Rebecca Kern

My overall research focuses on the ways identity – particularly gender, sexuality, and class – and community intersect with new media, televisual, journalistic, and advertising formats. Currently, much of my research focuses on the use of Facebook as a source of unusual community dialogue. However, I like to branch out and examine community and identity in myriad different negotiations and constructions.  A master’s degree in journalism with a focus on writing, advertising, and public relations, coupled with a PhD in Mass Media and Communications and a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies provides me with a background of knowledge I apply toward my teaching as well as my academic research.

• Mishra, S. & Kern, R. (2015). Persuading the Public to Lose Weight: An Analysis of a Decade (2001-2011) of Magazine Advertisements. Journal of Magazine and New Media Research.

• Kern, R. (2014). "And now bringing you the good life - A word from our sponsors": The changing face of television advertising from the sixties to the present day. In B. Cogan & T. Gencarelli (Eds.), Baby Boomers and Popular Culture: An Inquiry into America's Most Powerful Generation  (pp. 103-115). Santa Barbara: Praeger.

• Kern, R. (2014). Imagining community: Visibility, bonding, and L Word audiences. Sexualities, 17 (4), 434-450.
• Kern, R. & Mishra, S. (2014). (Re) Framing gender in network news: A comparative analysis. Women's Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 43 (6) 1-21.
• Kern, R. & Forman, A. (2013). Stigma and salvation: Advertising HIV awareness in New York City: A case study,   Journal of Homosexuality, 60, 1143-1159.
• Kern, R., Forman, A., & Gil-Egui, G., (2013). R.I.P. Rest in Perpetuity: Facebook ‘In Memoriam’ Pages, Telematics and Informatics, 30(1), 2-10.
• Forman, A., Kern, R., Gil-Egui, G., (2012). Death and mourning as sources of community participation in online social networks: R.I.P. pages in Facebook, First Monday, 17(9).
• Kern, R. (2012). Andro-phobia?: When Gender Queer Is too Queer For L-Word Audiences, in K. Ross (Ed.) The Handbook of Gender, Sex, and Media, (pp. 241-259). London: Blackwell.
• Kern, R. (2008). Structuring the Status Quo: The L-Word and Queer Female Acceptability.” (2008). In Marian Meyers (Ed.), Women in Popular Culture: Representation and Meaning (pp. 171-184). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

Peer-reviewed Conference Papers:

• "Lose Weight in Half the Time: Dominant Messages in a Decade of Diet and Weight Loss Magazine Advertisements" - AEJMC (Association of Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication), Montreal, Quebec, August 2014, with S. Mishra.

• "Till Death Do Us Part?  Conversations with Deceased Celebrities through Memorial Pages in Facebook" - IAMCR (International Association of Mass Communication Research), Dublin, Ireland, June 2013, with G. Gil-Egui and A. Forman.

• “(Re) Framing gender in network news: A comparative analysis” – ICA (International Communication Association), Feminist Studies Division: Phoenix, Arizona, June 2012, with S. Mishra.

• “Buying the best of times: Banana Republic and remembering the 1960s” – MEA (Media Ecology Association), Riverdale, New York, June 2012.

• “Death and Mourning as Sources of Community Participation in Online Social Networks: R.I.P. Pages in Facebook.” Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) Internet Research 12.0 Conference. Seattle, WA, October 2011.

• “RIP: Remain in Perpetuity” (For Panel: Sustainable Communities: Cultural Expressions on Facebook), Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) Internet Research 11.0 Conference: Sustainability, Participation, Action, Gothenburg, Sweden, October 2010.

• “You Do Not Know Me: Sexual Identity, Consumption, and the Sign of The L-Word.” (For Panel: Refereed Research.) Association of Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Interest Group/Critical and Cultural Studies Division), Denver, CO, August 2010.
• “Discussion of Research and Teaching Challenges in Critical GLBT issues.” (For Invited Panel: The State of Teaching and Research in Queer Theory and Other Critical GLBT Issues.) Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication Conference (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Interest Group/ Critical and Cultural Studies Division), Washington, DC, August 2007.
• “Consuming Katie: The Media Commodification of the First Female Network News Anchor” (first author with Suman Mishra). Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication Conference (Critical and Cultural Studies Division – Poster Session), Washington, DC, August 2007.
• “All Puffed Out: From Powerful to Passive – Images of Femininity and Sexuality in Young Adult Television.” (For Panel: “Empowerful Girls on Television: Consumerism, Sexuality, and Feminism.) Eastern Communication Association Conference (Mass Communication Division), Providence, RI, April 2007.
• “Just How Groundbreaking Is The L-Word? Lesbians and the Future of Television.” National Communication Association Conference (GLBT Studies Division), San Antonio, TX, November 2006.
• “Structuring the Status Quo: The L-Word and Queer Female Acceptability.” Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication Conference (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Interest Group), San Francisco, CA, August 2006.
• “Can Massachusetts Serve as a Model? A Case Study Analysis of Same-Sex Marriage Law.” American Studies Association, Mid-Atlantic Conference, Harrisburg, PA, March 2006.
• “Structuring the Status Quo: The L-Word and Queer Female Acceptability.” Graduate Competitive Research Forum, Temple University, School of Communications and Theater, Philadelphia, PA, February 2006.
• “The L-Word Media Coverage: A Textual Analysis of Queer Female Representations and Themes in Print.” International Communication Association Conference (Feminist Studies Division/Queer Studies), New York, NY, May 2005.
• “A New Stereotype: Feminine Representations of Lesbians on The L-Word.” Popular Culture Association Conference (Feminist Studies Division), San Diego, CA, March 2005.

I spent over eight years in advertising agencies and advertising sales before taking the plunge and returning to study for and receive my PhD.  I have worked in big and small firms, and with all sorts of clients.  Since my undergraduate degree was in Studio Art, I had the ability to work closely with different departments in small agencies, often acting as a liaison between the client and art department.  In large agencies I found my niche as a media planner and strategic planner.  This is from where my love of research and audiences ultimately stems.  People are fascinating!

Professional Memberships

• International Association for Mass Communication Research
• Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication, Critical and Cultural Studies Division 2014-2015 Division Head  (Induction at 2014 AEJMC Conference in Montreal, QC)
• Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication, Critical and Cultural Studies Division 2013-2014 Vice Head and Program Head (Induction at 2013 AEJMC Conference in Washington D.C.)
• Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication, Critical and Cultural Studies Division 2011-2013 Secretary and Mid-winter Conference Chair. (Induction at 2011 AEJMC Conference in St. Louis, MO.)
• Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication, Critical and Cultural Studies Division 2010-2011 Research Chair. (Induction at 2010 AEJMC Conference in Denver, CO.)
• Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication, GLBT Interest Group 2009-2011 Professional Freedom and Responsibility Chair. (Induction at 2009 AEJMC Conference in Boston, MA.)
• Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication, Critical and Cultural Studies Division 2009-2010 Teaching Standards Chair. (Induction at 2009 AEJMC Conference in Boston, MA.)
• Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication, GLBT Interest Group 2007-2008 Newsletter Editor. (Induction at 2007 AEJMC Conference in Washington, DC.)

Top Paper Reviewer 2010 - Association of Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication, Critical and Cultural Studies Division.

2013 Summer Faculty Grant - Manhattan College

Faculty Advisor: Lambda Pi Eta and Manhattan College chapter of the American Advertising Federation

Submission Reviewer for the following Journals: Communication, Culture, and Critique, Feminist Media Studies, Journal of Homosexuality, Gender, Place, and Culture, Sage Open

Article editor: Sage Open