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Summer 2024

Communication, Academic

Book title We Few, We Academic Sisters in stylized orange and red lines
Summer 2024

WSU academic sisters look back

They launched their careers at Washington State University in the 1960s and ’70s, becoming full professors during a time when reaching that milestone was extremely rare for women. Forty years later, a friend and colleague urged the “Troika,” as they call themselves, to tell their stories in a volume that she then edited.

We Few, We Academic Sisters: How We Persevered and Excelled in Higher Education was published by WSU Press in 2023. The same year, WSU’s department of sociology, where the trio worked, turned 100. The authors and their editor, all longtime friends, took part in the centennial celebration, presenting a panel … » More …

letters arranged on wooden board background to spell misinformation
Spring 2024

Slowing misinformation’s spread: Q&A with Porismita Borah

Porismita Borah, a professor at Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, researches the spread of misinformation on digital platforms. While rumors, conspiracies, and falsehoods abound online, Borah says corrections and content warnings are effective ways to slow the spread of misinformation.

She talked to Washington State Magazine about why we are susceptible to false information and how we can be more astute about spotting misinformation.

 

Q: We frequently hear these two terms—misinformation and disinformation. What do they mean?

A: Both are false, but misinformation can be shared without the person knowing that it is incorrect. Disinformation is far … » More …

Teenagers searching online with mobile phones and tablet
Spring 2024

TikTok Rx: Youth turn to social media for health advice

Young people have lots of questions about diet, exercise, and sexual health. TikTok is one of their most trusted venues for finding out information.

“They’ll go to TikTok and ask questions,” says Nicole O’Donnell, assistant professor at Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. “They’re learning about health mostly through other people’s stories rather than some of the traditional health information you might get online.”

But are they getting good health advice? In a recent study, O’Donnell analyzed health content on TikTok. Influencers with motivational stories were prevalent, while content from credentialed health providers was lacking.

… » More …