Gabriel McKee, librarian, The Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University

For the full class schedule, descriptions, and to register, please visit the UConn Recreation website (https://recreation.uconn.edu/group-fitness-schedule/).

Brett A. Williams, M.B.A., York College of Pennsylvania, 2020, will defend his doctoral dissertation proposal titled, "Authenticity Across Generations: Bridging Source and Format Credibility Gaps in Hybrid Media" on Tuesday, May 20th, 2025, at 4:30pm (EST) on WebEx. A copy of the dissertation proposal is available by emailing Michael Melnik at michael.melnik@uconn.edu, and the abstract appears below. Please use the following link to join the WebEx meeting: https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/meet/brw21001 (https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fuconn-cmr.webex.com%2Fmeet%2Fbrw21001&data=05%7C02%7Cmjm14016%40ad.uconn.edu%7C5d89e659ca644ac7a08408dd88b56c10%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638817034986506818%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=DHqAk4QXEuEcZ82bgreokAuk%2Bm1lOvsusSqHtQ%2FMHtQ%3D&reserved=0)Committee: Anne Oeldorf-Hirsch, Ph.D., Department of Communication, Major Advisor Amanda Denes, Ph.D., Department of Communication, Associate Advisor David Atkin, Ph.D., Department of Communication, Associate AdvisorAbstract This study examines how source type (journalist vs. influencer) and media format (broadcast-style vs. platform-style) interact to shape audience perceptions of credibility, social presence, and behavioral engagement, with a focus on AI-driven misinformation. Guided by Source Credibility Theory and Media Richness Theory, a 2×2 between-subjects experiment tests eight hypotheses centered on authenticity as a critical mediator of credibility and generational identity (digital natives vs. immigrants) as a moderator of these effects. Participants (N = 500, stratified by age) recruited via Prolific will evaluate deepfake-related videos reflecting four conditions: journalist/broadcast, influencer/broadcast, journalist/platform, and influencer/platform. Stimuli equivalence will be pilot-tested for neutrality and authenticity, with credibility and engagement assessed via validated scales, including a multidimensional measure of authenticity (Lee & Eastin, 2021). Analyses using PROCESS models will assess moderated mediation pathways, testing how authenticity mediates source-format effects on credibility and how generational identity, operationalized via Prensky's (2001) age thresholds and self-identification, amplifies or attenuates these dynamics. Anticipated findings will advance theoretical integration of credibility and media richness frameworks by foregrounding authenticity as a bridge between institutional and relational credibility paradigms. Practical insights will guide journalists in adapting platform-style storytelling without compromising authenticity, influencers in leveraging format-specific trust-building strategies, and policymakers in designing generational-targeted media literacy interventions. By mapping how source-format alignment shapes authenticity and credibility in AI contexts, this study responds to urgent calls for empirical rigor in hybrid media environments.

For the full class schedule, descriptions, and to register, please visit the UConn Recreation website (https://recreation.uconn.edu/group-fitness-schedule/).

For the full class schedule, descriptions, and to register, please visit the UConn Recreation website (https://recreation.uconn.edu/group-fitness-schedule/).

Our MSW program prepares students who are passionate about helping others to promote social, racial, and economic justice, and to advocate for improved social policies and services. Join us at this session for conversations about how you can combine your passion with a degree in social work to make change for Individuals, groups, communities and the world. We will discuss the curriculum and different pathways in the program as well as the Hartford and Stamford campus options.