UA Researchers Receive Grants for Work on Sustainability Communications

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Three researchers in The University of Alabama’s College of Communication & Information Sciences received research grants from the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication.

Dr. Eyun-Jung Ki, an associate professor of public relations, will conduct a nationwide survey to study ways in which organizations communicate with the public about their sustainability efforts.

“I will assess how this communication influences the quality of the organizations’ relationships with the public as well as people’s attitudes and supportive behaviors toward the organizations,” Ki said. “I will also investigate which of the three aspects of sustainability (economic, social and environmental) influence individuals’ evaluations of the organizations.”

Dr. Jennifer Hoewe, assistant professor, and Dr. Brett Sherrick, instructor, both in the journalism department, will also study sustainability communications, investigating the best ways for companies to communicate messages about environmental sustainability.

“We plan to run an experiment to determine what types of companies are best suited for supporting environmental sustainability issues as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives,” Hoewe said.

The grants received by Ki, Hoewe and Sherrick were two of nine grants awarded nationwide for 2015 by the Page Center in the area of communications and sustainability.