FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 6, 2009

Two MUW communication professors have original research published

COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Mississippi University for Women’s department of communication has had a productive semester for research, with Dr. Van Roberts and Dr. Barry Smith each having a published article this fall.

Roberts' coauthored article, "Hierarchies Flip: ‘The Departed’ Wins, ‘Smith’ Loses," is now in print in the fall 2009 issue of the Journal of the Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri (STAM). STAM was recognized as the best state journal by the Central States Speech Association, a regional organization of the National Communication Association.

He is the lead author with Dr. Mark Goodman of Mississippi State University’s department of communication.

Smith's article, "Race and Gender as Peripheral Cues on Political Campaign Web Sites," examines how people respond to female and minority candidates’ web sites. This study (coauthored with Dr. Melissa Smith of MSU’s department of communication) found that campaign web sites may benefit female candidates more than male candidates, and that these web sites may help level the playing field for both female and minority candidates.

His article is currently in press for publication this month in the fall 2009 issue of Communication Research Reports.