News
UNC Hussman at the AEJMC Annual Conference
The UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media will be represented by graduate students, faculty and staff members, and various alumni at the 2025 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) annual conference August 6-10 in San Francisco, California, and in virtual/hybrid sessions.
These students and faculty will participate in panel sessions and present authored or co-authored papers:
WEDNESDSAY, August 6
Panel
Artificial imagery, real consequences: How AI disclosure shapes news credibility.
Panelists: Shannon Zenner (Elon), Tara Mortensen (University of South Carolina), Laura Ruel (UNC), Lee Rainie (Elon)
IN: Visual Communication & Magazine Media Divisions Pre-Conference, 3:10–4:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, August 7
Sessions
Jain, P., Comello, M. L. G., Francis, D., Elshrief, L., & Porter, J. Countering stigma and
finding social support for menopause on social media.
IN: Exploring Stigma and Advancing Solutions (ComSHER Division), 8:30–9:45 a.m.
Qin, E. Playing Against the Clock: Gamified Datafication, Player Agency, and the Politics of
Sleep in Pokémon Sleep.
IN: Mediated Identities, Cultural Resistance, and Empowering Practices (Cultural & Critical Studies Division), 8:30-9:45 a.m.
Bobkowski, P. ’10 (Ph.D.), Cavanah, S., Hendricks, M., & Klein, L. Educator Perspectives on the Practice of Objectivity in Scholastic Journalism
IN: Refereed Research Paper Session (Scholastic Journalism Division), 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Bobkowski, P. ’10 (Ph.D.), Metzgar, E., & Smith, E. Whither Collegiate Student Media? Starting a National Conversation
IN: Refereed Research Paper Session (Scholastic Journalism Division), 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Gibson, R. & Hester, J. B. Framing trans identity in a shifting political climate: The misgendering of Rep. Sarah McBride.
IN: Scholar-to-Scholar Refereed Research Paper Session (Law and Policy, Advertising and Public Relations Divisions, Community Journalism and LGBTQ Interest Groups), 10:15-11:30 a.m.
Williams, C. M. & Ringel, E. A Review of Anti-Drag Legislation and Its Implications for Drag
Performers’ Mental Health. Law & Policy Division
IN: Scholar-to-Scholar (Poster) Refereed Research Paper Session (Law & Policy
Division), 10:15–11:30 a.m.
Gottlieb, B. The Digital Arena: College Mental Health from a Socio-ecological Perspective.
IN: Mental Health, Well-Being and Image in Sport (Sports Communication Division),
Noon–1:15 p.m.
Harrison, K., Peterson, D. N., & Rawlings, W. Representation Matters: Neurodivergent
People’s Memories of First Media Representation.
IN: Digital Discourse and Media Representation (Mass Comm & Society Division),
Noon-1:15 p.m.
Peterson, D. N. Modeling Emotion: Anthropomorphism’s Effects on Adults Living with
Anxiety and/or Depression.
IN: Digital Media and Wellbeing (Mass Comm & Society Division), Noon–1:15 p.m.
Dancy, S. Countering Disinformation: Intervention Preferences in Marginalized Racial and Ethnic Communities.
IN: Scholar-to-Scholar (Poster) Refereed Research Paper Session (Broadcast Minorities Division), 1:45–3 p.m.
Bridgewater, E., Harrison, K. & Yisrael, E. Representation Matters: Black Adults’ Memories of First Media Representation
IN: Identity and Representation (Minorities and Communication Division), 1:45–3 p.m.
Madden, S., Capizzo L., & Steudeman, M. Centering Historical Student Activism and the Role of
Place in Issues Management for Higher Education*
Discussant: Lucinda Austin
IN: Refereed Research Paper Session — Issue Management and Social Advocacy for Various Contexts (Public Relations Division), 1:45–3 p.m.
*PR History Award Winner
FRIDAY, August 8
Sessions
Williams, C. M. & Aikat, D. Harris v. Trump: Comparing Content, Auditory, and Visual
Mechanisms of 2024 U.S. Presidential Candidates TikToks. Visual Communication Division
IN: Scholar-to-Scholar (Poster) Refereed Research Paper Session, Visual
Communication Division, 8–9:15 a.m.
Du, X. & Ma, Z. Twenty years of Paralympic narratives: A mixed-methods framing analysis of Chinese and U.S. news coverage.
IN: Scholar-to-Scholar (Poster) Refereed Research Paper Session (Newspaper and Online News division), 9:45–11 a.m.
Huang, A. What’s trending in 2024? Exploring fear-based PCOS narratives across cultures on social media.
IN: Cultural Perspectives in Health and Environmental Communication (ComSHER Division), 9:45 AM–11 a.m.
Jang, H., Reid, A., & Ringel, E. Who Gets to Shape the Future? A Theory of Stakeholder Voices in Understanding Legal AI.
IN: Artificial Intelligence and Political Communication (Political Communication Division), 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Pendleton, S. & Gibson, R. Identity-based differences in journalism and communication students’ sense of belonging amid attacks on university DEI.**
IN: Evolving Issues in Journalism: Preparing Students for Industry Demands, Business Fundamentals, Technological Shifts, and Societal Challenges (Scholastic Journalism Division Top Refereed Research Paper Session), 4:45-6 p.m.
**Second Place Faculty Research Paper Award
Cavanah, S., Bobkowski, P., Klein, L., Hill, M., & Hendricks, M. Balancing the Budget: Educator Perceptions of the Business Side of High School Journalism***
IN: Top Refereed Research Paper Session (Scholastic Journalism Division), 4:45-6 p.m.
***First Place Faculty Research Paper Award
Qin, E. & Lin, Z. Digital Mirror, Mate, and Mentor: Negotiating Romantic Relationships with ChatGPT as ‘Teacher G’ on Xiaohongshu.****
IN: Top Faculty and Student Papers (Communication Technology Division), 4:45-6 p.m.
****First Place Student Paper Award
Williams, C. M. Precarious Sexuality: How Bisexual Individuals’ Identities are Recategorized for Exhibiting Unidirectional Sexual Behavior.*****
IN: Top Refereed Research Paper Session (LGBTQ+ Interest Group), 4:45–6 p.m.
*****Top Student Paper Award
Honors Lecture
Calvin Hall ’04 (Ph.D.), department chair at NC Central University, presented the Scholastic Journalism Division Honors Lecture this year. Hall was a former high school journalism teacher and previously the head and vice head of the Scholastic Division.
IN: Scholastic Journalism Division, 7:45-9:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, August 9
Annual UNC at AEJMC Breakfast
7:30-9 a.m., Magnin Street Cafe, 138 Cyril Magnin St.
Hosted by Dean Raul Reis and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research Lucinda Austin.
RSVP here.
Session
Sparks, J., DuBosar, E., Mitson, R., Shaughnessy, B., Pittet Gonzalez, L., Hutchins, M. Pod
Politics: A Profile of Political Podcast Users in the United States.
IN: Scholar-to-Scholar (Poster) Refereed Research Paper Session (Political Communication Division and Religion and Media Interest Group), 8-9:15 a.m.
Panel
Avoiding Slash and Burn: Leveraging AI to Expand Journalism’s Business Model.
Panelists: Rana Arafat (University of London), Sabine Baumann (Berlin School of Economics and Law); Marisa Porto (UNC) and Elodie Mailliet Storm (CEO of Catchlight.io & former senior director of strategic development for Getty Images).
IN: Media Management, Economics and Entrepreneurship and Magazine Media Divisions Research Panel Session, 3–4:15 p.m.
Sunday, August 10
Panel
Leading Journalism Education Amid Rapid Global Change
Panelists: Raul Reis (UNC), Luz Márquez de la Plata Cortés (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile) and Pascal Guenee (Paris-Dauphine University Journalism School)
3–4:15 p.m.
