This article integrates priming and framing into a cognitive-processing model that illustrates ho... more This article integrates priming and framing into a cognitive-processing model that illustrates how the effects of watching a presidential debate might be influenced by a priming message as it interacts with an individual's schema. We examine how the frame of postdebate news analysis primes audience reflection on a previously viewed segment from the 2004 presidential debates (a process we identify as ''primed reflection''). Results show that the influence of postdebate news analysis is a function of the interaction between the news-analysis frame (policy vs. performance) and the individual-level factors, namely, political knowledge and propensity to reflect on media content.
This study examines reactions to ethical and strategic framing in the news coverage of the embryo... more This study examines reactions to ethical and strategic framing in the news coverage of the embryonic stem cell research controversy, depending on the level of issue involvement. In order to test hypotheses regarding the effects of strategic vs. ethical frames and the moderating role played by issue involvement, an online experiment was conducted. Results indicated that these two frames interacted
Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 2020
This study investigates the ways in which the localized use of social media influences civic life... more This study investigates the ways in which the localized use of social media influences civic life in local communities. Specifically, the study explores the direct and indirect effects of informational and social motivations underlying localized social media uses on trust-building (interpersonal trust, political trust, and trust in community organizations) and civic participation in online and offline contexts. The findings through a nationwide survey of U.S. adults indicate that localized social media use resulted in the increase of interpersonal trust. Furthermore, the results show that trust in community organizations and local political trust played a more important role as a mediator between localized social media use and civic participation. Notably, localized social media use driven by social motivations had a greater effect on trust and civic participation than informational motivation. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed for civic technology and community building.
Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review, 2020
Written by Michelle A. Amazeen, Fabrício Benevenuto, Nadia M. Brashier, Robert M. Bond, Lia C. Bo... more Written by Michelle A. Amazeen, Fabrício Benevenuto, Nadia M. Brashier, Robert M. Bond, Lia C. Bozarth, Ceren Budak, Ullrich K. H. Ecker, Lisa K. Fazio, Emilio Ferrara, Andrew J. Flanagin, Ales-sandro Flammini, Deen Freelon, Nir Grinberg, Ralph Hertwig, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Kenneth Jo-seph, Jason J. Jones, R. Kelly Garrett, Daniel Kreiss, Shannon McGregor, Jasmine McNealy, Drew Margolin, Alice Marwick, FiIippo Menczer, Miriam J. Metzger, Seungahn Nah, Stephan Lewan-dowsky, Philipp Lorenz-Spreen, Pablo Ortellado, Irene Pasquetto, Gordon Pennycook, Ethan Porter, David G. Rand, Ronald Robertson, Briony Swire-Thompson, Francesca Tripodi, Soroush Vosoughi, Chris Vargo, Onur Varol, Brian E. Weeks, John Wihbey, Thomas J. Wood, & Kai-Cheng Yang
International Journal of Communication, Sep 29, 2020
This study proposes a moderated mediation model whereby the relationship between citizen journali... more This study proposes a moderated mediation model whereby the relationship between citizen journalism and civic participation through political discussion differs depending on the levels of media credibility and collective efficacy. Results from a national online panel survey indicate that political discussion mediates the relationship between citizen journalism and civic participation, with the magnitude of the relationship stronger for those who evaluate news media sites as more credible. Moreover, findings reveal that the positive relationship between political discussion and civic participation is stronger for those who have higher levels of collective efficacy. With these findings, the present study further discusses theoretical, practical, and policy implications.
News credibility as an essential democratic value has been at the forefront of scholarly endeavor... more News credibility as an essential democratic value has been at the forefront of scholarly endeavors over the last several decades. Despite prolific research in this area, scholarship on the credibility of algorithmbased and automated news has yet to offer empirical findings in regards to the causes and their impacts. In line with prior studies concerning news credibility, this study examines the driving forces in predicting the level of credibility on artificial intelligence (AI) news. Specially, this study unveils the effects of communicative capital, such as media use and public discussion, among audiences, as well as social capital, such as social trust, on AI news credibility. Data collected through a nationwide online survey reveals that media use through television, social network sites, and online news sites, as well as public discussion yielded a positive association with AI news credibility. Of particular interest is that social trust moderated the effect of public discussion on credibility, indicating that the relationship between discussion and credibility was even stronger for those who have a higher level of trust in others. Implications are further discussed.
Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism, Jan 4, 2017
Based on a national survey and a qualitative content analysis of US daily news editors' understan... more Based on a national survey and a qualitative content analysis of US daily news editors' understanding of citizen journalism, we identify key ideas associated with the concept of Citizen Journalism Complexity. Patterns related to those dimensions that may impact editors' conceptions of the phenomenon at the individual and organizational levels are examined. A total of 10 core ideas emerged in the aggregate discussion, but a majority of the participants defined the concept simplistically focusing on one-or two-dimensional definitions. Arguments from journalistic professionalism (occupational roles), audience engagement/collaboration (normative values), and behavioral practices are represented. This article discusses the extent to which citizen journalism is defined and guided by demographic variables, individual journalistic experience, and organizational characteristics.
This study, derived from a differential gains model, examines how mobile-based political informat... more This study, derived from a differential gains model, examines how mobile-based political information seeking is associated with offline and online political participation in interaction with three political discussion features: frequency, size, and heterogeneity. Data from a Web survey of an online panel indicate that the link between mobile information seeking and offline and online political participation is greater for respondents who discuss politics with others face to face and online more frequently and a greater diversity of others face to face and online.
Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism, Jan 6, 2012
Through a web-based survey ( N = 238), this study examines how online community news readers perc... more Through a web-based survey ( N = 238), this study examines how online community news readers perceive the roles of both professional and citizen journalists, and predicts the extent to which social capital, such as social trust and media credibility, contributes to their perceived journalistic roles. Analyses show that while media credibility was positively related to the role conceptions of professional journalists only, social trust was positively associated with the role conceptions of both professional and citizen journalists. Implications are discussed for the relationship between social trust, media credibility, and perceived journalistic roles.
Grounded in Communication Infrastructure Theory (CIT), this study tests the moderating roles of e... more Grounded in Communication Infrastructure Theory (CIT), this study tests the moderating roles of expressive digital media use through the Internet, social, and mobile media between community storytelling network and civic engagement. Based on online survey data of U.S. adults in an ethnically homogenous metropolitan area, this study finds that community storytelling network and expressive digital media use significantly predict the level of civic engagement. In particular, expressive digital media use serves as a necessary condition for community storytelling network to further promote online civic participation and collective efficacy among community residents. This study thus advances CIT with an integrated approach to expressive digital media use by testing the extended theoretical framework in a different local community context. Findings offer practical applications and policy implications regarding communication, citizenship, and civic community.
This article integrates priming and framing into a cognitive-processing model that illustrates ho... more This article integrates priming and framing into a cognitive-processing model that illustrates how the effects of watching a presidential debate might be influenced by a priming message as it interacts with an individual's schema. We examine how the frame of postdebate news analysis primes audience reflection on a previously viewed segment from the 2004 presidential debates (a process we identify as ''primed reflection''). Results show that the influence of postdebate news analysis is a function of the interaction between the news-analysis frame (policy vs. performance) and the individual-level factors, namely, political knowledge and propensity to reflect on media content.
This study examines reactions to ethical and strategic framing in the news coverage of the embryo... more This study examines reactions to ethical and strategic framing in the news coverage of the embryonic stem cell research controversy, depending on the level of issue involvement. In order to test hypotheses regarding the effects of strategic vs. ethical frames and the moderating role played by issue involvement, an online experiment was conducted. Results indicated that these two frames interacted
Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 2020
This study investigates the ways in which the localized use of social media influences civic life... more This study investigates the ways in which the localized use of social media influences civic life in local communities. Specifically, the study explores the direct and indirect effects of informational and social motivations underlying localized social media uses on trust-building (interpersonal trust, political trust, and trust in community organizations) and civic participation in online and offline contexts. The findings through a nationwide survey of U.S. adults indicate that localized social media use resulted in the increase of interpersonal trust. Furthermore, the results show that trust in community organizations and local political trust played a more important role as a mediator between localized social media use and civic participation. Notably, localized social media use driven by social motivations had a greater effect on trust and civic participation than informational motivation. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed for civic technology and community building.
Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review, 2020
Written by Michelle A. Amazeen, Fabrício Benevenuto, Nadia M. Brashier, Robert M. Bond, Lia C. Bo... more Written by Michelle A. Amazeen, Fabrício Benevenuto, Nadia M. Brashier, Robert M. Bond, Lia C. Bozarth, Ceren Budak, Ullrich K. H. Ecker, Lisa K. Fazio, Emilio Ferrara, Andrew J. Flanagin, Ales-sandro Flammini, Deen Freelon, Nir Grinberg, Ralph Hertwig, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Kenneth Jo-seph, Jason J. Jones, R. Kelly Garrett, Daniel Kreiss, Shannon McGregor, Jasmine McNealy, Drew Margolin, Alice Marwick, FiIippo Menczer, Miriam J. Metzger, Seungahn Nah, Stephan Lewan-dowsky, Philipp Lorenz-Spreen, Pablo Ortellado, Irene Pasquetto, Gordon Pennycook, Ethan Porter, David G. Rand, Ronald Robertson, Briony Swire-Thompson, Francesca Tripodi, Soroush Vosoughi, Chris Vargo, Onur Varol, Brian E. Weeks, John Wihbey, Thomas J. Wood, & Kai-Cheng Yang
International Journal of Communication, Sep 29, 2020
This study proposes a moderated mediation model whereby the relationship between citizen journali... more This study proposes a moderated mediation model whereby the relationship between citizen journalism and civic participation through political discussion differs depending on the levels of media credibility and collective efficacy. Results from a national online panel survey indicate that political discussion mediates the relationship between citizen journalism and civic participation, with the magnitude of the relationship stronger for those who evaluate news media sites as more credible. Moreover, findings reveal that the positive relationship between political discussion and civic participation is stronger for those who have higher levels of collective efficacy. With these findings, the present study further discusses theoretical, practical, and policy implications.
News credibility as an essential democratic value has been at the forefront of scholarly endeavor... more News credibility as an essential democratic value has been at the forefront of scholarly endeavors over the last several decades. Despite prolific research in this area, scholarship on the credibility of algorithmbased and automated news has yet to offer empirical findings in regards to the causes and their impacts. In line with prior studies concerning news credibility, this study examines the driving forces in predicting the level of credibility on artificial intelligence (AI) news. Specially, this study unveils the effects of communicative capital, such as media use and public discussion, among audiences, as well as social capital, such as social trust, on AI news credibility. Data collected through a nationwide online survey reveals that media use through television, social network sites, and online news sites, as well as public discussion yielded a positive association with AI news credibility. Of particular interest is that social trust moderated the effect of public discussion on credibility, indicating that the relationship between discussion and credibility was even stronger for those who have a higher level of trust in others. Implications are further discussed.
Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism, Jan 4, 2017
Based on a national survey and a qualitative content analysis of US daily news editors' understan... more Based on a national survey and a qualitative content analysis of US daily news editors' understanding of citizen journalism, we identify key ideas associated with the concept of Citizen Journalism Complexity. Patterns related to those dimensions that may impact editors' conceptions of the phenomenon at the individual and organizational levels are examined. A total of 10 core ideas emerged in the aggregate discussion, but a majority of the participants defined the concept simplistically focusing on one-or two-dimensional definitions. Arguments from journalistic professionalism (occupational roles), audience engagement/collaboration (normative values), and behavioral practices are represented. This article discusses the extent to which citizen journalism is defined and guided by demographic variables, individual journalistic experience, and organizational characteristics.
This study, derived from a differential gains model, examines how mobile-based political informat... more This study, derived from a differential gains model, examines how mobile-based political information seeking is associated with offline and online political participation in interaction with three political discussion features: frequency, size, and heterogeneity. Data from a Web survey of an online panel indicate that the link between mobile information seeking and offline and online political participation is greater for respondents who discuss politics with others face to face and online more frequently and a greater diversity of others face to face and online.
Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism, Jan 6, 2012
Through a web-based survey ( N = 238), this study examines how online community news readers perc... more Through a web-based survey ( N = 238), this study examines how online community news readers perceive the roles of both professional and citizen journalists, and predicts the extent to which social capital, such as social trust and media credibility, contributes to their perceived journalistic roles. Analyses show that while media credibility was positively related to the role conceptions of professional journalists only, social trust was positively associated with the role conceptions of both professional and citizen journalists. Implications are discussed for the relationship between social trust, media credibility, and perceived journalistic roles.
Grounded in Communication Infrastructure Theory (CIT), this study tests the moderating roles of e... more Grounded in Communication Infrastructure Theory (CIT), this study tests the moderating roles of expressive digital media use through the Internet, social, and mobile media between community storytelling network and civic engagement. Based on online survey data of U.S. adults in an ethnically homogenous metropolitan area, this study finds that community storytelling network and expressive digital media use significantly predict the level of civic engagement. In particular, expressive digital media use serves as a necessary condition for community storytelling network to further promote online civic participation and collective efficacy among community residents. This study thus advances CIT with an integrated approach to expressive digital media use by testing the extended theoretical framework in a different local community context. Findings offer practical applications and policy implications regarding communication, citizenship, and civic community.
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Papers by Seungahn Nah