Content + Research
Published Writing
International Journal of Strategic Communication
Applying Excellence Theory to the Critical Study of Gender and Socioeconomic Bias in Stable Diffusion Models: Toward Responsible AI in Public Relations
Regina Luttrell, Syracuse University | Jason Davis, Syracuse University | Carrie Welch, Syracuse University
The future of AI in public relations and strategic communications hinges on responsible AI practices, requiring practitioners to address and mitigate biases embedded in proprietary AI models. This study integrates the principles of excellence theory to examine how public relations professionals can adopt responsible AI practices that make their organizations excellent, given PR’s critical communications role in the organization and larger social system.
Teaching Journalism & Mass Communication
Feminist Frameworks in Teaching Communication Students
Regina Luttrell, Syracuse University | Adrienne Wallace, Grand Valley State University | Carrie Welch, Syracuse University | Chris McCollough, Jacksonville State University
The significance of gaining foundational strategic communications competencies within core communications classes cannot be overstated. Findings based on instructors’ perceptions suggest that using a feminist framework enhances pedagogical approaches, allowing students to understand and integrate feminist values into project-based communications courses. Instructors’ open responses provide insight into key themes of best practice when incorporating feminist principles. These include challenging traditional power dynamics in the classroom, seeking authentic equity between instructor and classmates, integrating feminist principles into the course design, and ensuring continuity between course design and the learning activities adopted in class.
Case Studies in Strategic Communication (CSSC)
Everything Barbie all at Once
Regina Luttrell, Syracuse University | Carrie Welch, Syracuse University
The Barbie brand has long been a paradoxical symbol of imagination, comfort, sexism, objectification, feminism, and conflicted cultural influence, challenging and entrancing both children and adults for generations. In the years since 2015, the iconic doll has undergone a long term transformation, redefining her place in contemporary society. The marketing and public relations efforts associated with the Barbie brand over time have been widely documented. However, no campaign - Barbie or otherwise, according to industry experts - has come close to the size, magnitude, complexity, and intentionality of the campaign to promote the 2023 Barbie movie. This case study examines the scope and impact of this integrated marketing and public relations campaign through its strategy and tactics, while also retracing the history of the promotional history of the Barbie brand and contextually situating its relationship to feminism. Barbie's intricate connection with feminism holds significant influence over her place in American society; a still-developing theme as the film and campaign further cement her enigmatic position within the cultural discourse.
Syracuse University ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
Beyond the Brush: How Women Artists Navigate Communication and Creativity Amidst the Rise of AI
Carrie Welch, Syracuse University
Women artists who use physical paints, canvases, charcoal, and pencils to create their work represent a marginalized group in the art world who may be perceived as distanced or removed from artificial intelligence (AI). While AI, art, feminist aesthetics, and media representation are each areas of rich research, they have not yet been brought together. As art itself is reconsidered alongside the rise of AI, this study conducted 20 in-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews with women artists to understand the implications of choosing to incorporate AI into their work, changes to their artistic processes, adjustments to their communications about their work, as well as the reasons why they may not interact with technology. The interviews captured five themes analyzed using diffusion of innovations as a theoretical framework. These themes paint a more nuanced, and at times surprising, picture of how AI impacts the artistic process and communications of women artists.