Myiah Hutchens

The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) Public Relations Department has received an honorable mention in the 2024 PRWeek Outstanding Education Program competition. Public Relations senior Adriana Dos Santos received an honorable mention for Outstanding Student of the Year and Public Relations senior Leyna Castillo was a…

There’s a mountain of political research on voters’ media engagement immediately prior to an election, but far less is known about their news consumption right afterward. A recent study by researchers from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) and Kent State University School of Emerging Media and Technology…

In his book, “The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation,” American author and psychology professor Drew Westen writes, “In politics, when reason and emotions collide, emotion invariably wins. Although the marketplace of ideas is a great place to shop for policies, the marketplace…

A new study suggests that individuals whose candidate lost an election use pro-attitudinal media to repair their identity or engage in information utility behaviors by seeking out counter-attitudinal information to learn about the opposing party following their win. The findings by University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC)…

Lack of trust is a prevalent issue in modern news media. As of 2021, just 26% of American adults reported having trust in national media and scholars still don’t fully understand the impact of online comments on media trust. Why does this matter? Media trust is critical for democracies because…

A new study has found that emotions are inseparable from political decision-making and even negative emotions can be linked to positive outcomes. The findings by University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) doctoral student Ekaterina Romanova and Public Relations Department Associate Professor and  Chair Myiah Hutchens, are featured…

What do Donald Trump, Al Gore, John McCain, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren all have in common? It’s pretty obvious: they’ve all been on “Saturday Night Live.” TV has long been a major source of political information for Americans, especially when election time nears. In fact, 74% of Americans reported…

Research Fridays features faculty and graduate students from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications presenting current research to their colleagues. On April 14, 2023, Public Relations Department Associate Professor and Chair Myiah Hutchens presented “Understanding Communication and Polarization.”

The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) Public Relations program has been named the 2023 PRWeek Outstanding Education Program. Public Relations senior Sarah Main was named Outstanding Student of the Year. The PRWeek Awards, now in its 24th year, is considered one of the most prestigious award…

Myiah Hutchens, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) Public Relations Associate Professor, has been named chair of the Public Relations Department, after serving as interim chair since May 2022. During her tenure as interim chair, the department proposed two additional tracks: Public Interest Communications and Corporate Communication.…

By Michelle Holder, B.S. Journalism 2022 Two University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (CJC) students, Rebeka Smolka, senior Public Relations and Political Science major, and Augustus Hoff, sophomore Journalism major and Geography minor, spent their summers interning in South Africa. From social media campaigns to wildlife photography, Smolka…

Myiah Hutchens, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Public Relations Department interim chair and associate professor, is quoted in “MAGA Influencers Flock to Florida, Chasing Political Clout and Connections” published in the Tampa Bay Times on June 16. The article focuses on right-wing media personalities who are working…