FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n
November 17, 2022<\/p>\n
A team of faculty from the Joetta Di Bella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in the School of Communication and Media at 星空无限传媒 University released a study today that analyzes social media data and global news surrounding various boycott and protest movements as the FIFA World Cup kicks off this weekend in Qatar.<\/p>\n Highlights from the study show that Qatar\u2019s systematic abuse of labor (reportedly more than 6,500 migrant workers have died while supporting infrastructure and construction for the tournament) and the country\u2019s blatant discrimination against women and LGBTQ+ people have led to online movements to boycott the tournament, some cities to ban public viewing events and teams to activate anti-discrimination campaigns on and away from the pitch.<\/p>\n While the ramifications on TV ratings, sponsor sentiment and a renewed and heightened focus on human rights won\u2019t be fully realized until the tournament begins on Sunday and through its conclusion, the study found the following:<\/p>\n \u201cThe decision to award Qatar the World Cup was controversial from the beginning for many reasons, and the online conversations about boycotting the tournament and various forms of protest over the last month validate those concerns,\u201d said Dr. Yi Luo, Associate Professor in the School of Communication and Media at 星空无限传媒 University.<\/p>\n The full study, which can be found\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0was conducted by faculty Dr. Yi Luo, Dr. Jin-A Choi, Dr. Stephen Andon, Dr. Bond Benton, and Mr. Keith Green from the\u00a0Joetta Di Bella and Fred C. Sautter III Center for Strategic Communication<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0which provides social media analytics tools and training for faculty and students for classroom learning and research projects.<\/p>\n The team will also release a separate study on Monday before Team USA\u2019s first game that analyzes social media chatter surrounding favorite teams, players, brands and issues such as online gambling are driving the conversation.<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n About the School of Communication and Media:<\/strong>\u00a0Founded in 2012, the School of Communication and Media offers a range of dynamic programs in communication and media to a talented and diverse student population of over 1,500. Offering degrees in film and television, social media and public relations, advertising, journalism and digital media, sports communication, animation and visual effects, and an MA in public and organizational relations, the School prepares the next generation of communication and media practitioners and leaders. The School houses award-winning student programs that include\u00a0WMSC Radio<\/a>,\u00a0The Montclarion<\/a>\u00a0newspaper,\u00a0Hawk Communications<\/a>\u00a0PR Agency, the\u00a0Red Hawk Sports Network<\/a>,\u00a0Hawk+<\/a>\u00a0OTT streaming platform, and\u00a0News Lab<\/a>, as well as the\u00a0Center for Cooperative Media<\/a>, which serves the public by working to grow and strengthen local journalism. Recent national School recognitions include an Edward R. Murrow Award, several Marconi Award nominations, and a College Television Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n\n
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