Is it possible to create a favorable impression of greenness on skin care websites?

Parallel to the upswing in the modern environmental movement, companies and brands have emphasized green attributes and imagery to sell qualities of the natural world. However, consumers have become highly skeptical about green messaging and express distrust toward companies and brands claiming to be green. The web has thus emerged as an effective platform for a company or brand to promote their environmental responsibility. The present study explores this further by taking a qualitative case study approach that deconstructs how three popular skin care brands impress consumers that a brand is green and communicates caring for the environment. The findings show that each brand established a green identity with visuals, color, and text signifying eco-friendly and caring for the environment as part of its web-based communication. However, the analysis discovered noticeable differences in what brands say they do with what they do in which brands aim to lessen their environmental impact

Advocating Environmental Issues Beyond Photography

Disenchanted with traditional media (e.g., newspapers, television, radio) and political scheming of environmental issues, photographers have recently cultivated media partnerships and alliances with specialized entities to tell stories through niche media channels and emerging media platforms (e.g., email, blogs, websites, podcasts, social media). Therefore, this research explored how modern photographers visualize what is happening to people, places, and spaces on a changing planet and how they use emerging technologies in an effort to make a difference. Interviews with photographers working with environment and nature organizations revealed for now, photographers' use all media to generate awareness and compel action. The bulk of the photographers interviewed also are rethinking storytelling through a collaboration of media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, blogs, websites, etc.) to show how humankind have affected the degradation of the Earth and all its inhabitants; and, with any luck stir their emotions so they move people to action

Social activism: Engaging millennials in social causes

Given that young adults consume and interact with digital technologies not only a daily basis, but extensively throughout the day, it stands to reason they are more actively involved in advocating social change particularly through social media. However, national surveys of civic engagement indicate civic and community engagement drops-off after high school and while millennials attend college. While past research has compiled evidence about young adults’ social media use and some social media behaviors, limited literature has investigated the audience’s perspective of social activism campaigns through social media. Research also has focused on the adoption of new technologies based on causal linkages between perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, yet few studies have considered how these dynamics relate to millennials engagement with others using social media for social good. This project builds on past research to investigate the relationship between millennials’ online exposure to information about social causes and motives to take part in virtual and face-to-face engagement. Findings suggest that while digital media environments immerse participants in mediated experiences that merge both the off-line and online worlds, and has a strong effect on person’s influence to do something, unclear is the extent to which social media and social interactions influence millennials willingness to engage both online and in-person. Even so, the results of this study indicate millennials are open to using social media for social causes, and perhaps increasing engagement off-line too

Communicating environmental change beyond photography

Includes bibliographical references (page 171-191) and index

What Photo Editors/Managers Want Photo Students to Learn

Photo managers and editors recommend educators continue to provide students an education that focuses on writing and storytelling skills, coupled with critical thinking and visual literarcy skills

The Dragonfly Effect: Analysis of the Social Media Women’s Empowerment Campaign

Social media can advocate for social causes and catalyse audience support. To better understand the role of social media in advocacy communication, this article explores how advocates utilised Facebook to advocate for the ‘Taa Marbuta’ women empowerment campaign in Egypt. Our research draws on the dragonfly effect model and muted group theory as theoretical and analytical frameworks. In-depth interviews are conducted with advocates from all campaign partners who were directly involved in planning and managing the campaign. Following the dragonfly effect model, findings show that the campaign has a clear goal and uses various message strategies and pop culture for grabbing audience attention and generating audience engagement; however, there is no clear call for action. Thematic analysis also reveals two emerging themes: customisation of women empowerment communication and a supportive community of women empowerment that can stimulate societal debates necessary for social change. This study contends that including men can mitigate the muted effect on women in a male-dominant society and paves the way towards women’s empowerment. Overall, this study shows how social media helps make the ‘Taa Marbuta’ campaign an icon of women empowerment