❄️In her last Director's Letter of 2025, Michelle Amazeen @commscholar.bsky.social gives a recap on all the past fall semester happenings at the CRC; including lecture series, research studies, podcast episodes, community-fostering, and more. Read the December 2025 Letter here 👉 tinyurl.com/566rd2wj

CRC Director Michelle Amazeen (@commscholar.bsky.social) 's November 2025 Director's Letter is here! 🍁 In the midst of a climate crisis, she discusses Americans' diminishing faith in corporations' climate promises and the role media plays. 🔗 Read it here: tinyurl.com/mrxb6n4j

The latest CRC x IPSOS survey finds that Americans’ trust in corporations to tackle climate change is declining. Only 48% believed that “corporate initiatives to address climate change will make a difference,” - a big drop from the 60% backing the statement in 2022 Read here 👉 tinyurl.com/52j2a6mt

In her October 2025 Director's Letter, Michelle Amazeen @commscholar.bsky.social shares the findings of a CRC survey concerning First Amendment protections against government censorship in private media. Read it here 👉 tinyurl.com/y7xpjpyd

Calling all 18-24 year-olds in Boston! 📢 Join our study on young adults’ media habits at @comatbu.bsky.social @bucomresearch.bsky.social. Your insights matter! See below to learn more & sign up. Please share with friends! #Boston #Research #MediaStudy

In my October Director's Letter from @bucomresearch.bsky.social, I talk with Drs. @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social & @morganweiland.bsky.social about public views on navigating governmental pressure, protecting free speech, and the future of media freedom. #FirstAmendment sites.bu.edu/crc/2025/10/...

This interview with @katycoduto.bsky.social explores the adverse psychological effects true crime and compulsive social media usage has on consumers. "You’re getting people who are saying, 'I literally can’t help but post and engage'", observes Prof. Coduto. Read here: tinyurl.com/ms7uc4ym

Trump has utilized recent A.I advancements and the meme-based online political landscape to boost his media presence. According to @commscholar.bsky.social, “He’s a master media manipulator, going way back...and it gives the illusion that this is the way things are now.” tinyurl.com/y2dhfj23

The CRC's latest survey finds that government censorship of mass media is largely opposed by bipartisan majorities. 🎤 73% of Americans across political lines agree the First Amendment should protect media companies and talk show hosts from government censorship. Read it here 👉 tinyurl.com/563xjvke

@commscholar.bsky.social's CRC x Ipsos survey discovers a vast majority of Americans support regulations for "deepfakes". Over 84% of participants agreed individuals should be protected from the unauthorized use of their voice and visual likeness in media. 🔗Full article here: tinyurl.com/3ud5sysu

✨ Tune in to Dr. Michael G. Elasmar's Colloquim Series Lecture this Wednesday, September 24th at 3:30pm in COM 101! In his lecture, Dr. Elasmar will present an AI-assisted methodology that aims to quantify validity for social media text expressions. RSVP here! 👉 forms.gle/9pzn8NdErgm6...

Check out this piece about ‘The COMversation’ Podcast: Prof. Howell sits down to talk about the evolution of the CRC podcast and how her brainchild became a reality, showing us that The COMversation is more than just a conversation. 🔗 Read it here: www.bu.edu/com/articles...

The September 2025 Director's Letter from Director Michelle Amazeen @commscholar.bsky.social is out! 🍂 Including a lineup of colloquium talks, COM networking & research training opportunities, a continuing public opinion poll, podcast announcements, and more. Read here 👉 tinyurl.com/2v362866

🎉 Congrats to Cen 'April' Yue, Ph.D on winning the 2024 Karen Russell Award for Most Downloaded Article in JPRR for “Public Relations Meets Artificial Intelligence [...].” This is well-deserved recognition for your impactful work, April! More here 👉

In her August Letter to the Director, @commscholar.bsky.social warns of rising threats to democracy, from book bans to climate denial. She reaffirms the CRC’s commitment to research that defends evidence and the public’s right to know. 🔗 Read here: tinyurl.com/ybdsdh8v

In the early days, there were whispers of a site called 4chan. A fringe site: a hive of dangerous beliefs & volitility. However, that place is now ‘X’; its place in the MAGA-Trump feud is indisputable. “X is ground zero for a lot of what’s going on,” says @bostonjoan.bsky.social tinyurl.com/9as9nu8p

🗳️Gen-Z candidate Deja Foxx is being called an “influencer,” but that’s not giving her a fair shake. @katycoduto.bsky.social‬ frames this phenomenon strategically. It’s not accurate to call Foxx an influencer; instead, she’s building local momentum on national platforms. tinyurl.com/3tycdyva

🤖 “It’s almost like we never even spoke,” says a Bumble user, when reality fell short & he found himself resentful of the AI his match likely used. @katycoduto.bsky.social writes that, when swiping, we want to be sure they’re showing their true self. tinyurl.com/ye29yj44

🐝 With Bumble laying off over 1/3 of their workforce, the dating app burnout is threatening these companies. @katycoduto.bsky.social‬ weighs in "I think they're kind of trying to steamroll through this technology fatigue [...], and they're going to burn people out more." tinyurl.com/2y4fk5ma

🥳 Please join us in giving a warm welcome to COM’s newest tenure-track faculty! We’re thrilled to welcome Xiaoya Jiang, Susanna S. Lee, @morganweiland.bsky.social‬, Jing Yang (MC/AD/PR), and @baldwin-j-a.bsky.social‬ (Emerging Media Studies) to the CRC community! 👋 tinyurl.com/3s56dh9x

🎙️ The Season 1 finale of The COMversation is here! In “Our Relationship w/ AI,” guests Prof. Wallace & @katycoduto.bsky.social explore how, through the @bucomresearch.bsky.social's 2024 Faculty Seed Grant, people are forming emotional bonds w/ AI like ChatGPT. 🎧 Listen now! tinyurl.com/3ucev8dt

Congratulations to @commscholar.bsky.social, @arunimakrishna.bsky.social, and Dr. Su for winning one of the Top Faculty Paper Awards at AEJMC! 🎉🎉 Their paper is titled, “Apprehensive or Motivational Threat? [...]” and was sponsored by a grant from the Rita Allen Foundation.

🧠💔 @katycoduto.bsky.social's survey in collaboration with CRC x Ipsos finds that than twice as many people disagree that AI in dating apps leads to better relationships. Only 10% of women agree, compared to 20% of men. 📰 Read more here: tinyurl.com/39hr3ebf #DatingApps #BUCRC ⸻

🎬 #ScreentimeBU 2025 showcased program-long research by @comatbu.bsky.social's Emerging Media Studies & Media Science grads, with support from the CRC. 👏 Big thanks to @commscholar.bsky.social & Dr. Grabe, and congrats to all our wonderful students, there's no COM without you! #COMmunity

As the Communication Research Center turns 66, @commscholar.bsky.social reflects, in her June Letter to the Director, on our legacy and the urgency of communication research in an AI-driven and fractured media landscape. 🔗 Read here: tinyurl.com/6bvu4msv #BUCRC #CommunicationResearch

We were thrilled to see BU’s College of Communication represented at #ICA2025 in Denver! Thank you all for sharing your research, insights, and leadership on a global stage. We love to see our scholars support one another and further foster the vibrant academic community we have here at COM.

COM's Dr. Michelle Amazeen shared her expertise regarding media standards with Barron's for their article investigating Elon Musk’s show on X. More at http://spr.ly/633294jhFT

🎧 New episode of 'The COMversation' from @bostonu.bsky.social's @comatbu.bsky.social. Fandom, storytelling, and spectacle - Dr. Howell is joined by Prof. Hannon and Prof. Blakely to unpack the future of sports media. 🎙️ Listen now: tinyurl.com/4bnz5ydy #SportsMedia #Communication #BUPodcast

“Technology is not the problem; the application is,” writes @ericgordon.bsky.social. Civic tech was designed to democratize government, making data and services more accessible. But with the DOGE takeover, that vision is being distorted into a tool for control. Read more: tinyurl.com/4cur3mm7

In an expansive piece exploring @katycoduto.bsky.social's work tackling why we swipe, she explores human connection through a virtual reality. She explains, “I’m curious about how people use dating apps, and what their expectations are when they use them." Read more here: tinyurl.com/yc7hz6e8

Join ‘The American FLOTUS’ podcast as they take a deep dive with Dr. Tammy Vigil into her book: Melania and Michelle: First Ladies in a New Era (2019). They discuss First Ladies, Michelle Obama and Melania Trump. 🎧 Listen here: americanpotus.org/am...

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Elasmar on the release of “An Introduction to Self-Report Measurement” on April 21st, 2025! His new book offers proof of concept for a new methodology for quantifying validity in social media analysis and more. 📘 Purchase your copy here: tinyurl.com/t6rt7mst

🎧 New episode of 'The COMversation' from @bostonu.bsky.social College of Communication. Dr. Charlotte Howell talks with @brunoguarana.bsky.social & Dr. AnneMarie McClain about how kids are portrayed in media—and why it matters. 🎙️ Listen now: tinyurl.com/mprhajms #ChildhoodInMedia #BUPodcast

This is praise of the highest order! 🔥 Thank you so much for the kind words, @drmaraeinstein.bsky.social.

📢🎧 New episode alert – and it's a mind-bender! ✨ The latest podcast episode of The COMversation is live, featuring a compelling conversation between @drmaraeinstein.bsky.social and Dr. Charlotte Howell. 🎙️ Tune in now: open.spotify.com/episode/2MFX...

CRC is proud to celebrate the promotion of Dr. Deborah Jaramillo. Her scholarship offers sharp, timely insight into the evolving relationship between media, culture, and public attention. We’re thrilled to recognize this milestone. www.bu.edu/com/profile/...

In this month’s Letter from the Director, @commscholar.bsky.social reflects on the voice of the youth. Amidst all this turmoil and existential dread, it’s hard to believe anything you do makes a difference. But, your voice matters, don’t let them drown you out. 📣

🎬 New COMversation episode! Dr. Deborah Jaramillo & Prof. Walters dive into the Oscars’ cultural impact, show evolution & In Memoriam moments. Listen now🎧https://open.spotify.com/episode/6L4q5dqNk2BgjkO89RezNX

⛽ The “Future of Energy”? [...] --authored by @commscholar.bsky.social, @arunimakrishna.bsky.social & @chriswells.bsky.social -- was published last week and highlights the threat of native advertisements. Can we combat this? tinyurl.com/57xupu7u

🚗🔥 Driving Tesla used to say, "I am driving to a better future," now it says "I believe in destroying government," says anonymous. @bostonjoan.bsky.social & @alexwinter.com's #TeslaTakeover has been growing as citizens continue to distance themselves from Musk's company. tinyurl.com/4eybbsn5

Last Thursday, we hosted Dr. @drmaraeinstein.bsky.social at BU GSU for an engaging talk on cult-like tactics in marketing. And we held a book signing, giving attendees the chance to connect with Dr. Einstein and dive deeper into her research. Looking forward to more insightful events at CRC！

Most triumphant, dudes…! 🤘 On February 15th folks across the nation gathered at various Tesla dealerships to protest Elon’s influence in DC. @bostonjoan.bsky.social organized the protest, and @alexwinter.com amplified the message via BlueSky. ➡️ tinyurl.com/2a98hjj9

With social media platforms shifting content moderation responsibilities onto its users, it’s sobering to hear that 2 in 3 Americans believe in independent fact-checking. @commscholar.bsky.social talks about her recent findings from our January Media & Tech survey. ➡️ tinyurl.com/4zy4t5hx

🐄 "You’re not experimenting on me and family, thank you," reads a post on X. Arla's methane-reducing food additives sparked backlash from conspiracy theorists, drowning out real concerns. Dr. Amazeen shares how prebunking can tackle such misinformation. Learn more: www.wsj.com/articles/a-m...

🤖 Because customers don't view AI's behavior as being selfish, they tend to react more positively towards AI than a human representative! At the Page Up Conference, April Yue, highlighted that AI is evolving from a productivity enhancer to a strategic asset in communications. ➡️ tinyurl.com/4t5msxhw

👩‍🎓 EMS doctoral candidate Dongpeng Huang studies how generative AI like ChatGPT can boost education. Her project used ChatGPT in a communication research methods course to clarify complex concepts and foster collaboration. ➡️ tinyurl.com/48c4tbrs

📰 @bostonjoan.bsky.social's recent piece on Meta's decision to end fact-checking, suggests it's a move to appease President-elect Trump. CEO Mark Zuckerberg met him at Mar-a-Lago and donated $1M to his inauguration fund. This raises concerns for misinformation fighters. ➡️ tinyurl.com/mteuppwe

💼 Blake Lively is embroiled in a legal battle with Justin Baldoni over her sexual harassment complaint. Key to the case is her claim that Baldoni’s team used astroturfing to fake online support. @bostonjoan.bsky.social sheds light on the issue. ➡️ tinyurl.com/72bxnn7v

❤️‍🔥 While the stigma around dating apps is largely gone, @katycoduto.bsky.social says that “people were really excited, now […] they’re just tired”. Match Group, the owner of Tinder & other dating apps, are feeling the pressure from investors to step up & innovate. ➡️ tinyurl.com/cvu975j3

Our latest Media & Technology survey (with @bucomresearch.bsky.social) indicates that surveyed Americans held stronger negative feelings about Donald Trump than Kamala Harris prior to the 2024 election.