The Changing Role Of Professional Writers In The Age Of Digital Cross-Cultural Communication
Date
2016-05
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
In the United States’ increasingly global society, miscommunication is a nearly
unavoidable occurrence between members of different cultural groups, particularly
new immigrants who are not yet acclimated to American communication norms. The
purpose of this research is to explore these misunderstandings and the role that
professional writers can play in minimizing them. This thesis aims to provide a
framework for establishing connections rather than differences, specifically through
the perspective of African immigrants living in the United States. By referencing texts
on cross-cultural communication, global journalism, and participatory media for
background information, this project examines blogs and websites created and written
by African immigrants and how their content compares to articles published by CNN,
one of the most popular mainstream American news sources. The results of this
research demonstrate a disconnect between the two platforms, both in terms of content
and methods of reporting, that could likely contribute to deeper miscommunication
issues between the immigrant group and general American society. This project
applies these results to professional writing in general and journalism in particular,
examining the evolution of modern media and how professional writers can use these
findings as a foundation from which to research their audiences and become more
effective at written cross-cultural communication.
Description
Keywords
english, role change, professional writers