Journal of Applied Communication Research

Editorial Assistants:
Kathleen G. Vidoloff, North Dakota State University, USA
Steven Venette, North Dakota State University, USA

Kicking off 2007, JACR highlighted a Special Issue on the Atlantic Hurricane Season. In 2005, three major storms permanently affected the way of life for many, especially in New Orleans. Featured research focused on applied communication issues with hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and provided recommendations for how communication processes could be more effective in future disasters. Dennis Gouran (Penn State University) and Matthew W. Seeger (Wayne State University) were the guest editors for the special issue.

Timothy Gibson's commentary “WARNING - The Existing Media System May Be Toxic to Your Health: Health Communication and the Politics of Media Reform” argues that health communication scholars should work with media reformers to transform the media system in ways that advance public health goals.  

This issue highlights new research by Dr. Lisa Sparks. In A patient-centered approach to breaking bad news: Communication guidelines for health care providers  Lisa Sparks*, Melinda M. Villagran, Jessica Parker-Raley, and Cory B. Cunningham examine strategies physicians use to deliver bad news to patients. This investigation underscores the importance of using effective communication strategies to achieve patient satisfaction and compliance.

Julian Scholl's manuscript, “The use of humor to promote patient-centered care” also looks at the use of humor as a means to promote patient centered care within a hospital unit designed to encourage therapeutic humor. Gill and Babrow's article To Hope or to Know: Coping with Uncertainty and Ambivalence in Women's Magazine Breast Cancer Articles applies problematic integration theory (Babrow, 1992, in press) in an interpretive analysis of all breast cancer articles appearing in 5 top-circulating women's magazines between the years 1997 and 2002.

Finally, Steven Rains's study examines the influence of anonymous sources on health websites on the perceptions and attitudes of information seekers in The Anonymity Effect: The Influence of Perceptions of Sources on Information Health Website.

Manuscript Submission

All submissions should be made online at the JACR Manuscript Central site. New users should first create an account. Once a user is logged onto the site, submissions should be made via the Author Centre. The URL is http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/RJAC.

The journal is not restricted to particular theoretical or methodological perspectives. Manuscripts reflecting diverse issues, scholarly modes of inquiry, and innovative thinking about the ways in which communication is shaped and functions in human interaction are welcome.

The journal is peer reviewed and has a tradition of high standards.

Acceptance rates

Editor Timothy Sellnow (2005-2006) : 3.85% (Acceptance rates are calculated on the three-year editorial term of the previous editor.)

Editorial Board

Rasha A. Abdulla - The American University in Cairo, Egypt Tamara Afifi - Pennsylvania State University, USA Jerry Allen - University of New Haven, USA Mike Allen - University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA Patricia Amason - University of Arkansas, USA Ronald Arnett - Duquesne University, USA Karen L. Ashcraft - University of Utah, USA  Diane Badzinski - Bethel College, USA Kevin J. Barge - University of Georgia, USA  William L. Benoit - University of Missouri, USA  Carl Botan - George Mason University, USA Joshua Boyd - Purdue University, USA Mary Bozik - University of Northern Iowa, USA Jeffrey Brand - Milliken University, USA Dawn Braithwaite - University of Nebraska, USA David Buller - The Cooper Institute, USA Patrice M. Buzzanell - Purdue University, USA  James W. Chesebro - Ball State University, USA Kenneth N. Cissna - University of South Florida, USA  Dr. Timothy Coombs - Eastern Illinois University, USA Pam Cooper - University of South Carolina, Beaufort, USA Brenda Dervin - Ohio State University, USA Scott Dickmeyer - University of Wisconsin, USA Lynn Disbrow - Sinclair Community College, USA Debbie S. Dougherty - University of Missouri, USA Mohan Dutta-Bergman - Purdue University, USA Eric M. Eisenberg - University of South Florida, USA Susan Eggly - Wayne State University, School of Medicine, USA  Thomas Endres - University of Northern Colorado, USA Deanna L. Fassett - San Jos State University, USA Kathleen Fearn-Banks - University of Washington, USA Lawrence R. Frey - University of Colorado at Boulder, USA Dennis Gouran - Penn State University, USA Thomas Gencarelli - Manhattan College at Riverdale, New York, USA Lynn Harter - Ohio University, USA Sally Hastings - University of Central Florida, USA Keith Hearit - Western Mighigan University, USA Robert Heath - University of Houston, USA Michael Hecht - Penn State University, USA Kelly Herold - Winona State University, USA Rachel Holloway - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA Judith Hoover - Western Kentucky University, USA Joel Iverson - Texas A&M University, USA

Kathryn Kelly - Metropolitan State University, USA Joann Keyton - University of Kansas, USA Erika L. Kirby - Creighton University, USA  Michael W. Kramer - University of Missouri-Columbia, USA  Gary L. Kreps - George Mason University, USA Renee Meyers - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA Robert McPhee - Arizona State University, USA Michael Morgan - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA Susan E. Morgan - Purdue University, USA Timothy P. Mottett - Texas State University-San Marcos, USA Paul E. Nelson - North Dakota State University, USA Anne Nicotera - University of Maryland, USA Jon Nussbaum - Pennsylvania State University, USA Amy O'Connor - North Dakota State University, USA Dan H. O'Hair - University of Oklahoma, USA  James A. Rada - Howard University, USA Steven Ralston - Northern Illinois University, USA Sally Ray - Western Kentucky University, USA Randall G. Rogan - Wake Forest University, USA Karen Ross - Coventry University, UK Katherine E. Rowan - George Mason University, USA Robert Rowland - University of Kansas, USA Matthew Seeger - Wayne State University, USA Heather L. Seipke - The University of Michigan-Flint, USA Michelle Shumate - North Dakota State University, USA Cheri Simonds - Illinois State University, USA J. W. Smith - Ohio University, USA Lisa Sparks - George Mason University, USA Jeffrey K. Springston - University of Georgia, USA Lance Strate - Fordham University, USA Sunwolf - Santa Clara University, USA Maureen Taylor - Rutgers University, USA Scott Titsworth - Ohio University, USA Paula S. Tompkins - Saint Cloud State University, USA Kristen Treinen - Minnesota State University, Mankato, USA Robert Ulmer - University of Arkansas-Little Rock, USA Kathleen Valde - Northern Illinois University, USA John T. Warren - Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA Susanne Williams - Minnesota State University, Moorhead, USA Debra Worley - Indiana State University, USA Theodore E. Zorn, Jr. - University of Waikato, USA