University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) doctoral student Alexandrea Matthews is the recipient of one of two Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) 2023 Collaborative Scholar Awards for her research proposal “Polarization by Examining How Targeted Ideological Messaging through Use of Moral Cues May Stimulate Political Participation and Influence Attitudes in Support for Green Energy.”

The 2023 research theme was “Addressing Polarization.” Matthews will work with UFCJC Public Relations Associate Professor Jay Hmielowski on her research.  The study will offer science communication professionals a deeper understanding of how to structure messages to address the polarization of science.

The Collaborative Scholar Awards support a research project involving a graduate student and faculty partnership. The graduate student will serve as the lead researcher to foster innovative and timely research in journalism and mass communication.

Matthews’ research interests include strategic messaging in science and political communication. She is particularly interested in the role of persuasive message techniques in environmental communication and how this relates to political participation.

She will receive the award at the AEJMC annual conference from Aug. 7-10 in Washington, D.C.

Posted: August 1, 2023
Category: College News, Research News, Science Communication News, Student News
Tagged as: AEJMC, AEJMC Collaborative Scholars Award, Alexandrea Matthews, Green Energy, Jay Hmielowski, Polarization