KOME
About journal
KOME is a theory and pure research-oriented journal of communication studies and related fields. Therefore theoretical researches and discussions that help to understand better, or reconceptualize the understanding of communication or the media are its center of interests; being either an useful supplement to, or a reasonable alternative to current models and theories. Given the connection between theory and empirical research, we are open to submissions of empirical papers if the research demonstrates a clear endorsement of communication and media theories. We are also committed to the ideas of trans- and interdisciplinarity and prefer topics that are relevant for more than one special discipline of social sciences. Articles published in KOME should represent the diversity that comprises the study of communication and related disciplines, regardless of philosophical paradigms and in favor of methodological pluralism. KOME encourage the use of non-sexist language in research writing.
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The Spread of News Deserts in Chile The Case of the Aysén Region
News deserts are areas where the local community lacks reliable media outlets such as newspapers in the context of a global crisis in the press that weakens local civil society through its effect on democracy, social cohesion, and identity. This study focuses on the remote Aysén region of Chile which despite being territorially the third largest region in the country has the smallest population (108,306). This research employs a triangular methodology, incorporating a quantitative dimension using public data with systematic searches, a régiónál news desert media map and a social network metrics analysis, alongside qualitative methods such as a case study on the territory with semi-structured interviews and non-participant observation conducted between January and February 2023. The findings indicate that 20% of Aysén is at significant risk of becoming a news desert while 40% is already classified as such. The limited availability of diverse sources of information, the lack of adequate digital infrastructure, and the economic challenges faced by small media outlets are among the key contributing factors. Furthermore, the study posits potential solutions, including the establishment of collaborative networks and the advancement of mobile journalism, with the aim of reinforcing local identity and public institution strategies. Although the insights presented are primarily focused on the Aysén region, they could be extended to other Latin American and global regions facing comparable media vulnerabilities.
" } ["copyrightHolder"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(74) "Rodríguez-Urra Carlos, Trillo-Domínguez Magdalena, Herrero-Solana Victor" } ["prefix"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(3) "The" } ["subtitle"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(29) "The Case of the Aysén Region" } ["title"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(31) "Spread of News Deserts in Chile" } ["locale"]=> string(5) "en_US" ["authors"]=> array(3) { [0]=> object(Author)#1083 (6) { ["_data"]=> array(15) { ["id"]=> int(9447) ["email"]=> string(23) "carlosrod@correo.ugr.es" ["includeInBrowse"]=> bool(true) ["publicationId"]=> int(7540) ["seq"]=> int(0) ["userGroupId"]=> int(339) ["country"]=> string(2) "ES" ["orcid"]=> string(37) "https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8183-0230" ["url"]=> string(0) "" ["affiliation"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(75) "Phd Program in Social Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain" } ["biography"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(633) "Master in New Interactive Media and Multimedia Journalism, a Ph.D. candidate in Social Sciences at the University of Granada. His main research areas are journalism and audiovisual communication, journalistic documentation, new narratives, and media systems.
" } ["familyName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(15) "Rodríguez-Urra" } ["givenName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(6) "Carlos" } ["preferredPublicName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(0) "" } ["submissionLocale"]=> string(5) "en_US" } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) } [1]=> object(Author)#1085 (6) { ["_data"]=> array(15) { ["id"]=> int(9448) ["email"]=> string(14) "mtrillo@ugr.es" ["includeInBrowse"]=> bool(true) ["publicationId"]=> int(7540) ["seq"]=> int(0) ["userGroupId"]=> int(339) ["country"]=> string(2) "ES" ["orcid"]=> string(37) "https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0647-2781" ["url"]=> string(0) "" ["affiliation"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(109) "Unit for Computational Humanities and Social Sciences (U-CHASS), University of Granada, 18071 Granada (Spain)" } ["biography"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(856) "Building Political Identity through Visual Affective Polarisation on Instagram A Comparison of Six European Far-Right Parties
This article compares the power of visual affective polarisation on Instagram among six European far-right political parties with the aim of enhancing academic knowledge about the manner in which these parties construct their political identity through visual symbols, rhetoric, and imagery to appeal to their target audiences and convey their ideologies. Through quantitative content analysis of Instagram visuals posted on Instagram by the six main European far-right parties during a two-month period, we focused on content-related and format-related variables, as well as technical features, to analyse those visuals as denotative, connotative and ideological systems from the visual framing model perspective. Findings revealed significant differences in the visual framing strategies among these European far-right political parties, pointing to the complexity in identifying a common pattern in their strategic visual communication regarding affective polarisation. This study contributes to the existing literature on visual communication and affective polarisation strategies in politics.
" } ["copyrightHolder"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(58) "Rocío Zamora-Medina, Remzie Shahini-Hoxhaj, Dren Gërguri" } ["prefix"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(0) "" } ["subtitle"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(46) "A Comparison of Six European Far-Right Parties" } ["title"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(78) "Building Political Identity through Visual Affective Polarisation on Instagram" } ["locale"]=> string(5) "en_US" ["authors"]=> array(3) { [0]=> object(Author)#1081 (6) { ["_data"]=> array(15) { ["id"]=> int(10010) ["email"]=> string(19) "rzamoramedina@um.es" ["includeInBrowse"]=> bool(true) ["publicationId"]=> int(7913) ["seq"]=> int(0) ["userGroupId"]=> int(339) ["country"]=> string(2) "ES" ["orcid"]=> string(37) "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0541-2456" ["url"]=> string(0) "" ["affiliation"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(20) "University of Murcia" } ["biography"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(0) "" } ["familyName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(13) "Zamora-Medina" } ["givenName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(6) "Rocío" } ["preferredPublicName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(20) "Rocío Zamora-Medina" } ["submissionLocale"]=> string(5) "en_US" } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) } [1]=> object(Author)#1092 (6) { ["_data"]=> array(15) { ["id"]=> int(10011) ["email"]=> string(31) "remzie.shahinihoxhaj@uni-pr.edu" ["includeInBrowse"]=> bool(true) ["publicationId"]=> int(7913) ["seq"]=> int(0) ["userGroupId"]=> int(339) ["country"]=> string(2) "KS" ["orcid"]=> string(37) "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0240-3159" ["url"]=> string(0) "" ["affiliation"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(45) "University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”" } ["biography"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(0) "" } ["familyName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(14) "Shahini-Hoxhaj" } ["givenName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(6) "Remzie" } ["preferredPublicName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(21) "Remzie Shahini-Hoxhaj" } ["submissionLocale"]=> string(5) "en_US" } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) } [2]=> object(Author)#1077 (6) { ["_data"]=> array(15) { ["id"]=> int(10012) ["email"]=> string(23) "dren.gerguri@uni-pr.edu" ["includeInBrowse"]=> bool(true) ["publicationId"]=> int(7913) ["seq"]=> int(0) ["userGroupId"]=> int(339) ["country"]=> string(2) "KS" ["orcid"]=> string(37) "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2347-4685" ["url"]=> string(0) "" ["affiliation"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(45) "University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”" } ["biography"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(0) "" } ["familyName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(8) "Gërguri" } ["givenName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(5) "Dren " } ["preferredPublicName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(13) "Dren Gërguri" } ["submissionLocale"]=> string(5) "en_US" } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) } } ["keywords"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> array(5) { [0]=> string(14) "visual framing" [1]=> string(22) "affective polarisation" [2]=> string(17) "far-right parties" [3]=> string(9) "Instagram" [4]=> string(18) "political identity" } } ["subjects"]=> array(0) { } ["disciplines"]=> array(0) { } ["languages"]=> array(0) { } ["supportingAgencies"]=> array(0) { } ["galleys"]=> array(1) { [0]=> object(ArticleGalley)#1091 (7) { ["_submissionFile"]=> NULL ["_data"]=> array(9) { ["submissionFileId"]=> int(36709) ["id"]=> int(6129) ["isApproved"]=> bool(false) ["locale"]=> string(5) "en_US" ["label"]=> string(3) "PDF" ["publicationId"]=> int(7913) ["seq"]=> int(0) ["urlPath"]=> string(0) "" ["urlRemote"]=> string(0) "" } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(true) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) } } } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) }Generating a Deepfake Frame A Text Mining Study Based on Reddit
This study investigates the understanding of deepfake, a highly realistic AI mimicry technique that is rapidly evolving to produce increasingly realistic videos and explores the construction of a deepfake framework through the lens of audience communication using framing theory. It identifies three key findings. First, the public discourse on deepfakes forms a concept hierarchy emphasising technology and its entertainment applications, with core concepts including AI, voice, actor and job, while peripheral concerns such as consent and company receive less focus. Second, employing the BERTopic algorithm, latent themes in public discussions were categorised into two dimensions: social dynamics and cultural phenomena. Third, sentiment analysis reveals predominantly neutral or negative attitudes, indicating concerns over the risks and societal impacts of deepfake technology. The deepfakes framework developed here provides a structured approach to understanding these impacts, highlighting the need for ethical considerations in technological development, regulatory measures and public education.
" } ["additionalMetadatafield"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(127) "Funding: This research was supported by the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No. 2023A1515010670).
" } ["copyrightHolder"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(22) "Genlong Zhou, Fei Qiao" } ["subtitle"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(35) "A Text Mining Study Based on Reddit" } ["title"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(27) "Generating a Deepfake Frame" } ["locale"]=> string(5) "en_US" ["authors"]=> array(2) { [0]=> object(Author)#1100 (6) { ["_data"]=> array(15) { ["id"]=> int(10164) ["email"]=> string(22) "inzsol.kata@uni-nke.hu" ["includeInBrowse"]=> bool(true) ["publicationId"]=> int(8000) ["seq"]=> int(0) ["userGroupId"]=> int(339) ["country"]=> string(2) "CN" ["orcid"]=> string(0) "" ["url"]=> string(0) "" ["affiliation"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(79) "School of Journalism and Communication, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies" } ["biography"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(0) "" } ["familyName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(7) "Genlong" } ["givenName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(4) "Zhou" } ["preferredPublicName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(12) "Genlong Zhou" } ["submissionLocale"]=> string(5) "en_US" } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) } [1]=> object(Author)#1089 (6) { ["_data"]=> array(15) { ["id"]=> int(10163) ["email"]=> string(21) "jennifer.qf@gmail.com" ["includeInBrowse"]=> bool(true) ["publicationId"]=> int(8000) ["seq"]=> int(0) ["userGroupId"]=> int(339) ["country"]=> string(2) "CN" ["orcid"]=> string(0) "" ["url"]=> string(0) "" ["affiliation"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(252) "1. School of Journalism and Communication, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. 2. Key Laboratory of Cross-Cultural Information Analysis and Intelligent Decision-Making. 3. Center for Public Opinion Governance and International Image Communication" } ["biography"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(0) "" } ["familyName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(3) "Fei" } ["givenName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(4) "Qiao" } ["preferredPublicName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(8) "Fei Qiao" } ["submissionLocale"]=> string(5) "en_US" } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) } } ["keywords"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> array(5) { [0]=> string(9) "deepfakes" [1]=> string(12) "frame theory" [2]=> string(14) "BERTopic model" [3]=> string(8) "word2vec" [4]=> string(18) "sentiment analysis" } } ["subjects"]=> array(0) { } ["disciplines"]=> array(0) { } ["languages"]=> array(0) { } ["supportingAgencies"]=> array(0) { } ["galleys"]=> array(1) { [0]=> object(ArticleGalley)#1097 (7) { ["_submissionFile"]=> NULL ["_data"]=> array(9) { ["submissionFileId"]=> int(37344) ["id"]=> int(6183) ["isApproved"]=> bool(false) ["locale"]=> string(5) "en_US" ["label"]=> string(3) "PDF" ["publicationId"]=> int(8000) ["seq"]=> int(0) ["urlPath"]=> string(0) "" ["urlRemote"]=> string(0) "" } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(true) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) } } } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) }Perceptions of Self-Efficacy with Misinformation Evolution towards Resilience Among European Citizens (2018–2022)
Resilience to misinformation has been conceptualised and defined as an intangible resource belonging to a country, a measure of the capacity of its citizens to deploy discerning and cognitive skills to determine the veracity or falsehood of information, as well as be aware of the degree of the problem. This conceptualisation allows for value to emerge from cross-country and cross-time analyses of data on perceptions of self-efficacy in curbing misinformation. Using data from Eurobarometer, this research conducts analyses at whole-country level, and 1. identifies key components of individuals’ perceptions about their resilience to misinformation; 2. produces a factor with which cross-time observations can be operationalised; 3. shows evolution over time (2018–2022) for European citizens from 27 countries. Overall, results disclose a growing trend, and this is so for both specific individual attitudes and skills, as well as the resulting factor as a whole. The causes and implications of the findings are discussed to provide hints on how to improve public policies, such as taking into account self-perceptions of efficacy in fighting misinformation alongside media literacy strategies that engage citizens in curbing misinformation.
" } ["additionalMetadatafield"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(660) "Funding: This research was supported by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), belonging to the European Commission, Jean Monnet (Erasmus+) “Future of Europe Communication in times of Pandemic Disinformation” (FUTEUDISPAN), Ref: 101083334-JMO-2022-CHAIR. Nevertheless, the authors bear sole responsibility for the content of this article, and the EACEA assumes no liability for the utilisation of the disclosed information. This research was also funded by Universidad de La Sabana (Project code: COMCORP-3-2023 associated with the research group CICCO Centro de Investigaciones de la Comunicación Corporativa Organizacional).
" } ["copyrightHolder"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(44) "Carlos Rodríguez Pérez, María José Canel" } ["subtitle"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(66) "Evolution towards Resilience Among European Citizens (2018–2022)" } ["title"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(48) "Perceptions of Self-Efficacy with Misinformation" } ["locale"]=> string(5) "en_US" ["authors"]=> array(2) { [0]=> object(Author)#1099 (6) { ["_data"]=> array(15) { ["id"]=> int(10185) ["email"]=> string(27) "carlosrope@unisabana.edu.co" ["includeInBrowse"]=> bool(true) ["publicationId"]=> int(8019) ["seq"]=> int(0) ["userGroupId"]=> int(339) ["country"]=> string(2) "CO" ["orcid"]=> string(37) "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4830-5554" ["url"]=> string(0) "" ["affiliation"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(74) "Department of Communication Management, Universidad de La Sabana, Colombia" } ["biography"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(0) "" } ["familyName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(6) "Pérez" } ["givenName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(17) "Carlos Rodríguez" } ["preferredPublicName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(24) "Carlos Rodríguez Pérez" } ["submissionLocale"]=> string(5) "en_US" } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) } [1]=> object(Author)#1093 (6) { ["_data"]=> array(15) { ["id"]=> int(10186) ["email"]=> string(14) "mjcanel@ucm.es" ["includeInBrowse"]=> bool(true) ["publicationId"]=> int(8019) ["seq"]=> int(0) ["userGroupId"]=> int(339) ["country"]=> string(2) "ES" ["orcid"]=> string(37) "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5048-124X" ["url"]=> string(0) "" ["affiliation"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(88) "Department of Communication Theory and Analysis, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain" } ["biography"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(0) "" } ["familyName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(5) "Canel" } ["givenName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(12) "María José" } ["preferredPublicName"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> string(18) "María José Canel" } ["submissionLocale"]=> string(5) "en_US" } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) } } ["keywords"]=> array(1) { ["en_US"]=> array(5) { [0]=> string(14) "misinformation" [1]=> string(28) "resilience to misinformation" [2]=> string(21) "self-efficacy beliefs" [3]=> string(14) "European Union" [4]=> string(19) "intangible resource" } } ["subjects"]=> array(0) { } ["disciplines"]=> array(0) { } ["languages"]=> array(0) { } ["supportingAgencies"]=> array(0) { } ["galleys"]=> array(1) { [0]=> object(ArticleGalley)#1105 (7) { ["_submissionFile"]=> NULL ["_data"]=> array(9) { ["submissionFileId"]=> int(37465) ["id"]=> int(6184) ["isApproved"]=> bool(false) ["locale"]=> string(5) "en_US" ["label"]=> string(3) "PDF" ["publicationId"]=> int(8019) ["seq"]=> int(0) ["urlPath"]=> string(0) "" ["urlRemote"]=> string(0) "" } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(true) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) } } } ["_hasLoadableAdapters"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataExtractionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_extractionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) ["_metadataInjectionAdapters"]=> array(0) { } ["_injectionAdaptersLoaded"]=> bool(false) }Current Issue
Published: 2024-10-14
ISSN 2063-7330 (online)