School of Communication Studies - Te Kura Whakapāho

Permanent link for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10292/1316

The School of Communication Studies is committed to innovative, critical and creative research that advances knowledge, serves the community, and develops future communication experts and skilled media practitioners. There is a dynamic interaction between communication theory and media practice across digital media, creative industries, film and television production advertising, radio, public relations, and journalism. The School is involved in research and development in areas of:

Journalism

Media and Communication

Media Performance

Multimodal Analysis

Online, Social and Digital Media

Asia-Pacific Media

Political Economy of Communication

Popular Culture

Public Relations

Radio

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Ethnographic Communication Analysis: Researching Professional Culture, Power and Practice in Public Relations
(Elsevier BV, 2026-05-20) Rasquinha, Mark; Sissons, Helen
Public relations research continues to privilege survey-based, experimental, and textual methods that emphasize managerial frameworks, message effects, and attitudinal outcomes. These approaches provide limited access to how public relations work is accomplished in the lived flow of interaction, particularly in Global South contexts where professional practice is shaped by culturally specific communicative norms. This article introduces Ethnographic Communication Analysis (ECA) as a methodological framework that addresses this limitation by integrating video ethnography, Conversation Analysis, gesture analysis, and Critical Discourse Studies. ECA treats public relations as situated communicative action and examines how power, professionalism, and organizational culture are enacted through talk, gaze, posture, spatial arrangement, and tool use. Empirically, the article draws on fieldwork in two Indian public relations departments and illustrates the framework through a routine content-creation episode between a manager and practitioner. The analysis shows how the methodology can be used to make contributions towards public relations theory concerning organizational hierarchy, gender, and regulated workflows, performed in real time.
How Can We Teach Curiosity for Successful Media Literacy?
(International Council for Media Literacy, 2025-01-01) Usmar, Patrick Richard
Curiosity is not only fundamental to media literacy but also a characteristic that can be taught and nurtured. Through a series of carefully developed practical exercises with theoretical underpinnings, this study reports that educators can cultivate curiosity in their students, empowering them to become engaged global citizens and critical thinkers. This paper includes action research-based class exercises designed and tested to foster curiosity, enhancing critical thinking and creativity for all learners (Dick, 2001; Hien, 2009).
Creepiest Place on Earth: The Dark Side of Disney
(Palgrave Macmillan, 2026-01-22) Baker, Sarah
Disney theme parks tend to create strong feelings of joy and happiness for those who visit and dream of visiting them. There has been an expansion of Disney theme parks in America and worldwide, which has enhanced the Disney brand, positioning the company as a leading producer of popular culture and a major influence in the creation of theme parks. The first park, Disneyland California, was opened in 1955 and was envisioned by Walt Disney himself. In 1971, the Walt Disney World Resort opened in Florida, and this park remains the largest Disney resort globally. The expansion of parks has continued with Tokyo Disney Resort in 1983 and Disneyland Paris in 1992. Hong Kong Disneyland opened in 2005, and Shanghai Disney Resort began in 2016. One of the reasons theme parks have been so successful is due to the fond memories created and joyful childhood experiences. Iconic characters are brought to life in impeccably run theme parks, and the positive associations with Disney enrich positive experiences of popular culture. According to Veloso (2017), “if you’ve ever been to one of the 11 Disney parks across the globe, then you’d understand the magic of themes and ambience”. There is, however, a darker side to the lived reality of the parks, and questions about what happens when the cultural phenomenon has passed its accessibility point; for example, when theme parks fail or run into disrepair. Amongst all the positive associations of the Disney theme parks, there have been a handful of parks that have been abandoned over time. This essay sets out to explore the urban spaces of the Disney theme parks when they no longer represent that utopian space and begin to fulfil a liminal emptiness that contrasts with the polished, happy and sanitised version of life that is generally marketed to the world.
Body Modification to Win a Prince: The Cinderella Tale of Enhancement in Modern Society
(Palgrave Macmillan, 2026-01-22) Rutherford, Amanda
Disney fairy tale films have historically included a wide spectrum of transformations, modifications and metamorphoses as a part of the natural progression of the characters and their storylines. The techniques are synonymous with their brand and are used to create a depth that enhances viewer engagement and draws them into the tales. Disney showcases these transformations through the movement or change from the image of the everyday into something new or magical, or where the status quo is interrupted by some unforeseen or supernatural force. Warner (2014) contends that these occurrences are certain and consistent, often presented as an unexpected or astonishing surprise within the tales. Disney also uses morphosis and modification to show the physical manifestation of the character’s inner true dark self, or as a representation of their thoughts and devious intent. The result is a new form of character, where, for example, the man becomes the monster, or the woman turns into a witch. In other forms of transformation, Disney reinvents dull and unimpressive characters into new and improved versions of themselves. This chapter discusses the use of body modification within Disney fairy tale films and uses the film Cinderella (2015) as a base study to look at how the characters are transformed. Furthermore, the story can be seen to mirror modern-day notions about the value placed on physical bodies, where modification wins the heart of the prince. While these alterations are made to enhance, adjust, and embrace the physical form, they also show an increased (or decreased) worth to the characters. Over the past century, Disney has continued to create this appealing yet problematic narrative that influences ideology and expectations about the physical form.
Creative New Zealand: In Search of Research
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2023-07-14) Frommherz, Gudrun; Narayan, Aditya
The activity of researching is a customary part of creative work, often for understanding the wider territory of an assignment, resolving issues of production, or optimising creative outcomes. Creatives do not always appreciate or even recognise the commercial value of their research, i.e. in the form of novel processes, unique applications of technology, or ground-breaking creative solutions. A mixed-model study into on-the-job research practices in New Zealand’s creative industries evidenced a profound disconnection between research input in creative labour and output of economically deployable innovation. It was observed that although many originations effectively resulted from creative research practice, these were not normally leveraged beyond the immediate task. Against the backdrop of New Zealand’s aspiration to become a leading innovation economy, the article proposes the development of a knowledge-sharing innovation ecosystem that absorbs the manifold casual research outcomes from creative production work and develops pathways for New Zealand’s creative professionals to convert imaginative specialist solutions into sustainable innovation capital.
The Magic of Media and Culture [Editorial]
(M/C Journal, 2023-10-03) Piatti-Farnell, Lorna; Nairn, Angelique
[From the editorial] In his book The History of Magic (2020), Chris Gosden contends that magic is a product of human connection with the universe, offering answers to questions of meaning and reality, and surviving for centuries because of its capacity for constant renewal. Furthermore, magic has been, and continues to be, tied to the activities and beliefs of a myriad of cultural groups, guiding their understandings of, for example, transcendence, transformation, and transactions – cultural, social, political, or otherwise. Yet, despite magic accounting for any extraordinary occurrence, both good and bad, this notion has often garnered a negative reputation in examples such as fairy tales, as well as fantasy novels, films, and television series, where it often intersects with notions of evil, greed, and corruption. Of course, magic is not limited to the mythic, supernatural, scholarly, and philosophical, and equally captures the talents of illusionists and magicians with their misdirection and ability to challenge peoples’ perceptions and common sense.
Platform Affordances, Produsage, and the Attention Economy: From Red (Taylor’s Version) to The Life of a Showgirl
(Binghamton University, 2026-04-29) Asuncion, Angela
Social media platforms increasingly operate as infrastructures of visibility, shaping the conditions under which cultural content is produced, circulated, and recognised (van Dijck et al.; Nieborg and Poell). This article examines Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) and The Life of a Showgirl as two distinct visibility configurations emerging from the affordances and algorithmic logics of TikTok and Instagram. Drawing on platform studies (Abidin), celebrity theory (Dyer; Marshall; Marwick), and participatory culture and produsage (Jenkins; Bruns), the study employs a QCA-inspired configurational approach (Ragin) to analyse how clusters of affective cues, aesthetic strategies, parasocial signals, and circulation patterns generate contrasting visibility regimes. The analysis demonstrates that Red (Taylor’s Version) produces an intimacy-oriented configuration structured by nostalgia, interpretive labour, and personalised TikTok storytelling, foregrounding fan-driven amplification. In contrast, The Life of a Showgirl reflects a spectacle-oriented configuration marked by theatrical aesthetics, high-production micro-spectacles, and choreographed parasocial micro-events calibrated for cross-platform circulation. These configurations are activated through distinct conjunctural mechanisms that reveal how platforms co-produce – not merely distribute – celebrity visibility. The article advances “visibility configurations” as a conceptual framework for understanding platform-mediated celebrity, showing how artists strategically navigate aesthetic, affective, and algorithmic forces within the contemporary attention economy. The findings contribute to debates on digital celebrity, participatory fandom, and platformised cultural production.
Green Lifestyle Journalism
(Routledge, 2025-06-10) Craig, Geoff
This chapter outlines the scope and meanings of green lifestyle journalism where environmentalism, sustainability, and individual everyday life practices are explored. The chapter discusses the genre of green lifestyle journalism where public and global issues of climate change and environmental politics are considered in a form of journalism where individual consumption and social status are often privileged. The chapter locates green lifestyle journalism within academic debates on issues such as the value and efficacy of ethical consumption. It also considers the terrain of green lifestyle journalism, noting it can span news stories that explore individual lifestyle practices as manifestations of environmental public policy, advice columns on sustainable living, and television documentary-style programmes. This chapter provides an overview of research on green lifestyle journalism, noting it is a field that requires more extensive exploration. This chapter is based upon an understanding of lifestyles as individual embodied responses to broader social contexts and, as such, sustainable lifestyles can be viewed as necessary and important responses to the climate emergency. It is argued in conclusion that green lifestyle journalism needs to have a more prominent and comprehensive presence in the schedules and output of contemporary news and media services.
Reimagining Film International: Journal of World Cinema [Editorial]
(Intellect, 2026-04-03) Zalipour, Arezou
Trust in News in Aotearoa New Zealand 2026
(JMAD, 2026-04-15) Treadwell, Greg; Myllylahti, Merja
Media, Religion, and Crisis: Entanglement, Mediatization, and the Reconfiguration of the Sacred [Editorial]
(Midwest Popular Culture Association, 2026-04-30) Gould, Melissa L
Kastom vs The Fourth Estate: An Ethnographic Study of Journalism in Papua New Guinea
(SAGE Publications, 2026-03-18) Sageo-Tapungu, Stephanie; Sissons, Helen; Theunissen, Petra
The term 'kastom' broadly refers to the traditional systems of beliefs and values found across the islands of Melanesia, encompassing indigenous knowledge passed informally between generations through oral traditions. While these systems vary between communities, in Papua New Guinea (PNG), the region's largest and most linguistically diverse nation, 'kastom' continues to inform professional life, including the practice of journalism. This article explores the relationship between 'kastom' and news reporting in PNG through a combination of video ethnography and semi-structured interviews. Drawing on Melanesian research methodology, the study shows how journalists themselves understand their profession and examines whether existing Western-style journalism training adequately prepares journalists for practice in PNG. The discussion highlights the difficulties and negotiations journalists encounter as they balance professional expectations with social and cultural obligations. The paper outlines core principles of kastom, as expressed through the wantok system, a network of kinship and reciprocal obligation, and illustrates how these norms inform the everyday experiences of journalists. While the study is interpretative rather than normative, the authors propose the concept of ‘polite watchdog’ as a culturally grounded framework that describes how journalists critically engage with powerful sources while maintaining respect for 'kastom'. This model suggests that democratic accountability can be pursued in ways consistent with local epistemologies, offering insights for other postcolonial contexts where Western journalism frameworks intersect with indigenous practices, such as in Fiji, Vanuatu or parts of the Caribbean.
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence Technology on Journalistic Practices, News Narratives and Ethical Challenges in a Local Media Outlet of Auckland
(Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Library, 2026-03-24) Guo, Yang
The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the newsrooms has seen an increasing prominence against a backdrop of digitalization of the media landscape. Local media, significant in its role in serving a specific geographic area or community, is at the forefront of challenges from AI technology. This paper intends to explore the specific influences of AI over the norms and professionalism of journalistic practices in a local media under the lens of public discourse, so as to testify whether AI could facilitate the media in widening or narrowing democratic participation. The research approaches ethnography of Channel 33, a television Channel which is based in Auckland and targets the Chinese community, as a case study, and the findings intend to spark further research addressing this issue with different methods and providing counterbalance suggestions to the professionals and policy makers.
Augment, Not Replace: Utilising AI Tools for Documentary Podcast Production
(Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Library, 2026-03-13) Tennant, Lewis
This project examines how emerging technologies are reshaping established media production practices within audio documentary storytelling. Despite podcasting’s growth as a cultural form, scholarship on podcast production remains limited, with much existing research focused on third-party analysis rather than creative practice. Addressing this gap, the project involved the production of a five-episode narrative documentary podcast alongside a critical evaluation of AI tools used across pre-production, production, and post-production workflows. The findings demonstrate that emerging technologies are most effective when augmenting, rather than substituting for, specialist human knowledge and judgement. ChatGPT 5.0 was useful for broad exploratory research and generating initial leads in unfamiliar fields but proved unreliable as a primary research tool for documentary pre-production, requiring a return to conventional research methods. During production—particularly in script development—the tool operated more successfully within a mixed-initiative workflow. However, the uneven quality and relevance of AI-generated material necessitated that creative and editorial decision-making remain firmly human-led. Overall, the project positions AI as an augmentative presence that both supports and constrains creativity and craft, reinforcing the centrality of human authorship in documentary podcast production.
Creative Expertise and Generative AI in Visual Design Practice
(Bath Spa University, 2026-03-17) Matthews, Justin; Nairn, Angelique; Fastnedge, Daniel; Asuncion, Angela; Guinibert, Matthew; Narayan, AD
This article examines how creative expertise is enacted when academics who are also experienced visual design practitioners work with generative AI (GenAI) to complete an industry-style creative brief. Responding to concerns that GenAI accelerates production while normalising derivative “AI slop,” we argue that these systems are powerful engines of variation but unreliable engines of meaning. As a result, expertise does not disappear; it becomes newly visible as practitioners repeatedly translate strategic intent into constraints the system can act on, then diagnose and repair the cultural, semantic, typographic, and compositional breakdowns that follow. Adopting a collective autoethnographic approach, five creative-academic participants (spanning graphic design, web design, advertising, and VFX) documented their GenAI-supported process while developing a fictional cereal brand based on the scientific term Nord Grain Zero. Over ten days, participants used multiple tools (e.g., Gemini, DALL·E, Firefly, Midjourney, Runway/Sora) and recorded think-aloud sessions, prompt logs, and artefacts, followed by an artefact-led group discussion. Reflexive thematic analysis identifies three dimensions of expert practice: inform (expert judgment anchors intent and prevents drift into generic or culturally incorrect shorthand), challenge (control is displaced into negotiation, encouraging “good enough” outcomes and workarounds), and extend (GenAI enables rapid parallel exploration and cross-model orchestration). We contribute the concept of stabilisation—the continuous labour of holding meaning steady across stochastic outputs—as a distinctive form of expert creative work in GenAI-era visual design.
Exploring the Multiverse in Media and Culture [Editorial]
(Queensland University of Technology, 2026-03-17) Nairn, Angelique; Piatti-Farnell, Lorna
Managing Spillover Crises in the Age of Generative AI
(Elsevier BV, 2025-10-28) Wang, Yijing; Laufer, Daniel
The rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has marked a significant shift in how organizations operate and innovate. While GenAI offers new opportunities, it has also created new risks that can escalate into crises. Importantly, these crises are not always limited to the organization where they originate but can spill over to other organizations in the same sector, leading to broader reputational consequences. This article investigates such spillover crises in the age of GenAI. We build on Laufer and Wang’s crisis spillover model and extend it to GenAI-related contexts. Specifically, we identify five types of spillover crises associated with GenAI and illustrate them through real-world cases. These cases highlight how reputational damage can extend beyond a single firm, affecting others in the industry. We propose a strategic framework to help organizations identify the risk of spillover crises, and we offer prescriptive guidance for avoiding, mitigating, or responding to spillover crises when they occur.
The Role of Social Context in Live Streaming Commerce – An Interpersonal Perspective
(Emerald, 2026-01-16) Ding, Jia; Wang, Yijing; Laufer, Daniel
Purpose In the dynamic arena of live streaming commerce, the influence of other viewers has surged to the forefront, marking a significant component of the social context. This study ventures into the interpersonal dynamics within live streaming commerce by delving into the effects of two factors – social presence and group identity salience – on consumer attitudes. Design/methodology/approach Two between-subject experiments were conducted to collect data. The hypotheses were verified by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and PROCESS macro. Findings Our findings reveal that higher social presence leads to positive persuasive outcomes, whereas the influence of group identity salience appears to be negligible. Crucially, the results demonstrate that attitudinal persuasion knowledge mediates the impact of social presence on consumer attitudes, shedding light on the underlying processes that govern consumer responses in the context of live streaming commerce. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is one of the first to investigate the heightened visibility of viewers within live streaming commerce, contributing to a nuanced perspective on the instrumental role of social context in driving consumer decision-making processes.
Unraveling Students’ Liking of Teachers: The Impact of Multimodal Cues during L2 English Vocabulary Teaching
(ISCA, 2024-06-04) Zhou, Jing; Gu, Yan
While speakers’ wording, prosody and gestures may affect perceivers’ liking of speakers, few studies investigate how teachers’ multimodal cues jointly impact students’ evaluation of second language (L2) teaching. We extracted 54 videos of vocabulary instruction delivered by four female L2 English teachers, varying features of prosody, linguistics, and gestures. 156 university students randomly watched 12 videos and rated their liking of each vocabulary teaching. Prosodic (speaking rate, mean pitch), linguistic (utterance length, question rate, total words) and gestural cues (iconic, beat) of videos were coded and analysed as predictors, while controlling for different teachers, teachers’ dressing formality, students’ working memory, English proficiency, and familiarity with the target vocabulary. Results showed that better working memory, higher English proficiency, and prior knowledge of the target word were positive predictors of students’ liking of teaching. Teachers using longer utterances, asking more questions tended to be less liked by students. Furthermore, male students significantly preferred teaching with a slower speaking rate, lower mean pitch, higher iconic gesture rate but lower beat rate, and more formal teacher attire. However, these effects were not significant for female students. In conclusion, teachers’ multimodal cues influence students’ liking of L2 teaching, with implications for education practice.
The Impact of Teachers' Multimodal Cues on Students' L2 Vocabulary Learning in Naturalistic Classroom Teaching
(UC Merced Library, 2024-07-02) Zhou, Jing; Gu, Yan
We investigated the impact of teachers' multimodal cues on L2 word learning in naturalistic teaching. 169 university students randomly watched 12 of 54 clips of English vocabulary instructions and took subsequent word recognition and learning tests. The learning outcomes were analysed as a function of teachers' prosodic, linguistic and gestural input during the instruction of each vocabulary while controlling for students' characteristics and varying teachers' influences. Results showed that a shorter mean length of utterances, fewer L2 English words, and more questions for students and ‚Äúphrase‚Äù teaching predicted better learning outcomes. Furthermore, students learning improved with teachers' slower speaking rate but fewer pauses and more iconic gestures. These results were robust even after controlling for other significant factors such as students' English proficiency, working memory, degree of liking of teachers and different teachers. Overall, multimodal cues enhance L2 vocabulary learning, with implications for educators, linguists, and cognitive scientists.

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