Journal article
Reactions of Young Adults to the Death of Apple CEO Steve Jobs: Implications for Cancer Communication
Communication research reports, Vol.30(2), pp.115-126
04/01/2013
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/106726
Abstract
On October 5, 2011, the Chief Executive Officer of Apple®, Inc., Steve Jobs, died from pancreatic cancer. Media outlets covered the event with fervor, and the public responded in kind. The purpose of this study was to examine public reaction to Jobs's death from pancreatic cancer in relation to general and health-specific information-seeking, as well as interpersonal communication. Using a survey conducted within weeks of Jobs's death (N = 401), high awareness of this event was found, as were significant amounts of information-seeking and interpersonal communication with regard to his death. Emotional responses to his death were found to be the best predictors of related health communication behaviors. Along with descriptive findings of who communicated, with whom, when, and about what, these findings provide guidance for health communicators, who may use celebrity cancer announcements or deaths to capitalize on increased attention to the disease.
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Details
- Title
- Reactions of Young Adults to the Death of Apple CEO Steve Jobs: Implications for Cancer Communication
- Creators
- Jessica Gall Myrick - School of Journalism and Mass Communication , University of North CarolinaJessica Fitts Willoughby - School of Journalism and Mass Communication , University of North CarolinaSeth M Noar - School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center , University of North CarolinaJennifer Brown - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Institute for Global Tobacco Control
- Publication Details
- Communication research reports, Vol.30(2), pp.115-126
- Academic Unit
- Strategic Communication, Department of
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Group
- Identifiers
- 99900546810101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article