Corporate communication, regional identities, silenced voices: all are part of the School of Journalism and Communication’s two-day conference as part of FPA Research Month.
The conference reflects the School’s commitment to student research as one of the largest and—at twenty years—oldest communications programs in Canada.
“Our program attracts high caliber students who go on to distinguished careers in academia, government, communications, among other fields,” says School of Journalism and Communication Director Josh Greenberg. “We believe the solid research foundation they acquire during their graduate studies plays a key role in their success.”
Among the topics explored during the conference was the use of “deceptive corporate codes” in advertising and promotions and whether it is a necessary evil.
The event featured the work of three visiting academics: Reneta Malta from the Universidade Federal de Sergipe in Brazil on gender representation; Adam Thomlison from the University of Ottawa on the oil sands debate; and Jaclyn Nardone of Western University on branding university buildings.
Among the findings was Thomlison’s discovery that while NGOs preferred to use photos of the oil sands themselves, the industry opted for symbolism to make their pitch.
In the case of Nardone’s research, she found Western University is rebranding itself with posters of successful alumni because “in tough economic times, you have to be strategic and promote students who are successful in industry”.
Their work led the moderator, School of Journalism and Communication Professor Gina Grosenick, to ask whether corporations and organizations can find a balance between persuasion and realism.
The conference continues on Friday with the following panels, all in the River Building, second floor:
Resisting Silenced Narratives at 9:15 am
Infrastructural Divides at 10:45 am
The Limits of Political Systems at 10:45 am
Visual (Mis)recognitions at 1:30 pm
Informational Gaps at 1:30 pm
Audiovisual Dialogues and Silences at 3 pm
Thursday, March 5, 2015 in FPA Research Series, News
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