Examines public records laws regarding access to computerized format as it has developed in state and federal courts and legislatures. Explores the law at the federal level, which generally limits the ability of requestors to obtain records in a format most useful to them. Surveys state cases, in which there is a split of authority on the issue.…

Examines 10 variables in content analyses of 245 journal articles from the social scientific, interpretive, and critical traditions. Finds that researchers conform highly to expectations associated with ontology, epistemology, data collection, and data analysis, but less so with theory, hypotheses, sampling, verification, and generalization.…

Explores some of the reasons behind the growing interest in publishing and reading the new genre of popular management writing that draws its inspiration from well-known works of literature, theater, and film. Raises questions posed by this emergent genre for research and teaching agendas. (SR)

Reports the results of two studies measuring the effects on undergraduate communication students of watching U.S. presidential primary debates. Concludes that primary debates are capable of influencing both policy and character impressions of the candidates, as well as changing voting intentions and increasing voter confidence. (SG)

Extends politeness theory to political debates arguing that an important element of political leadership resides in a candidate's ability to manage political image through politeness strategies in a debate. Reveals differences in face saving strategies in the debates. Considers implications for the importance of debates as campaign events and the…

Compares the response rates for obtaining journal reprints from colleagues when the requests are made using postcards with or without a self-addressed return label. Notes that higher response rates were obtained from the cards with the self-addressed return labels, and more women responded than did men, but these differences were not statistically…

Presents demographics about gender and ethnicity of debate directors, debate coaches, and debaters in the Cross Examination Debate Association's National Tournament from 1991-2000. Considers that although there has been an increase in the numbers of females and minorities debating, there has also been a decline in the numbers of females directing…

Examines whether altruism messages are more likely to be effective in gaining compliance with an anti-social request. Finds no evidence of an effect of the norm of reciprocity; altruism message was more effective than a direct request message; and a large sex difference in a direction opposite to that reported in reviews of sex differences--males…

Explores the relationship between family communication patterns and reticence. Reveals that reticent individuals reported a significantly lower level of conversation orientation within their families than members of a comparison group. (SG)

Proposes a general analytical framework called centering resonance analysis (CRA), a text analysis method suited to studying communication like reports, letters, memos, emails, and transcribed conversations. Illustrates its validity in analyzing conversations in a meeting, comparison to human readings of interview texts, and uncovering structure…

Introduces the project on the European Public Relations Body of Knowledge (EBOK). Reviews proposals on the definition, dimensions, and domain of public relations. Confronts these with findings from EBOK. Presents ideas on how to bridge the differences. Proposes ideas for further investigation. (SG)

Argues that the deconstructive practice of disturbing the status quo between opposites constitutes one of the central themes of physics since the Enlightenment. Summarizes parallel developments in physics and language studies from Aristotle to Einstein. Contends that to question postmodern language theory exemplified in deconstruction necessitates…

Presents an ethnographic study of one feminist organization's efforts to personalize work relations. Argues feminist critics lend scant attention to findings from feminist practice, and scholars of feminist practice rarely consider implications for mainstream organizations. Reviews how both traditions treat impersonality. (NH)

Presents a critical review of academic work on negativity in political advertising that shows that the concept has been defined in ways that are too broad, insufficiently holistic, and too pejorative. Suggests exploratory data indicate that the component parts of negativity are: misleading claims, emotional appeals, one-sided attacks, and a…

Notes that communication across the curriculum programs (CXCPs) are designed to increase students' communication competence and enhance student learning. Examines the challenge of maintaining the integrity of multiple disciplines when communication gets taken across the curriculum. Concludes with suggestions for future program directions and…