International Journal of Mass Communication

Understanding the Material Impact of Social Media during Public Criticism and Dissent in African Countries: A Review of the Literature

Letjedi Thabang Mabinane — Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Globally, governments are imposing national blackouts on digital communication, particularly the internet and subsequently the social media space during public criticism and dissent. To understand the material impact of this digital blackout, a literature review is conducted, focusing on African countries. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of social media during public criticism and dissent from an African perspective. To achieve this, an extensive review of the literature was conducted on African countries. The United Nations (UN) classifies 54 countries as African. All these countries had a known chance of being selected as part of the sample (probability sampling). In total, 29 countries were chosen based on relevance and the availability of data on internet shutdowns. Furthermore, the study looks into a 5-year trend from 2018 to 2022. Consequently, the results suggest that internet shutdowns in Africa are currently on the rise and remain disruptive, oppressive, expensive, and cost countries dearly. Additionally, the study also found that internet shutdowns often result in violent and/or fatal protests. It was further found that the responses by governments and companies during public criticism and dissent have been challenging, insufficient, and detrimental to human rights. At a country level, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Chad - respectively remain the regional leaders in terms of shutting down the Internet. This research recommends more scientific research to be conducted under the topic to enrich the existing body of knowledge, and possibly refine the findings of the current study. It further recommends country-specific policies that should openly condemn government-imposed internet shutdowns. Moreover, this research also recommends that global Human Rights Organisations should stand firm and strongly condemn government-imposed internet shutdowns by imposing sanctions and repercussions for oppressive governments. Finally, this research concludes that social media has unique capabilities to convey messages to larger groups of people, mobilizing or immobilizing them with only a few clicks. Among others, social media can also spread fake information or news by posting old material and linking it to current situations.

Taking a Nosedive: Can Boeing’s Image be Saved? Application of Image Repair Theory

James Ndone — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Boeing’s leadership faced significant criticism for its mishandling of the two 737 Max plane crashes that occurred within a six-month span. Since then, Boeing has been grappling with ongoing quality control issues with its 737 Max series, including a recent door plug failure on a 737 Max 9 mid-flight, and production flaws in the 787 Dreamliner, such as gaps between fuselage sections.This case study applies image repair theory (IRT) to explore Boeing’s crisis communication strategies in response to the 737 Max plane crashes. This study further investigates the application of the concepts of stealing thunder, framing hypothesis, and ethical apology, and their application in Boeing's crisis management. The findings reveal that Boeing's leadership employed both denial and mortification strategies; however, the timing and execution of these communications were flawed, leading to long-term reputational damage.Boeing’s failure to employ stealing thunder, effective framing, and delivering sincere apologies has hindered its ability to control the crisis narrative. Theoretical implications for IRT are discussed.

Building Resilience Among College Students: A Cross-Cultural Investigation on the Importance of Quality Crisis Communication and Social Support

James Ndone — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Building on job demands-resources (JD-R model) and the social support theory, this study investigates how perceived quality of crisis communication and social support influence perceived uncertainties, emotional exhaustion, and resilience among college students in Kenya and the United States during the COVID-19 crisis. Data were collected using a survey (N= 394). The results indicate that higher perceived quality of crisis communication is associated with lower perceived uncertainties about the COVID-19 crisis. Both peer and advisor support are found to reduce students' perceived uncertainties. Notably, Kenyan students reported receiving more peer support compared to American students, while American students reported higher levels of advisor support. Additionally, perceived uncertainties mediated the relationship between advisor support and emotional exhaustion. Contrary to expectations, organizational intransigence did not moderate the relationship between social support and perceived uncertainties. Finally, a positive association was observed between perceived quality of crisis communication and resilience among students. These findings suggest the importance of effective crisis communication and social support in fostering resilience among students, with implications for both policy and practice across different cultural contexts.

From Nollywood to the World: A Cultural Studies and Critical Discourse Analysis of Nollywood Films on Netflix

Ololade Afolabi — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the transnationalization of the Nollywood industry in the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix. As nonwestern film industries begin to find global audiences beyond their local space, ideological underpinnings of these industries also continue to shift and become more apparent. The need to compete for global capital while retaining the cultural flavor of the South has been a major challenge of many transnational media industries. Taking Nollywood as a case study, this study argues that the production of Nollywood films on Netflix goes beyond the quest to find global market, instead economic interest, the need to appeal to global audience by producing multicultural relevant content and promulgating a Nigerian identity that non-African audience can understand are important areas that should be considered. Contextualized within the theories of cultural studies and political economy and the method of critical discourse analysis, the study accentuates the changing discourse of the new Nollywood cinema and what it means for critical cultural scholarship of media and communication, especially in the Global South.