BledCom 2024 Program

Please note that the Program is subject to change.

Early Registrations will be available at the BledCom registration desk in the foyer of the Rikli Balance Hotel on Thursday, July 4, from 18.00 to 19.00.

Thursday's dinner for the participants who registered and payed for it in advance, will be from 19.30 - 22.00 (departure at 19.00).

IMPORTANT: From the parking lot to the entrance of the Restaurant there is an approximate 100 meters of paved steep paths. Please wear sensible shoes.

Day 1

Day 2

KEYNOTE SPEECH

The keynote speaker for this 32nd International Public Relations Research Symposium will be Marko Grobelnik, a researcher at the AI Lab at the Jožef Stefan Institute and co-founder of the UNESCO International Research Center on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI).

Grobelnik collaborates extensively with major European academic institutions and leading industry players, including Bloomberg, British Telecom, the European Commission, Microsoft Research, the New York Times, and OECD.

As a co-author of several books and co-founder of multiple startups, Grobelnik has contributed to over 100 EU-funded AI research projects. His keynote speech, titled “The Future of Artificial Intelligence and Its Potential Impact on Public Relations,” will explore key predictions for the future, highlighting shifts that may come sooner than anticipated.

Day 1

Program may be subject to change: check the website for regular updates. All times are in Central European Summer Time (CEST).

Friday

05. 07. 2024

Time

8.30 - 16.50

8.30 - 9.30

REGISTRATION

9.30 - 10.00

10.00 - 10.45

10.45 - 11.00

COFFE BREAK

11.00 - 12.00

PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 1A

Chair: Denisa Hejlová

Well-being at digitalized workplaces: An
interdisciplinary perspective on
technology design and the role of internal
communication management
Melanie Malczok, University of Applied
Sciences Osnabrück (Germany)
Antonia Altendorf, Sociological Research
Institute Göttingen (Germany)
Jannike Illing, OFFIS Oldenburg (Germany)

How digitalization of internal communication affects internal communication satisfaction, employee engagement and consequently perceived life satisfaction
Ana Tkalac Verčič, University of Zagreb
(Croatia)
Dejan Verčič, University of Ljubljana and
Herman & partnerji (Slovenia)
Anja Špoljarić, University of Zagreb (Croatia)

Organisational shared-purpose, Communication, Good Health and Wellbeing: A Case Study from Australia and New Zealand
Chun-Ju Flora Hung-Baesecke, University of Technology Sydney (Australia)
Yi-Ru Regina Chen, Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong)
Maureen Taylor, University of Technology Sydney (Australia)

DEBATE
PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 1B

Chair: Jon White

"Between BurnOut and BoreOut. Stress perception in the professional environment
of corporate communications"
Lars Rademacher, Hochschule Darmstadt - University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
Werner Stork, Hochschule Darmstadt - University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
René Seidenglanz, Quadriga University of Applied Sciences, Berlin (Germany)

How CEOs’ Conversational Communication on Social Media Enhances Internal Relationships and Employees’ Social Media Engagement
Yeunjae Lee, Colorado State University (USA)
Dalee Yoon, University of Hawaii (USA)
Cen April Yue, Boston University (USA)

A smile is worth a thousand words: The role of internal communications in nurturing an emotional culture of joy at work
Michelle Willemse, Erasmus University (The
Netherlands)
Linjuan Rita Men, University of Florida (USA)

DEBATE

12.00 - 13.00

PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 2A

Chair: Marko Selakovic

Employee Well-being, Internal Communication and Listening: Insights from an Explorative Study Among Italian Companies
Alfonsa Butera, Università IULM (Italy)
Alessandra Mazzei, Università IULM (Italy)
Silvia Ravazzani, Università IULM (Italy)
Luca Quaratino, Università IULM (Italy)
Marco Leonzio, Università IULM (Italy)
Nicola Castelli, Università IULM (Italy)

Ordinary workplace digital violence. The process of banalization and the role of communication
Aurélie Laborde, Bordeaux Montaigne University (France)

Leading the way: The impact of leadership
communication on employees’ AI anxiety, well-being, and relationships with their organizations
Huang, Vincent, Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong)

DEBATE
PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 2B

Chair: Gareth Thompson

Positive Communication and resilience: Explicating how positive communication can enhance crisis response effectiveness in moral outrage inducing crises
W. Timothy Coombs, Centre for Crisis and Risk Communications (USA)
Elina R. Tachkova, Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong)

Crisis Communication Scholarship: The Dire Need for a Socio-cultural Perspective
Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, University of Colorado (USA)

In a crisis situation, which public communication message strategies are best deployed using short-form social media?
Mutaz Alotaibi, Cardiff University and King
Abdulaziz University (UK and Saudi Arabia)
Susan Kinnear, Cardiff University (UK)

DEBATE

13.00 - 14.30

LUNCH

14.30 - 15.30

PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 3A

Chair: Linjuan Rita Men

Feeling good, living well, and making nice. Aspiring PR people on well-being and work-life balance.
Jacek Barlik, University of Warsaw (Poland)

How Supervisors’ Use of Motivating Language Influences Employee Attitudes and Supportive Behaviors: Exploring the Moderating Effects of Remote Work
Yufan Sunny Qin, James Madison University (USA)
Linjuan Rita Men, University of Florida (USA)
Francis Akanbi, University of Florida (USA)
Hanzi He, University of Florida (USA)

Empowering Trust and Well-Being: An Analysis of Nonprofit Communication. Strategies on X
Alla Kushniryk, Mount Saint Vincent University (Canada)
Stanislav Orlov, Mount Saint Vincent University (Canada)

DEBATE
PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 3B

Chair: Cen April Yue

Gen Zs Seeking Companionship. Loneliness,
Individual and Collective Narcissism as Predictors of Sharing Fake News.
Michal Chmiel, Royal Holloway, University of
London (UK)
Gareth Thompson, London College of
Communication, UAL (UK)

Let’s Tango with the Wind. Disinformation and Onshore Wind Turbines
Anthony Scott, Hanze UAS (The Netherlands)
Niels Adema, Hanze UAS (The Netherlands)
W.J.L. Elving, Hanze UAS (The Netherlands)
Gerard Schepers, Hanze UAS (The Netherlands)

The Effects of Digital Activism on Social Wellness of Digital Natives in Singapore
Zhiying Daphne Xu, Singapore Management
University (Singapore)
Hui Ling Fiona Loi, Singapore Management
University (Singapore)
Ai Ling Stephanie Ng, Singapore Management University (Singapore)
Zheng Hoe Vernon Yeow, Singapore Management University (Singapore)
Su Lin Yeo, Singapore Management University (Singapore)

DEBATE

15.30 - 16.50

PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 4A

Chair: Chun-Ju Flora Hung-Baesecke

Well-being. A regenerative and structured approach to corporate welfare: engagement, inclusion, sustainability and communication.
Gloria Milan, ICDLAB Sostenibilità e Comunicazione (Italy)
Stefano Martello, Comm to Action (Italy)
Caterina Bonometto, ICDLAB Sostenibilità e Comunicazione (Italy)

The Utilisation of Engaged Research Towards the Well-Being of Internal Stakeholders: A Case Study
Louise Bezuidenhout, North-West University (South Africa)
Lucinda Sutton, North-West University (South Africa)

Whose Wellbeing Matters Most for Gen Z? A
Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Climate Messages
Nilüfer Geysi, Bahçeşehir University
(Turkey)

DEBATE
PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 4B

Chair: Michal Chmiel

Public Healthcare Delivery Eco-system in India: Role for Public Relations
Noumaan Qureshi, University of Mumbai (India)

Double tap to heart: Portuguese National Health Service (SNS) message on Instagram about cardiovascular health and its perception
Raphaël Baptista, CAPP/ISCSP, Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal)
Célia Belim, CAPP/ISCSP, Universidade de
Lisboa (Portugal)

Communication Competence and Challenges of Family Caregivers in Navigating End-of-Life Conversations
Rachel Tan, Singapore Management university (Singapore)
Kelvin Ho, Singapore Management University
(Singapore)
Olivia Deng, Singapore Management University (Singapore)
Glen Chia, Singapore Management University
(Singapore)
Su Lin Yeo, Singapore Management University (Singapore)

External Communications of Employee Well-being and Care: Contexts and Discrepancies
Marko SelakovicExternal Communications of Employee Well-being and Care: Contexts and Discrepancies
Marko Selakovic, S P Jain School of Global
Management (U.A.E.)
Nikolina Ljepava, American University in the
Emirates (U.A.E.)
Marijana Krkic, University of Belgrade (Serbia)

DEBATE

19.30 - 22.00 (departure at 19.00)

DINNER

Day 2

Program may be subject to change: check the website for regular updates. All times are in Central European Summer Time (CEST).

Saturday

06. 07. 2024

Time

9.45 - 16.00

9.45 - 10.45

PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 5A

Chair: Nilüfer Geysi

Authentic Inside-Out CSR: Employees as Partners in Advancing Social Goals
Kathy R. Fitzpatrick, University of South Florida

Impact of CSR and Corporate Sustainability Communication on the Rising Green Generation in Singapore
Justin Teo, Singapore Management University (Singapore)
Jane Gan, Singapore Management University (Singapore)
Kai Yen Foo, Singapore Management University (Singapore)
Lincoln Sim, Singapore Management University (Singapore)
Su Lin Yeo, Singapore Management University (Singapore)

Navigating Purpose-Oriented Communication: Insights from Dutch Public Relations Professionals
Jeroen van der Zeeuw, Ede Christian University (The Netherlands)

DEBATE
PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 5B

Chair: Lars Rademacher

An exploratory study among Generation Z UK PR professionals and their employers examining their subjective attitudes toward work-placed well-being.
Kevin Read, University of Greenwich (UK)
Nyree Ambarchianand, Jack & Grace (UK)
Michal Chmiel, Royal Holloway, University of
London (UK)

Profound Changes Mobile Devices. Potential Consequences. And the Lives of Today’s Public Relations Professionals
Edward J. Downes, Boston University (USA)

Communication and War: Hate Speech, Propaganda War and Denial of Facts in the Tigray Ethiopia War of 2020-2023
Ton Veen, Mekelle University (Ethiopia)
Brhane Weleslase, Mekelle University (Ethiopia)

DEBATE

10.45 - 11.45

PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 6A

Chair: Su Lin Yeo

Ukraine's Use of Nation Branding Amidst Russia's Full-Scale Invasion
Viktoriia Savchuk, University of Maryland (USA)

Community Engagement and CSR in Times of Crisis: Corporate Efforts for Enhancing Local Well-being after the 6th February, 2023 Earthquake in Turkiye
Elif Engin, Bahcesehir University (Turkey)
Burcu Eker Akgöz, Bahcesehir University (Turkey)

Grounded optimism as an approach to organisational change
Dan Charlton, SPFT (UK)

DEBATE
PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 6B

Chair: Alfonsa Butera

Get Closer: How Personality Tests Enhance Brand Awareness, Attitudes, and Engagement?
Shih Chia Wu, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
Nanxiao Zheng, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)

News Agencies as a Blind Sport in PR Research. Results of Qualitative Interviews in the New Media Landscape of the Early 21st Century
Holger Sievert, Macromedia University of Applied Sciences Cologne (Germany)
Florian Meißner, Macromedia University of Applied Sciences Cologne (Germany)
Marco Inderhees, Macromedia University of Applied Sciences Cologne (Germany)

Exploring organizational commitment to human well-being: A management logic perspective driven by the sacred-profane dichotomy.
Evandro Oliveira, Universidade Autónoma de
Lisboa (Portugal)

DEBATE

11.45 - 12.00

COFFE BREAK

12.00 - 13.00

PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 7A

Chair: Ana Tkalac Verčič

“Buying mercy” Effective altruism, philanthropy and social purpose as public relations
Gareth Thompson, University of the Arts London (UK)

Navigating Informed Health Choices: Sociocultural Factors and Information Channels in the Context of
Chiropractic Services in Croatia
Marta Takahashi, Catholic University of Croatia (Croatia)

Individual-level Antecedents in Care-Based Relationship Management: Assessing Factors to Ethical Public Relations in the Government Sector
Jordan Morehouse, University of Colorado Boulder (USA)
Chuqing Dong, Michigan State University (USA)
Qi Zheng, Michigan State University (USA)

DEBATE
PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 7B

Chair: Dejan Verčič

Public Relations Meets Artificial Intelligence:
Assessing Utilization and Outcomes
Cen April Yue, Boston University (USA)
Linjuan Rita Men, University of Florida (USA)
Donna Z. Davis, University of Oregon (USA)
Renee Mitson, University of Florida (USA)
Alvin Zhou, University of Minnesota (USA)
Ahmed Ibraheem Al Rawi, Pennsylvania State University (USA)

Empowering voices, enabling change: exploring the relationship between wellbeing and gender equality for public relations Portuguese practitioners
Maria João Cunha, CIEG/ISCSP-Ulisboa (Portugal)
Carla Cruz, CAPP/ISCSP, Universidade de
Lisboa (Portugal)
Célia Belim, CAPP/ISCSP, Universidade de
Lisboa (Portugal)

Contributions to Societal Well-Being by the Higher Educational Institutions in Türkiye: The Analysis of Student-initiated Social Responsibility Projects in Public Relations Programs
Mine Saran, Ege University (Turkey)
T. Serra Görpe, University of Sharjah (U.A.E.)

DEBATE

13.00 - 14.30

LUNCH

14.30 - 15.30

PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 8A

Chair: Krishnamurthy Sriramesh

Fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Organizations: Perspectives from Public Relations Leaders
Cen April Yue, Boston University (USA)
Amanda S. Bradshaw, University of Mississippi (USA)
Weiting Tao, University of Miami (USA)
Britt Moon, University of Mississippi (USA)

CBO (community-based organisation) communication strategies to facilitate long-term relationships towards sustainability: A case study of iDUC
Marné van Zyl, North-West University (South Africa)
Elbé Kloppers, North-West University (South Africa)
Louise Bezuidenhout, North-West University (South Africa)

Understanding Reputation-Building and its Importance to Young Entrepreneurs in Singapore
Jonathan Goh, Singapore Management University (Singapore)
Evonne Zhang, Singapore Management University (Singapore)
William Ong, Singapore Management University (Singapore)
Su Lin Yeo, Singapore Management University (Singapore)

DEBATE
PARALLEL PAPER SESSION 8B

Chair: Shih Chia Wu

„Share the nicotine with your friends“: Ethical
flaws of promoting tobacco and nicotine products using digital nanoinfluencers“
Denisa Hejlová, Charles University (Czech
Republic)
Nina Ortová, Charles University (Czech
Republic)

Communicating health and well-being policies: The Portuguese Prime Minister's message on the X platform between 2016 and 2023 and its reception
Célia Belim, CAPP/ISCSP, Universidade de
Lisboa (Portugal)
Raphaël Baptista, CAPP/ISCSP, Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal)
Maria João Cunha, CIEG/ISCSP-Ulisboa
(Portugal)
Carla Cruz, CAPP/ISCSP, Universidade de
Lisboa (Portugal)
Sandra Firmino, CAPP/ISCSP, Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal)
Teresa Ruel, CAPP/ISCSP, Universidade de
Lisboa (Portugal)
Joana Woss, CAPP/ISCSP, Universidade de
Lisboa (Portugal)
Cristina Vaz de Almeida, CAPP/ISCSP, Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal)

Harnessing the Power of Online Support
Communities in Times of Crisis: Implications
for Public Relations
Maggie Doherty, St Mary's University (UK)

DEBATE