Communication Studies Archives

If it’s trending on social media, he’s probably heard about it

Northeastern graduate Terrence Johnson is co-host of a new YouTube show produced by WGBH, a public media broadcaster in Boston, that features analysis and insights about how social media users are engaging with the social, economic, and cultural issues of the day.

by Khalida Sarwari May 22, 2020

A United States Postal worker makes a delivery with gloves and a mask in Warren, Mich., Thursday, April 2, 2020. The U.S. Postal Service is keeping post offices open but ensuring customers stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) apart. The agency said it is following guidance from public health experts, although there is no indication that the new coronavirus COVID-19 is being spread through the mail. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Delivery workers step up during the COVID-19 pandemic

We shouldn’t forget letter carriers and package handlers who remain on the job during a worldwide health crisis to deliver an essential service, says Ryan Ellis, an assistant professor of communications and the author of a new book about the infrastructure challenges the U.S. faced following the terrorist attacks of 2001.

by Joe Halpern - contributor April 9, 2020

Northeastern researchers are embarking on a project to yield an Alexa-like device that could be used in professional settings to alert users to instances of implicit bias. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Could a smart device catch implicit bias in the workplace?

Northeastern associate professors Christoph Riedl and Brooke Foucault Welles are preparing to embark on a three-year project that could yield such a gadget.

by Khalida Sarwari January 29, 2020

Tom Nakayama, professor of communication studies at Northeastern, was named the 2019 recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Award from the National Communication Association. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

He explores the space where cultures collide

Over the course of his career, Thomas Nakayama, a professor of communication at Northeastern, has broached subjects that others have tended to shy away from. For his examination of topics such as sexuality, whiteness, Asian-American studies, masculinity, and power, he has received the Distinguished Scholar Award from the National Communication Association.

by Khalida Sarwari October 21, 2019

Can you hack your way to a better life?

Joseph Reagle, an associate professor of communication studies at Northeastern, dropped by News@Northeastern to discuss the pros and cons of life hacks.

by Khalida Sarwari May 22, 2019

Amy Lu, an assistant professor with joint appointments in the College of Arts, Media and Design and the Bouvé College of Health Sciences, found that young adults who play active video games with a narrative aspect increased their physical activity and improved their working memory. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Video games can improve your health. You just need to play the right ones.

Northeastern professor Amy Lu and postdoctoral researcher Jungyun Hwang found that following a narrative while playing a video game that gets you moving may lead to improved cognitive function.

by Allie Nicodemo July 24, 2018

<i>Photo by Adam Glanzman/Northeastern University</i>

Social media spotlight: Brooke Foucault Welles

Twitter is deeply intertwined with Welles’ academic work. We asked her about how she approaches using the social media platform for her research and teaching, what lessons she’s learned along the way, and about that time Michelle Obama tweeted at her.

by Greg St. Martin April 4, 2017

How new research and Sesame Street are expanding our understanding of autism

During National Autism Awareness Month, "Sesame Street" will air its first episode featuring a new Muppet: 4-year-old Julia, who has autism. Today the Northeastern chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma, along with the nonprofit Best Buddies, hosts its observance of Autism Awareness Day at Curry Crossroads. In recognition, we asked Northeastern experts to discuss some of the technologies being developed to help increase autonomy among people with autism.

by Thea Singer March 31, 2017

In her new book, professor Meryl Alper argues that while technologies that help people communicate are a step in the right direction, they have their own shortcomings. Photo by Adam Glanzman/Northeastern University

Professor examines benefits, social inequalities of voice technologies

Professor Meryl Alper argues that while technologies that help people communicate are a step in the right direction, they have their own shortcomings. Those technologies, she says, are subject to the same socioeconomic and social inequalities that govern society at large. Alper recently published a book on the topic.

by Molly Callahan February 28, 2017

A victory and an uncertain future at Standing Rock

Protests over laying the Dakota Access oil pipeline in North Dakota represent more than just a fight over water- and land rights; the movement represents “a recalibration of what it means to be more fully human in this modern world,” one university expert says. Here, we take a look at this complex issue from three angles—the politics, protests, and people of Standing Rock.

by Molly Callahan December 12, 2016