March 24, 2023

By Jiun-Yi Tsai, Northern Arizona University, Shupei Yuan, Northern Illinois University, and Ioana A. Coman, Texas Tech University

Most Americans expect companies to take a stance on hot-button issues; how and when firms should respond becomes the next burning question. We argued that audience expectations and perception of authenticity should be the center of consideration when planning the responding actions. We developed an audience-centric framework to guide practical decisions for CSA approaches and examined the… More

March 20, 2023

By Nicole O’Donnell, Washington State University and Yanni Ma, Oregon State University

Consumers and employees are increasingly expecting CEOs to be change agents who publicly share their stances on controversial social and political issues (e.g., engaging in corporate social advocacy). However, reports from Edelman suggest that there is also a growing distrust in corporations trying to improve their image without making real change, making authentic communication crucial for brand success.

Our research… More

February 1, 2023

By Jasmine Roberts-Crews, Ohio State University

The need to incorporate digital activism in communication curricula has become even more apparent as consumers increasingly support businesses that align with their core values on social issues. Themes such as corporate activism, corporate social responsibility, and "hashtag activism" are critical for students to understand as they enter a changed workforce since the 2020 racial justice protests.

However, some educators still do not feel equipped or confident addressing digital activism in the… More

December 9, 2022

By Cerrena Lewis, Page Center Intern

Page Center board member Gary Sheffer is the Sandra A. Frazier professor of public relations at Boston University. As a professor, he teaches his students to compare the actions of enterprises to their mission or values. Prior to BU, Sheffer spent 13 years as the chief communications officer at General Electric. He was also a senior corporate strategist at Weber Shandwick. Sheffer has more than 30 years of experience in public relations… More

December 6, 2022 • Jonathan McVerry

Since the annual Page Center Awards went virtual, our distinguished honorees have educated and inspired hundreds of students around the world with encouraging words about the power of integrity and responsible communication. This year, we want to hear from the students too.

The Page Center Awards Essay Contest is asking undergraduate students who attend the event on Feb. 22, 2023 to reflect on the awards experience. Students can share their thoughts in a 300-word essay about… More

November 14, 2022 • Fuyuan Shen

A published research paper I co-authored with some collaborators from the Bellisario College examined the effects of conversion narratives on attitudes and behavioral intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

The study was conducted in January 2021, before the vaccine became widely available to the general public. It was also a time when many were unsure about the vaccine’s benefits and efficacy. However, we reviewed literature and quickly realized that conversion narratives had the potential to be an… More