In The News: Department of Communication Studies

For someone who is hours away from his family, living alone on a college campus without in-person classes, and who infrequently sees a friend in the flesh, Hugh-Jay Yu has an impressively active social life.
In a battle between old tech versus new, phone calls and emails proved more helpful for lessening loneliness, isolation and stress than video chats, social media and interactive video games during the pandemic, according to a new study in the journal Human Communication and Technology.

This week marks the anniversary of many milestones since COVID-19 hit the state.

My friend Haley called me the other day. She hadn’t texted me in advance to “find a time” to chat. Nor did we have a Zoom date “on the calendar.” She just up and called me unannounced.

My friend Haley called me the other day. She hadn’t texted me in advance to “find a time” to chat. Nor did we have a Zoom date “on the calendar.” She just up and called me unannounced.

Call me, maybe? A 51ԹϺ researcher is asking that question to see how people are staying connected during the pandemic.

I’m sure you've seen it, pictures and videos on social media of COVID-19 vaccination cards and injections.

I’m sure you've seen it, pictures and videos on social media of COVID-19 vaccination cards and injections.

As we approach the one year anniversary of COVID-19 lockdowns, a 51ԹϺ professor has been studying how well people are coping with communication. According to professor Natalie Pennington, older technologies like phone calls and emails were actually more effective at easing pandemic loneliness and stress.

As we approach the one year anniversary of COVID-19 lockdowns, a 51ԹϺ professor has been studying how well people are coping with communication. According to professor Natalie Pennington, older technologies like phone calls and emails were actually more effective at easing pandemic loneliness and stress.
When stay-at-home orders were announced as one of the greatest tools in our arsenal against the COVID-19 pandemic, anyone who’s vintage enough to have watched forward-looking shows and movies– from “The Jetsons” to “Star Trek” to “Back to the Future” — might have thought America was ready to embrace a world where video calling and other tech-heavy communication options reigned supreme.
When stay-at-home orders were announced as one of the greatest tools in our arsenal against the COVID-19 pandemic, anyone who's vintage enough to have watched forward-looking shows and movies— from "The Jetsons" to "Star Trek" to "Back to the Future"—might have thought America was ready to embrace a world where video calling and other tech-heavy communication options reigned supreme.