Aim  With this study we want to highlight and analyze the media spin of the PR campaign Miss Skinny by clarifying; a diffusion pattern which covers posts published by bloggers and journalists; a framing pattern from the first audited post to the last; how journalists are influenced by user generated content, and what consequences this may have for the news coverage. Method  We have conducted a studied of news posts and blog posts about the Swedish PR campaign Miss Skinny through content analysis, diffusion analysis and mapped direct links between blog posts and news posts. Main result  We found that a surprisingly large amount of news postings contained direct links to previous blog posts and that the former media serial no longer can be applied on today's modern media where journalists and other players come together on the converged media arena.

Self-published web diaries called blogs are one manifestation of the Internet’s potential to create new discursive and dialogic spaces for citizens. Blogs are described by their authors and others in the news media (as well as some academic commentators) as a medium that potentially fosters political dialogue in the spirit of Habermas’ conceptual “public sphere.” Blogs also serve as potential competitors to mass media outlets in political debates in two distinct ways: first, by acting as agenda-setters and framers of issues, events and figures and second, by challenging journalistic norms such as the principles of fairness, neutrality and non-partisanship. In spite of these claims, however, very little empirical evidence exists to date on whether political blogs perform the roles of agenda-setters, gatekeepers or framers, or whether they are actually seen as a challenge or potential replacement to mass media outlets by themselves, by journalists or by those who could utilize blogs to transmit messages to the public. This thesis examines these questions as they pertain to Canadian politics, focusing on the interaction between journalists, partisan bloggers and political communications practitioners to assess whether blogs written by explicitly partisan authors actually: 1) create unique discursive spaces for discussion of Canadian political issues, 2) set agendas for political discussion and set issues and 3) serve as an occupational threat/potential replacement to media outlets for disseminating political information. Using surveys and content analysis, this thesis contends that partisan blogs largely mimic political discussion already occurring in media-produced content and are perceived as a potential, though not completely credible, replacement for shaping political agendas and disseminating information.

Hillary Clinton faced gendered discrimination by news media sources during her presidential campaign in 2008. However, there is almost no research concerning the ways Clinton was portrayed on political blogs. Because blogs typically attract consumers who have similar ideologies, this paper explores if Clinton faced more gender bias on conservative blogs than liberal blogs, utilizing two well-established political blogs. Specifically it looks at three biases that exist in traditional sources of news media: appearance-based discrimination, an emphasis on domesticity, and analyses of femininity. This paper found that, in general, bloggers on a conservative website presented more instances of gender bias and bloggers on the liberal website presented fewer. The analysis indicates that while gendered stereotypes existed throughout the blogosphere during the Democratic Primaries, they were more pronounced on conservative websites.

Bakgrund: Antalet drabbade kvinnor av livmoderhalscancer i Sverige är cirka 450 per år. Cirka en tredjedel av kvinnorna är under 40 år. I Sverige har insjuknandet av livmoderhalscancer minskat, troligen efter att regelbunden populations screening infördes på 1960-talet. Symtomen är få och diffusa och är därför svåra att upptäcka. Screening är en viktig undersökning för att upptäcka cancern tidigt. Tidigare forskning visade att kvinnor med livmoderhalscancer förändrade värderingar och synen på livet. Den begränsade forskningen inom området gör det relevant att studera kvinnors upplevelser av att leva med livmoderhalscancer. I studien användes livsvärldsteorin för att ge perspektiv på kvinnors upplevelser av att leva med livmoderhalscancer. Syfte: Är att analysera och beskriva kvinnors upplevelser av att leva med livmoderhalscancer. Metod: Studien har en kvalitativ ansats och en kvalitativ innehållsanalys används för att analysera bloggarna. Datamaterialet består av fem bloggar publicerade på internet. Resultat: Presenteras under kategorier, Förändrad identitet, En ständig kamp och Yttre påverkande faktorer. Slutsats:Livmoderhalscancer medför många psykiska och fysiska förändringar hos kvinnorna. Vilket bidrar till kvinnornas svårigheter att bevara sin identitet och självkänsla. / Background: The number of suffering women of cervical cancer in Sweden is approximately 450 per year. About a third of the women are under 40 years. In Sweden has the onset of cervical cancer reduced, probably after that regular population screening was introduced in the 1960s. The symptoms are few and diffuse and therefore difficult to detect. Screening is an important survey to detect the cancer early. Previous research showed that women with cervical cancer changing values and views on life. The limited research in this area makes it relevant to study women's experiences of living with cervical cancer. The study used the life-world theory to provide perspective on women's experiences of living with cervical cancer. Aim: The study aims are to describe the women´s experiences of living with cervical cancer. Method: the study has a qualitative approach and a qualitative analysis is used to analyze blogs. Data involve five blogs published on the Internet. Results: Presented in categories, Changed identity, a constant struggle and External influencing factors. Conclusion: Cervical cancer causes many physical and psychological changes in women. This contributes to women’s difficulties to preserve their identity and self-esteem.

Bakgrund: Antalet utförda hjärttransplantationer i Sverige ökar och uppgår nu till omkring femtio transplantationer per år. Främsta orsaken till en hjärttransplantation är grav hjärtsvikt. Att drabbas av hjärtsvikt som ung är ovanligt och mycket påfrestande. Om hjärttransplantation blir aktuellt sätts patienten upp på väntelista där medianväntetiden är tre månader. Tidigare forskning visar att sjuksköterskan har en viktig roll i patientens upplevelse under denna tid. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att analysera och beskriva unga kvinnors upplevelser inför en hjärttransplantation. Metod: Kvalitativ innehållsanalys används som analysmetod. Data består av fem bloggar publicerade på internet. Resultat: Unga kvinnor som väntar på en hjärttransplantation upplever fysiska begränsningar i vardagen. Närstående, sjukvårdspersonal och omgivningen är viktiga för att ge stöd och fungera som drivkraft i situationen. Den ovissa väntan präglas av oro och rädsla för den egna döden. Väntan innebär att unga kvinnor får en ny syn på livet. Slutsats: Unga kvinnors livsvärld förändras drastiskt i väntan på hjärttransplantation och det är av stor vikt att sjuksköterskan uppmärksammar denna förändring och utformar omvårdnaden därefter. / Background: The number of performed heart transplants in Sweden is increasing and is now about fifty transplants per year. The primary reason for a heart transplant is severe heart failure. To suffer from heart failure as young is rare and trying. If heart transplantation becomes necessary the patient is placed on a waiting list where the median waiting time is three months. Previous research shows that nurses have an important role in the patient's experience during this time. Aim: The study aims to analyze and describe the experiences of young women facing a heart transplant.  Method: Qualitative content analysis is used as analytical method. Data consists of five blogs published on the Internet. Results: Young women waiting for a heart transplant experience physical limitations in daily life. Relatives, professionals and the environment are important to provide support and act as motivation in the situation. The uncertain waiting is incused by anxiety and fear of their own death. The waiting means that young women will have a new outlook on life. Conclusion: The lifeworld of young women drastically changed awaiting heart transplantation and it´s important for the nurse to recognize this change and frame the care thereafter.

Les tecnologies de la informació i la comunicació han evolucionat molt ràpidament en els darrers 5 anys, impregnant tots els àmbits de la societat. Aquest canvi va alhora estretament relacionat amb un canvi social, també a tots els nivells. Noves demandes, nous reptes i noves necessitats a les que cal fer front. El món educatiu no està al marge. Si bé les tecnologies no són agents de canvi de per se, són moltes les eines i recursos tecnològics que poden ajudar a millorar certs aspectes i en facilitar el canvi tant metodològic com procedimental. Centrant-nos en l'educació superior, de totes aquestes noves eines hem triat els blocs per la seva ràpida popularització, senzillesa d'ús i la gran diversitat de possibilitats que ofereixen. La tesi pretén mostrar que la utilització del bloc a la docència universitària afavoreix l'aprenentatge autònom de l'estudiant i és un sistema de creació de coneixement que pot servir tant pel professor com per a l'estudiant, des del punt de vista dels processos d'ensenyament - aprenentatge en el marc de l'Espai Europeu d'Educació Superior. I alhora pot ser una eina de gestió de la informació, socialització i intercanvi per a l'investigador. En el primer context, s'han dut a terme dos estudis de casos en situacions educatives reals. En un es tracta d'un ensenyament totalment a distància, a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya i en l'altre, educació presencial a la Universitat de Barcelona. L'ús dels blocs en els dos casos, es centra en la reflexió de l'estudiant sobre el propi procés d'aprenentatge. I des del punt de vista de l'investigador, aquesta investigació, també pretén explorar les possibilitats d'aquesta eina basant-se en el seu ús per a l'elaboració de la pròpia tesi, d'una forma més etnogràfica, a partir de la creació del bloc www.blocdeblocs.net . Aquest anàlisi es fa des de dues vessants: per una banda la comunicativa i de relacions socials (com ha permès posar en contacte persones interessades en el mateix tema, usuaris de blocs, professors, etc.) I obtenir informacions, conèixer experiències, etc. i per altra la creació conjunta de coneixement (fer aportacions al bloc que s'han anat enriquint amb els comentaris, crítiques i valoracions d'altres persones. És a dir, a partir de reflexions personals, aquestes s'han anat transformant i sobretot enriquint amb altres aportacions i punts de vista, posant a prova les possibilitats que es defensen l'ús d'aquesta eina. / The use of ICTs and the adoption to the European Higher Education Area will imply changes in the way students learn and also the way professors teach. The new professor's role will demand an active participation and the use of more resources and new strategies to attend to the emerging needs.Weblogs are a very flexible and easy to use tool that can enhance teaching and learning process. From digital portfolios to self-reflection writings, there are plenty of possibilities.We present two case studies, one based on a first degree face-to-face students, and another based on an online masters degree.The main purpose is to analyze some educational practices of using weblogs in higher education and try to set up some considerations for professors who want to start using it.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2006--Freiburg (Breisg.).

Thesis (M.A.)--Indiana University, 2009. / Title from screen (viewed on August 28, 2009). Department of Communication Studies, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Advisor(s): Kristina Sheeler. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-75).

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Waikato, 2008. / Title from PDF cover (viewed March 11, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 142-149)

Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι να μελετηθεί η αποδοτικότητα δύο οργανωμένων μαθησιακών δραστηριοτήτων με τη χρήση τεχνολογίας wiki. Προκειμένου να μελετηθεί η επίδραση των δραστηριοτήτων υιοθετήθηκε σχεδιασμός pretest-posttest. Τα αποτελέσματα υποδεικνύουν σημαντική βελτίωση στα μαθησιακά αποτελέσματα, ειδικά για τους φοιτητές με χαμηλή αρχική επίδοση. Επιπρόσθετα, οι φοιτητές εκφράζουν θετικές απόψεις από τη χρήση wiki στις δραστηριότητες. / The aim of this study is to investigated the effectiveness of two framed wiki-based learning activities. A one-group pretest–posttest design was adopted to examine the impact of the activity. The results showed significant improvement in learning outcomes, in particular for students with low initial performance. In addition, a positive attitude towards using wikis in their project was expressed by the students.