Al Jazeera

Dr. Dylan McLemore, assistant professor of public relations, has made recent media appearances with Al Jazeera Newshour, CNN’s Reliable Sources, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Relevant Magazine regarding the social media ban on Donald Trump and the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He also appeared on the Metamorphosis podcast discussing Christian nationalism.

 

 

How long have you been at UCA?

This is my fifth year.

Which courses do you teach?

Introduction to Public Relations, Media Law and Ethics, Public Affairs, and Portfolio

How did you connect with Al Jazeera?

I connected with AJ over Twitter (naturally). Last summer, a producer saw some of my commentary on Trump and the media and they reach out to me on occasion for that niche. I love public scholarship – getting our expertise out to general audiences – and one of the silver linings of the pandemic has been the simplified logistics of making that happen. I literally Skype into London from my spare bedroom.

How do these pieces connect with courses taught/research interests?

Content moderation by social media companies will always be relevant to our public relations students as social media management becomes a greater part of their careers. I also talk to journalism and PR students about understanding their audiences, which includes the social identities and filter bubbles they view our messaging through.

I’m conducting ongoing research into how fringe partisans use social media, and how algorithms feed that extremism (some of the preliminary findings are in the ADG column). The religion piece is an application of my dissertation research, which looked at the effects of fused religious-political social identities on information processing. It’s also a place where my research can intersect with my personal faith. I’m a Christian and care deeply about the future of the church in America.

Anything else to add?

I’m thankful to be in a School with colleagues who appreciate and encourage this type of work.

-Tami Phillips