Communication Ecology and ICTs

In our examination of communication processes, we take a communication ecology point of view. This means that we situate the examination of one mode of communication in context of all relevant modes of communication. This approach is particularly evident in our study of new information/communication technologies (ICTs) and in our studies of geo-ethnic media.

A communication ecology approach comes closer to the reality of everyday life where people select new, traditional, and/or geo-ethnic media and interpersonal modes of communication from all of the options they have available to them. For example, we ask people to think about all of the ways they go about gaining understanding or getting information about their community, their health, etc. and to tell us which ways are most important to them. In this way, their responses are in context of their communication ecologies.

People construct different communication ecologies to achieve different goals. For example, when finding health information is the goal, a different set of communication preferences will be generated than when the goal is to figure out where to get the best buys or how to stay on top of the local community.

Research Team

- Matthew D. Matsaganis

- Sandra Ball-Rokeach

- Yong Chan Kim

Publications

Books Sturken, M., Thomas, D. & Ball-Rokeach, S. J., Eds (2004). Technological visions: The hopes and fears that shape new technologies. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
Published Papers Ball-Rokeach, S.J., & Lin, W.Y. (2004). Positioning Ethnic Chinese Television and the Internet in the Lives of Chinese Immigrant Populations: A Case Study. A Research Report to ETTV. Communication Technology and Community Program. Los Angeles: University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication. Jung, J.-Y., Ball-Rokeach, S. J., Kim, Y.-C., & Matei, S. (2007). ICTs and communities in the 21st Century: Challenges and perspectives. In C. Ciborra, R. Mansell, D. Quah, & R. Silverstone (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Information and Communication Technologies (pp.561-580). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Loges, W.E. and Jung, Joo-Young (2001). Exploring the Digital Divide: Internet connectedness and age. Communication Research, 28(4), 536-562. Matei, S., & Ball-Rokeach, S.J. (2001). Real and virtual social ties: Connections in the everyday lives of seven ethnic neighborhoods. American Behavioral Scientist. 45(3), 550-564. Wilkin, H. A., Ball-Rokeach, S. J. , Matsaganis, M. D., & Cheong, P. H. (In Press). Comparing the communication ecologies of geo-ethnic communities: How people stay on top of their community. Journal of Electronic Communication.
Papers in Preparation Ball-Rokeach, S. J., The digital divide. [In] W. Donsfach (Ed.), Blackwell International Encyclopedia of Communication. Wilkin, H. A., Katz, V., & Ball-Rokeach, S. J. (In Press). Community change begins at home: The role of family interaction on civic engagement outcomes. Journal of Communcation.
Papers Presented at Professional Meetings Ball-Rokeach, S. J., Cheong, P. H., & Wilkin, H. (2003). The Virtual Learning in Health Communication Conference, Annenberg School for Communication. Tapping into virtual resources: Newer and older media in health promotion. Los Angeles. Ball-Rokeach, S. J., Kim, Y., Loges, W. E., & Jung, J. (2001). The International Association of Mass Communication Research and International Communication Association Joint Conference on The Digital Divide. Measuring ecological relationships between the Internet and individuals: Revisiting the Internet Connectedness Index. Austin. Hardyk, B., Loges, W.E., & Ball-Rokeach, S.J. (2004). Radio as a successful local storyteller in Los Angeles: A case study of KKBT and KPCC. Presented to the Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, New Orleans. Katz, V. & Matsaganis, M. (2007). The OurMedia-NuestrosMedios VI International Conference. A Communication Ecology Approach to Theory and Method in Understanding Community Media. Sydney. Kim, Y.C., Jung, J.Y., Ball-Rokeach, S.J., Loges, W.E. (2002). The International Communication Association Conference. Ethnicity, place, and communication technology: Geo-ethnic effect on multi-dimensional Internet Connectedness in urban communities. Seoul. Loges, W. E. and Jung, Joo-Young. (2001). Exploring the digital divide: Internet connectedness and age. Paper presented to the annual conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Washington, D.C. Loges, W.E. and Jung, Joo-Young. (2001). Exploring the digital divide: Internet connectedness and age. Presented to the 51st Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, Washington, D.C. Matei, S., & Ball-Rokeach, S. J. (2001). The International Communication Association Conference. Off-line social bonds as predictors for on-line social ties. Washington DC. Matsaganis, M., & Katz, V. (2007). Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. A Communication Ecology Approach to Understanding Community Media, Place, and Ethnicity. Reno.
Dissertations Wilkin, H.A. (2006). Diagnosing communication connections: Reaching underserved communities through existing communication ecologies. Dissertation Abstracts International, 67 (06).