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Research institutions generate plenty of agricultural technologies which is capable of improving agricultural productivity. However, most of research outputs developed by research institutions were not properly communicated to the intended users. The current study, therefore, examined the factors that affect the application of communication strategies in the diffusion of agricultural innovations and technologies at the Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI). To conduct this study, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with senior experts from ARARI and purposefully selected farmers, respectively. The study also incorporated document analysis as a data collection instrument. The study predominantly used a qualitative approach to the research design. The findings of the study indicated that ARARI has dominantly followed traditional extension services that are slow, linear, hierarchical, and poorly funded. In relation to communication strategies, agricultural extension workers mostly used interpersonal communication strategies, while agricultural innovations and technologies were diffused to the end users. The findings also revealed that farmers still have a negative perception of the adoption and utilization of agricultural innovations and technologies that emerge from illiteracy, knowledge gaps, inexperience, fears, and lack of clear communication between extension workers and end users. Therefore, to clearly diffuse agricultural innovations and technologies to wider users, ARARAI as an institution should work largely in the adoption (cognitive activity), especially in awareness creation, knowledge management, and behavioral change communication to allow the users of the innovation as well as better to adopt and spread the technology to many users. This study delves into the critical examination of factors influencing the application of communication strategies in the diffusion of agricultural innovations and technologies at the Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) in Ethiopia. The findings reveal a predominant reliance on traditional extension services characterized by slowness, linearity, hierarchy, and inadequate funding within ARARI. Interpersonal communication strategies employed by agricultural extension workers emerge as the primary conduit for disseminating agricultural innovations and technologies to end-users, predominantly farmers. Crucially, the study uncovers a persistently negative perception among farmers regarding the adoption and utilization of agricultural innovations and technologies. Rooted in issues such as illiteracy, knowledge gaps, inexperience, fears, and a lack of clear communication between extension workers and end-users, these challenges pose significant barriers to the successful integration of technological advancements in agriculture.

This study investigates language curriculum development in higher education, focussing on increasing students' interest in communication and literacy. It discusses the curriculum's implementation, factors influencing literacy interest, the role of communication practice-based learning, and its effectiveness in preparing students for the workforce. Using a qualitative approach with a case study design in several universities in Aceh, data were collected through in-depth interviews, curriculum analysis, and classroom observations. The findings reveal that the current curriculum does not effectively enhance students' communication skills, especially globally. The main barriers include low material relevance and limited technology integration in learning. Practice-based learning methods have proven more effective in engaging students than traditional approaches. The study concludes that the curriculum needs to be updated to better align with global workforce demands, emphasizing adaptability to social, cultural, and technological changes.

Advertising is a component of the promotional mix that is used to create awareness about goods and services and ultimately intends to influence buyers' purchase decisions positively. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of advertising characteristics of Impressiveness, Simple to Understand, Attention Grabbing, Memorable, Creative, and Honest on consumers' buying behavior in telecommunications products and services. The study employed descriptive and explanatory research designs. A convenience sampling technique was implemented to select and administer 384 consumers of Safaricom Ethiopia. The findings of the study revealed that impressive, memorable, and creative advertisement characteristics have a statistically positive significant impact on consumer buying behavior, while simple-to-understand, attention-grabbing, and honest ads do not. The study helps marketers to gain a deeper understanding of how to influence consumers' purchasing decisions. The study implies that marketers need to have consciousness for further marketing research development and the schemes for planning an efficient marketing strategy in responding to consumer needs.

The diffusion of innovations theory emphasizes the importance of disseminating information to promote innovation through various communication channels. However, research exploring this theory within communication studies has been relatively sparse, particularly regarding its influence on promoting individual innovation and sustaining ongoing advancements. This study employs a quantitative bibliometric analysis to provide fresh insights into the diffusion of innovations theory in the context of communication research. To achieve this, we utilized a range of bibliometric techniques, including citation analysis, co-authorship evaluation, co-occurrence analysis, and data visualization using VOSviewer. The results indicate that the diffusion of innovations theory is extensively applied across various disciplines. Our co-authorship analysis identifies authors Wang Xueqin and Yuen Kum Fai as significant references for future exploration in this area. Additionally, the co-occurrence analysis reveals that the keywords 'adoption' and 'innovation' have evolved into diverse research contexts. Furthermore, this study highlights the issue of plagiarism, which has been exacerbated by the Internet's accessibility, enabling individuals to misappropriate the ideas of others. Therefore, there is an urgent need for further development in communication studies that incorporates insights from other multidisciplinary fields to address the research gaps identified through our co-occurrence analysis.

This study investigated the intricate interplay of fear, knowledge, and power in shaping pandemic narratives, focusing specifically on the COVID-19 crisis through historical intertextuality and genealogy. Drawing upon Kristeva’s concept of intertextuality and Foucault’s genealogical approach, the research analysed recurring patterns in constructing and disseminating knowledge surrounding disease outbreaks from the Plague of Athens to the present day. Through examining symbols of fear across economic, political, and cultural-religious dimensions, the study revealed how pandemics have consistently served as arenas for power struggles, scapegoating, and ideological control. The COVID-19 pandemic, unfolding in a hyper-connected world characterized by globalized information systems and pervasive social media, amplified these historical dynamics, accelerating the spread of both fear and misinformation. Furthermore, the study traced the evolution of societal responses to pandemics, from the fatalistic acceptance prevalent in earlier eras to the contemporary recognition of human agency, now intertwined with digital networks and algorithmic control. Ultimately, this research underscored the enduring and complex relationship between fear, knowledge, and power, offering critical insights into pandemics’ societal and ethical challenges. By situating COVID-19 within a broader historical context, this study advocated for a more equitable and compassionate global response to future health crises.

This paper analyses the coverage and socio-contextual representation of the single-use plastics ban by two mainstream newspapers in Malawi, The Daily Times and The Nation Newspapers, between January 2019 and December 2022. Single-use Plastics are one of the most significant environmental issues threatening the ecosystem and inducing climate change, with substantial costs to Malawi’s tourism industry, agriculture, and health. Informed by the social representations theory and thematic analysis, the study established political and expert indexing that reproduced the views of those in power. The dominant themes from the newspapers included policy and court proceedings, demonstrating the heavy contestation of the issue. In its discursive strategies, the news media employed criminal and monster metaphors to portray single-use plastics as a villain in environmental degradation. Given this, the article argues that though the single-use plastic ban is a rational idea, apparent alternatives that resonate with the general public directly dependent on single-use plastics should be provided for effective implementation and enforcement. The article concludes that newspapers’ threatening representation and reliance on government and experts’ views while marginalising the public directly involved with single-plastic use offers no urgent and pragmatic positive solutions in the face of increasing plastic waste.

Many methods have been developed since the 1980s to measure Brand Equity (BE). These methods range from theoretical and pragmatic approaches to qualitative methods that determine the rankings of remembrance, emotionality, and valuation based on the likelihood of purchasing a good, or service. The goal of this systematic review was to identify gaps in the literature and provide recommendations for future research by analyzing and summarizing the available data on models used to quantify BE. A systematic search of Dialnet, Ebsco, Google Scholar, Isi We of Knowledge, Redalyc, Science Direct, Scopus, Scielo, and Web of Science was performed using PRISMA principles. Of the 551 abstracts screened, only 23 met inclusion criteria. The review showed that no model allows for a comprehensive evaluation of BE. This makes it easier for us to understand and recognize their benefits, and drawbacks. Although there are many variations, none has been adequately verified to be reliably quantified. The combination of variables between the models indicates that the measurement does not produce an agreement between the theoretical and pragmatic. Everybody tries to appreciate the intangible, yet they all overlook branding messaging. Our findings shows that a thorough proposal incorporating a model that enables the inclusion of both tangible and intangible BE factors is required.

This study investigates how the post-truth phenomenon, characterized by widespread disinformation and eroding trust in expertise, affects security decision-making. It examines how post-truth alters security perceptions and threat assessments, the role of emerging technologies and biases in disseminating disinformation, and the mitigating influence of regulatory frameworks in Morocco. Employing a mixed quali-quantitative approach, the study focuses on Morocco, analyzing 5670 press releases and official communications from key security institutions. The quantitative phase uses topic modeling (LDA) to identify dominant themes, while the qualitative phase employs visual and documentary analyses to verify these trends. Findings indicate that disinformation in Morocco manifests primarily through ideological polarization and operational challenges in intelligence. This dual impact undermines reliable information flow and complicates strategic decision-making. Broader implications suggest the need for robust regulatory measures, enhanced digital literacy, and advanced analytical tools to protect security decision-making processes in a post-truth era.

This study investigates the impact of media multitasking on the two most popular constructs in advertising and public relations research - attitude toward the ad (AT AD ) and the brand (AT BR ), as well as their relationship with purchase intention. While media multitasking is a common behavior among research participants of online surveys and experiments associated with lower data quality, its impact on research has not been adequately examined. We address this using a 2 (media multitasking: present vs. absent) × 3 (ad message repetition) mixed factorial experiment design (N = 229). Our findings reveal that media multitasking harms unidimensionality and measurement invariance properties of AT AD , particularly for less familiar brands. In contrast, the effect on AT BR is more nuanced, and the impact on the relationship between AT AD , AT BR and purchase intention is negligible. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how media multitasking affects data quality, particularly concerning the measurement of two key constructs widely used in marketing and communication fields. Our work offers valuable insights for scholars and practitioners, highlighting the importance of considering the potential impact of media multitasking when analyzing and interpreting research findings.

This volume uses autoethnography—cultural analysis through personal narrative—to explore the tangled relationships between culture and communication. Using an intersectional approach to the many aspects of identity at play in everyday life, a diverse group of authors reveals the complex nature of lived experiences. They situate interpersonal experiences of gender, race, ethnicity, ability, and orientation within larger systems of power, oppression, and social privilege. An excellent resource for undergraduates, graduate students, educators, and scholars in the fields of intercultural and interpersonal communication, and qualitative methodology. Foreword: Merging Culture and Personal Experience in Critical Autoethnography, Carolyn Ellis and Arthur BochnerIntroduction: Cultural Autoethnography as Method of Choice, Robin M. Boylorn & Mark P. OrbeSection I: Complicating Mundane Everyday Life EncountersIntroductionChapter 1: The Transitory Radical: Making Place with Cancer, Jeanine M. Minge and John Burton Sterner Chapter 2: Negating the Inevitable: Empowerment Through Autoethnography and Retrospective Sensemaking, Tabatha L. RobertsChapter 3: Post-Coming Out Complications, Tony E. AdamsSection II: Embracing Ambiguous and Non-Binary IdentitiesIntroductionChapter 4: Negotiating More, (Mis)labeling the Body: A Tale of Intersectionality, Amber L. JohnsonChapter 5: Performing Fortune Cookie: An Autoethnographic Performance on Diasporic Hybridity, Richie Neil HaoChapter 6: Critical Autoethnography as Intersectional Praxis: A Performative Pedagogical Interplay onBleeding Borders of Identity, Bryant Keith AlexanderSection III: Negotiating Socially Stigmatized IdentitiesIntroductionChapter 7: A Story & A Stereotype: A Race(d), Class(ed) & Gender(ed) Auto/ethnography, Robin M. BoylornChapter 8: Caught in Code: Arab American Identity, Image, and Lived Reality, Desiree YomtoobChapter 9: Lather, Rinse, Reclaim: Cultural (Re)Conditioning of the Gay (Bear) Body, Patrick SantoroChapter 10: The (Dis)ability Double Life: Exploring the Terrible Dichotomy of (Il)Legitimacy in HigherEducation, Dana Morella-PozziSection IV: Creating Pathways to Authentic SelvesIntroductionChapter 11: Socio-economic Im(Mobility): Resisting Classifications Within a 'Post-Projects' Identity, Mark P. OrbeChapter 12: Mindful Heresy, Holo-expression, and Poesis: An Autoethnographic Response to the Orthodoxies of Interpersonal & Cultural Life, Sarah Amira de la GarzaChapter 13: Favor: An Autoethnography of Survival, Rex L. CrawleyConclusion: Critical Autoethnography: Implications & Future Directions, Mark P. Orbe & Robin M. BoylornAbout the Editors and ContributorsIndex \"In this groundbreaking volume, Robin and Mark bring together autoethnographic and critical standpoints to examine everyday interpersonal and cultural experiences of identity from the inside out. The authors gently, lovingly, vulnerably, and incisively extend the work of autoethnography and invite us--all of us--to appreciate the ways in which an intersectional approach reveals the relationships among culture, communication, identity, emotions, and everyday lived experience.\" --From the Foreword by Carolyn Ellis and Arthur Bochner