee Knoxville; and Drew T. Ashby-King, East Carolina University, hope to expand the literature that, to date, has had a narrower, more localized focus. With more and more issues becoming global concerns, the scholars say it's… More

August 7, 2023 • Jonathan McVerry

Generation Z suffers from mental illness more than any other age group, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health, even more so since the COVID-19 pandemic. Research says that influencers have the power to reach this age group through social media. They can connect to their followers and potentially raise awareness of important topics, like mental health issues. A team of Page Center scholars is conducting a two-part study that will examine how narratives in videos impact online… More

July 25, 2023 • Jonathan McVerry

Scholars Sisi Hu and Amanda Hinnant share a common interest in researching prosocial health and science communication. Their collaboration started at the University of Missouri where Hu was a Ph.D. student and Hinnant was her dissertation adviser. Hu recently became an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas, but their collaboration continues. Their project studying motivations of messaging in the nonprofit health sector is part of the Page Center’s 2023 research call on prosocial communication. The first-time Page… More

July 12, 2023 • Jonathan McVerry

Last year, the number of refugees worldwide eclipsed 100 million. The ubiquity of the crisis attracts corporate support and advocacy of these displaced people. However, Brian Smith and Staci Smith say companies may not understand the intricacies of the crisis and their corporate efforts often don’t properly serve refugee needs. The Fulbright Scholars and Brigham Young University faculty members – Brian, associate professor of communication, and Staci, adjunct professor of management communication – say that to communicate about social… More