Browsing by Author "Johnson, Emily, committee member"

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Open Access
Make 'em laugh: humor's role in seeking science-based messages
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Patterson, Ashley L., author; Anderson, Ashley, advisor; Johnson, Emily, committee member; Marx, Nick, committee member
Science information as a whole has become known as a controversial topic because it often invokes political beliefs and social values when it is presented in the media. This has resulted in audiences being cautious about engaging with scientific messages. Humor is increasingly being used as a strategy to communicate science-related information, yet research on its effectiveness is still growing. The goal of this project was to contribute empirical evidence to the limited pool of literature and outreach tactics that exist regarding the application of humor science-based content on social media. Through a two-condition, between subjects, online experiment this project measured if positive emotion, conceptualized as feeling joy, which can be described as experiencing elation or mirth, was invoked when exposed to a humorous science-based message; whether exposure to humorous science-based messages have a direct effect on information engagement; and if experiencing a positive emotion impacted greater levels of information engagement. Participants were undergraduate or graduate students enrolled at the Colorado State University, Fort Collins campus who were registered in a course within the Journalism and Media Communication department during Spring 2024. A total of 117 participants gave responses while the survey was live in the SONA system, between February 2-23, 2024. Results indicate participants who were exposed to a humorous science message were more likely to experience a positive emotion and had a higher likelihood of seeking out or sharing similar messages in the future. Additionally, the experience of a positive emotion was a significant factor in a participant's likelihood of seeking out or sharing similar messages. Results suggest that individuals exposed to a humorous message are more inclined to experience positive emotions and those who did are more inclined to participate in information engagement in the future. This study indicates that humor plays a significant role in driving information engagement.
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Prime Time tweets: a thematic analysis of Deion Sanders's tweets and social media's role in shaping the construction and perceptions of sports figure authenticity
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Singer, Mara F., author; Champ, Joseph, advisor; Donavan, D. Todd, committee member; Famulari, Umberto, committee member; Hoffman, K. Doug, committee member; Johnson, Emily, committee member
This dissertation explores the intersection of social media, personal branding, and fan perceptions of authenticity in the context of modern sports figures, focusing on the case of Deion 'Coach Prime' Sanders. Through two related studies, this research aims to better understand how Sanders leverages social media to build his personal brand and cultivate authentic connections with audiences. The first study employs focus groups and thematic analysis to examine how social media users perceive and construct Sanders's authenticity through his X (formerly Twitter) content. The second study conducts a qualitative thematic analysis of Sanders's X posts during his inaugural season as head football coach at the University of Colorado to identify authenticity management strategies. Ultimately framed by Actor-Network Theory, this research utilizes frameworks of perceived authenticity and authenticity management to provide a comprehensive understanding of the creation and reception of authenticity in sports figures' social media content. The findings offer insights into the factors influencing perceptions of sports figure authenticity on social media and the strategies employed to manage authentic self-presentation. This research contributes to digital sports media, personal branding, and fan engagement by addressing gaps in the literature regarding coaches' social media use and offering practical implications for sports organizations and figures aiming to build authentic connections with online audiences.