Member News & Notes

Member News
February 4, 2021

In the Media

In a MinnPost op-ed, Jeffery L. Bineham, St. Cloud State University, argued that “manufactured scientific controversy,” especially in the case of COVID-19, can be deadly. 

In a segment from The 21st, Emma Frances Bloomfield, University of Nevada Las Vegas, dug into why some people have deviated from public health guidelines, despite the danger of COVID-19. Bloomfield also offered suggestions on how to reach people who believe COVID-19 misinformation on Business Insider.  

What do the numerous selfies posted by the January 6 rioters say about what they were thinking as they stormed the Capitol Building? In USA Today, Mary Angela Bock, University of Texas at Austin, weighed in.  

In The Conversation, Kurt Braddock, American University, drew on theories about social influence and persuasion to make the case that Trump’s rhetoric could have incited violence. 

In an Iowa City Press-Citizen op-ed, Richard Cherwitz, University of Texas at Austin, discussed the importance of understanding fallacies in our current political environment. 

Jayson Dibble, Hope College, offered some advice on CNN about talking to friends and family about creating and maintaining a COVID-19 “bubble.” 

In the Hartford Courant, Elizabeth Dorrance Hall, Michigan State University, predicted that decision-making will still be stressful, even as more people are vaccinated for COVID-19. 

On Yahoo!News, Hannah Getachew-Smith, Northwestern University, discussed the importance of a “detection mindset” when discussing a COVID-19 diagnosis. 

Radhika Gajjala, Bowling Green State University, talked with WTVG about Trump’s use of violent language in social media posts.  

In Inside Higher Ed, Myra Gutin, Rider University, weighed in on the importance of First Lady Jill Biden’s decision to continue working as a community college professor during Joe Biden’s presidency. 

Jeffrey Hall, University of Kansas, suggested to CNN that we may continue using Zoom for work meetings and other gatherings, even after the pandemic ends. 

When companies do something wrong and need to address it, what should they do? Amy Ebesu Hubbard, University of Hawaii, talked with Bloomberg about the importance of apologizing. 

In the Texas Standard, Jennifer Mercieca, Texas A&M University, commented on President Trump’s January 6 remarks. 

In The Conversation, John Murphy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, enumerated the challenges that faced Joe Biden’s team during the presidential transition. Murphy also ranked the top five inaugural addresses in the Champaign News-Gazette . 

In a USA Today op-ed, Brian L. Ott, Missouri State University, and Greg Dickinson, Colorado State University, commented on Twitter’s decision to permanently ban Donald Trump. 

In Deseret News, Kendall Phillips, Syracuse University, described how Wandavision might relate to the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Robert Rowland, University of Kansas, described to Fast Company how Trump has courted white supremacists and how some of Trump’s supporters have used symbols of hate and violence. 

On WFTS, Joshua Scacco, University of South Florida, weighed in on the role social media plays in political polarization. 

In the Washington Post, Matthew Seeger, Wayne State University, noted that some of the fear-based messaging around Thanksgiving might have backfired when it came to Christmas.

In the Boston Globe, Michael Serazio, Boston College, argued that the Biden White House may be more hospitable to activist athletes. 

In the Laredo Morning Times, Lu Tang, Texas A&M University, answered questions about how to address misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines. 

In the Visalia Times Delta, Dave Tell, University of Kansas, remarked on the importance of civil rights museums and other museums of Black history. 

In an Inside Higher Ed op-ed, Richard Vatz, Towson University, argued for more university statements that protect conservative professors’ academic freedom. 

In the Christian Science Monitor, Andrew Wolvin, University of Maryland, weighed in on the importance of listening and having someone to listen.


Awards

Laurie Lewis (University of Texas San Antonio) received the American Library Association CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title designation for the new book, The Power of Strategic Listening in Contemporary Organizations, which CHOICE magazine describes as "a must-read for organizational leaders, scholars, and students in organizational communication, management, public administration, and labor relations."