International Journal on Transformations of Media, Journalism & Mass Communication (Online ISSN: 2581-3439, Impact Factor: 5.856)

Social Media Use in Jamaica: Truth or Hype during Hurricane Melissa

2025-12-20T10:40:05+00:00

This study examines the accuracy and impact of social media content during Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, assessing whether platforms served primarily as sources of truth or channels of hype. Data were collected from 512 social media users through surveys and from 1,200 posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram between October 28 and 31, 2025. Analysis revealed that although 63% of users relied on social media for updates, nearly half of all posts (47%) contained exaggerated, unverified, or misleading information. Further, sensational posts received significantly higher engagement than verified updates, amplifying the spread of misinformation. The findings demonstrate an evident tension between the utility of social media for real-time information and its vulnerability to hype during emergencies. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted digital literacy interventions and stronger collaboration between meteorological authorities and social media platforms to enhance information accuracy. These results provide practical guidance for managing social media use in crisis contexts in Jamaica and other Caribbean settings.

Editorial Experience and the Wrong Way of Retraction: Ethical and Bias Concerns in Retraction Decisions in Skin Research and Technology, American Journal of Transplantation, and the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice

2026-08-17T08:53:44+00:00

Retraction is a fundamental mechanism for protecting the integrity of the scientific record, but its misuse can itself create ethical harm. In recent years, heightened scrutiny of artificial intelligence (AI) use and post-publication reassessment of Letters to the Editor have led to retractions justified primarily by subjective evaluations of scholarly contribution rather than demonstrable misconduct. This article examines three retraction cases involving Skin Research and Technology, the American Journal of Transplantation, and the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. Drawing on editorial experience, the article highlights recurring problems, including retrospective editorial value judgments, speculative concerns about AI, and inadequate differentiation between editorial responsibility and author misconduct. Particular attention is given to ethical concerns and potential editorial bias, questioning whether responsibility for these cases should rest with authors or with editorial processes. The analysis argues that misapplied retraction practices risk undermining trust in peer review, chilling academic debate, and shifting blame from editorial decision-making to authors without sufficient ethical justification.

Harnessing Creativity to Design Audio for Multimedia Projects: A Simple Guide

2026-08-17T08:57:53+00:00

Creating compelling audio for multimedia projects can be a straightforward and enjoyable process, even without extensive experience. This article explores the basic principles of designing creative sound for multimedia content, offering practical steps to help you craft engaging audio tracks. From understanding the fundamentals of audio design to using creative techniques to mix sounds, this guide provides a roadmap for beginners looking to develop their own audio for videos, games, or other digital media.

Signal Transmission Lines and Antennas: Principles, Types, and Installation

2026-08-17T09:03:55+00:00

This article explores the fundamentals of signal transmission lines and antennas, which are essential components in communication systems. It discusses the different types of transmission lines, their properties, and key parameters such as impedance, current load, and wave propagation. It also covers the principles of antennas, including polarization, radiation patterns, and frequency bands. The article provides insights into the installation of antennas, including VHF/UHF antennas, satellite dishes, and the necessary tools for testing and adjustment, such as SWR meters and antenna matching devices.

Theories and Principles of Photography for Portraiture and Human Resource Development

2026-08-17T09:10:43+00:00

This article explores the fundamental theories and principles of photography, with a particular focus on portrait photography, the equipment used, and its application in human resource development. Understanding how to properly use photographic tools, maintain them, and apply various photographic techniques can significantly enhance the learning experience and communication in educational and professional contexts. We will cover essential portrait photography concepts such as lighting, composition, and techniques like High Key and Low Key photography, empowering learners to create meaningful and artistic portraits.

Pre-Production Planning for Television and Radio Broadcasts: Key Steps and Strategies

2026-08-18T06:24:54+00:00

Pre-production planning is crucial for the successful execution of television and radio broadcasts. This process involves a variety of activities, including scriptwriting, location scouting, casting, team assembly, budgeting, scheduling, and wardrobe planning. By understanding the importance of each step in the pre-production phase, media professionals can ensure the smooth and effective execution of their projects. This article delves into the essential components of pre-production, offering insights into how to create a cohesive production plan that leads to successful broadcasting outcomes.

Political Accountability and Public Controversies: Media-Reported Corruption Claims in the Administrations of Simpson-Miller, Patterson, and Holness in Jamaica

2026-08-18T06:33:49+00:00

This study investigates corruption allegations involving three Jamaican Prime Ministers-P.J. Patterson (1992-2006), Portia Simpson-Miller (2012-2016), and Andrew Holness (2016-present)-focusing on the interaction between media reporting, institutional oversight, and public accountability. Using qualitative content analysis, articles from leading outlets, including The Gleaner, Jamaica Observer, and The Jamaica Star, were examined alongside official Integrity Commission reports and parliamentary records. Findings reveal divergent patterns across administrations: Patterson and Simpson-Miller’s eras were characterised by party-level and ministerial controversies, with limited formal legal resolution, while the Holness administration has been subject to intensive scrutiny, including statutory declaration investigations, Integrity Commission referrals, and judicial challenges, as reflected in media narratives (The Gleaner, 2023-2025; Observer, 2019). Tables summarising key media-reported cases, types of institutional actions, and legal outcomes highlight the evolution of anti-corruption mechanisms and the role of oversight in shaping public perception. Appendices further illustrate recurring themes, including media framing, confidentiality challenges, and civic engagement in accountability processes. The study addresses a critical gap in the literature regarding systematic triangulation of media coverage, institutional responses, and political legitimacy across multiple administrations. Policy recommendations emphasise strengthening investigative bodies, promoting transparent reporting, enhancing civic literacy, and institutionalising party-level accountability to improve democratic governance. Overall, the research underscores the intricate interplay between media, institutions, and public trust in fostering political transparency, offering insights for scholars, policymakers, and civil society actors committed to enhancing accountability and governance in postcolonial contexts.

Social Media and Promotion of National Values amongst Youths for Sustainable National Development: Perspective from Bonny Island, Rivers State

2026-02-21T09:35:42+00:00

This study examined the application of social media in thepromotion of national values among Nigerian Youths for Sustainable National Development. The core objectives of the study is to
determine the potential of social media in promoting national values among Nigerian youths. Three objectives were raised to guide the study; and the technological determinism theory was
adopted as the theoretical framework. The study adopted the survey research design with a structured questionnaire as the primary instrument for data collection. The study’s population
was 346 registered youth members of Bonny youths Federation in Bonny Island. Using the census sampling technique, the entire population of 346 was taken as the sample size of the
study, and mean criterion was used to analyse the data collected via the questionnaire. Findings revealed a widespread utilization of social media among youths, and that, social media
significantly influences the behaviour of the youths. Inference from the data further revealed that, social media are highly viable in promoting national values that can engender attitudinal change among Nigerian Youths for utmost participation in national development.The study, among other recommendations, suggested strategies will enhance the use of social media in fostering national values among youths and also, emphasized the need for the government to strategically harness the vast potential of social media as a tool for promoting national values among Nigerian youths for sustainable national development.

Crime and Social Media Sentiment in Jamaica: A Predictive ARIMAX Time-Series Analysis (2010-2025)

2026-08-17T07:25:57+00:00

This study examines the predictive relationship between social media sentiment, macroeconomic indicators, and weekly youth crime in Jamaica using an Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average with Exogenous Variables (ARIMAX) framework for the period 2010-2025. Official crime data were obtained from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), while social media sentiment was derived from geolocated Twitter and Facebook posts using the VADER sentiment analysis algorithm. Macroeconomic covariates included gross domestic product (GDP), unemployment rates, and fuel prices obtained from national statistical authorities. Stationarity was assessed using the Augmented Dickey-Fuller test, and model selection was guided by Akaike and Bayesian Information Criteria. The optimal ARIMAX (1,1,1) model demonstrated strong explanatory power, explaining approximately 70% of the variance in weekly youth crime. Results indicate that negative social media sentiment significantly predicts increases in youth crime, while GDP growth and fuel prices show positive associations, and unemployment exhibits a negative relationship. Temporal persistence was confirmed through significant autoregressive and moving average components. Findings suggest that integrating digital sentiment analytics with macroeconomic monitoring enhances predictive crime modelling and supports early warning systems for youth violence. Policymakers should consider incorporating real-time social media analytics into national security intelligence frameworks.

Through the Male Gaze and Beyond: Reading Basanti and Radha in Sholay (1975) as Precursors of Female Agency in Hindi Cinema

2026-06-13T06:21:03+00:00

This paper analyses Basanti and Radha's characters in Ramesh Sippy's Sholay (1975) and aims to further feminist film studies and film analyses in the context of the portrayal of women in popular Hindi cinema. Using Laura Mulvey's theory of the male gaze, the paper compares scenes from Sholay to the portrayals of women in popular Hindi cinema and identifies the constraints of women's characters in a male-dominant storyline and the degree of agency those characters possess.

The paper notes that Sholay's storyline remains fundamentally male-dominated, but Basanti and Radha's characters are highly active and, in many respects, emotionally empowered. This differentiates them from the majority of female characters in Hindi films of the 1970s. Basanti and Radha's characters thus demonstrate the beginnings of more active and emotionally complex character portrayals for women in Hindi films that become more prevalent in the subsequent decades. This paper is part of the larger dialogue regarding the portrayal of women in Hindi cinema and the implications those portrayals have from a cultural perspective.

Whose Crisis is Newsworthy?

2026-06-16T07:06:09+00:00

In this paper, a qualitative comparative analysis of media representation of three displacement events is performed: the Rohingya exodus out of Myanmar since 1978 to the present day; the Kashmiri Pandit displacement from the Kashmir Valley in 1989-1990; and the displacement of indigenous tribes called Adivasis from Bastar in Chhattisgarh state in India, 2005 to the present day. Based on the concepts of framing (Entman, 1993); agenda setting (McCombs & Shaw, 1972); critical discourse analysis (Fairclough, 1995); and humanitarian communication studies (Cottle & Nolan, 2007), the paper examines a specially selected corpus of 54 articles published in 18 different sources, including international English press, national Indian press, regional Kashmiri Urdu, Chhattisgarhi Hindi, Myanmar Burmese, Bangladeshi Bengali, and West Bengal Bengali press. It concludes that the weight accorded to media salience cannot be measured by the scale of human tragedy but depends rather on the geometrics of geopolitical interest. This is evidenced by the findings of the study, which demonstrate an acute discrepancy in media framing in cases of the three displacement events under consideration and highlight vernacular proximate media as a source of greater humanitarian adequacy.

Modelling the Impact of Media Coverage on Violent Crime: An Autoregressive Distributed Lag [ARDL] Time-Series Analysis Using a Media Crime Coverage Index

2026-08-17T06:50:57+00:00

The media influence public perception and potentially shape behavioural responses to crime. This study examines whether media intensity contributes to crime escalation using a dynamic time-series econometric framework combined with weighted variable importance analysis. A Media Crime Coverage Index (MCCI) was constructed using keyword frequency analysis and normalised by total media output to measure relative crime-related attention. Monthly data for robbery, assault, and homicide were analysed over ten years using autoregressive models, long-run multipliers, Granger causality tests, structural break analysis, and standardised weight decomposition to assess relative predictorsand their importance. The empirical models control for unemployment and police expenditure to isolate the independent effect of media exposure. The results indicate that lagged media intensity has a positive and statistically significant effect on robbery rates and weaker positive associations with assault and homicide. The weight decomposition shows that MCCI carries the highest relative contribution in the robbery model (weight ? 0.42), exceeding unemployment and police expenditure, whereas unemployment dominates the homicide model (weight ? 0.37). Police expenditure consistently exhibits negative weights across models, confirming its deterrent role. Long-run multiplier estimates demonstrate that media effects are amplified over time due to crime persistence. Granger causality confirms temporal precedence with bidirectional feedback. Structural breaks reveal stronger media impacts during crisis periods. Model diagnostics confirm robustness and statistical stability. The findings suggest that media systems operate as dynamic participants in crime ecosystems with measurable relative importance across crime categories.

Traditional Media in a Digital World: Projecting Influence and Relevance over the Next Ten Years

2026-08-17T07:13:08+00:00

Traditional media, including newspapers, radio, and television, played a pivotal role in shaping public opinion, political discourse, and cultural narratives before the 1990s. However, the rapid expansion of digital technologies, social media platforms, and on-demand content has disrupted information consumption patterns, prompting questions about the future relevance of traditional media. This study examines whether traditional media will maintain comparable levels of influence over the next decade and beyond. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach, this research synthesises historical analyses, audience data, and contemporary studies of media consumption trends. The current findings suggest a significant decline in the dominance of traditional media, driven by generational shifts, digital adoption, and changes in trust and engagement. Yet traditional media retains strategic importance in specific domains, such as in-depth journalism, regulatory oversight, and rural or low-connectivity communities. The study concludes that while traditional media will likely experience reduced ubiquity, it will remain relevant in complementary, authoritative, and curated roles. Policymakers, media organisations, and scholars must adapt their strategies to maintain credibility and audience engagement in an increasingly fragmented media ecosystem.

The Influence of Social Media on Leadership Styles and Behaviour

2026-08-17T07:18:46+00:00

Social media has transformed leadership by reshaping communication patterns, authority structures, and follower expectations in organisational and social contexts. This study examines the influence of social media on transformational and transactional leadership behaviours through a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed articles, books, and literature published between 2005 and 2025. Databases searched included Scopus, Web of Science, JSTOR, and Google Scholar, using keywords such as “social media and leadership,” “digital leadership,” “transformational leadership online,” and “transactional leadership social media.” Thematic analysis revealed that social media amplifies transformational leadership by enhancing visibility, emotional engagement, narrative influence, and participatory interaction. Digital platforms facilitate inspirational motivation, idealised influence, intellectual stimulation, and relational connectivity, contingent on perceived authenticity and ethical consistency. Transactional leadership is similarly reconfigured, with public recognition, digital feedback, and informal reward and sanction systems shaping behavioural compliance and accountability. Leaders who integrate online and offline practices demonstrate greater effectiveness, fostering trust, commitment, and organisational alignment. The findings underscore the hybrid nature of contemporary leadership, in which digital and traditional behaviours interact to influence follower perception and organisational outcomes. The study also identifies gaps in longitudinal research, cross-cultural comparisons, and platform-specific leadership strategies, offering directions for future empirical investigation. In practice, the study recommends leadership development programmes, organisational policies, and strategic guidance that address the ethical, participatory, and reputational dimensions of digital leadership.

Impact of Short-Form Video Platforms on Consumer Purchase Intentions: An Empirical Analysis of Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts

2026-08-04T10:20:23+00:00

Short-form video platforms have rapidly transformed digital marketing by changing how consumers discover products, evaluate brands, and make purchasing decisions. Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts have emerged as influential platforms that combine visually engaging content, algorithm-driven personalization, and creator-led communication, thereby enabling brands to interact with consumers in real time. Despite the increasing adoption of these platforms by marketers, empirical evidence regarding the factors that drive consumers' purchase intentions remains limited, particularly in the context of short-form video ecosystems. This study investigates the influence of four key determinants: entertainment value, informativeness, creator credibility, and social influence on consumer purchase intention toward products promoted through Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. A quantitative research design was adopted using a dataset comprising 450 respondents. Statistical analyses include descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis to examine the proposed relationships. The findings indicate that all four independent variables positively influence purchase intention, with creator credibility emerging as the strongest predictor, followed by entertainment value and social influence. The study contributes to the growing literature on digital consumer behavior by providing a structured analytical framework for understanding how short-form video content shapes purchasing decisions. The findings also offer practical insights for marketers seeking to optimize content strategies on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts while discussing an empirical methodology suitable for future research.

Relationship between Social Media Addiction and Mental Well-Being among College Students: A Quantitative Study Using Statistical Analysis

2026-08-04T10:26:58+00:00

Social media has become an essential part of college students' academic, social, and personal lives. Although these platforms facilitate communication and information sharing, excessive use may develop into addictive behavior that negatively affects mental well-being. The present study examines the relationship between social media addiction and mental well-being among college students using a quantitative research approach. Data were collected from 400 undergraduate and postgraduate students through a structured questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlation, hierarchical multiple regression, moderation analysis, and MANOVA in IBM SPSS Statistics.

The findings indicate a significant negative relationship between social media addiction and mental well-being. Students with higher levels of addictive social media use reported lower psychological well-being, greater emotional exhaustion, and reduced life satisfaction. Regression analysis further revealed that social media addiction significantly predicts mental well-being after controlling for demographic variables. The study highlights the importance of promoting responsible social media use and digital well-being initiatives within higher education institutions. The findings provide useful implications for educators, mental health professionals, and policymakers in designing interventions that encourage healthier digital habits among college students.