Dr. Juan Meng

Invited talk by the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China. Dr. Meng was invited to share research insights on communication practice and fake news. The talk centers on how fake news could be monitored and identified, and how communication professionals could use their expertise and knowledge […]

Abstract: This research spotlight shares insights on how technology changes how leaders guide their teams and organizations and some of the greatest challenges for leaders to adapt in the digital environment. The author argues the digital environment presents the greatest opportunity to foster a continued and interactive learning environment as the industry has witnessed a […]

Abstract: This study investigated young millennials’ risk perception, benefit perception, and purchase intention toward GM foods by testing the effects of source credibility and risk attitude. By comparing two samples collected in the U.S. (N = 207) and China (N = 242), we found that source credibility positively influenced benefit perceptions of GM foods among […]

Dr. Meng serves as an invited panelist to discuss how the double pandemic—the virus and racial reckoning—is continuing to shape resilience, resourcefulness and reform in our industry and how educators can help students test and stretch their resilience in the classroom.

Abstract: As an important group of internal stakeholders, communication professionals carry the responsibilities to communicate with multiple groups of audience and foster trusted and satisfied relationships, both internally and externally. However, while busy with taking care of various stakeholders, the trust-satisfaction perception of communication professionals is underrated. Therefore, this study shifts the investigation of the […]

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to introduce inclusive leadership as a new theoretical framework to understand its meaning and functions in advancing gender equalities and empowerment in public relations leadership. By proposing an inclusive leadership theoretical model, we explored the roles of inclusive leadership in fostering an organization’s diversity climate and facilitating its […]

Abstract: The paper presents findings from an international survey of communication professionals on change leadership in communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the strong impact brought by the pandemic, communication professionals adapt quickly in change management by using COVID-19 information to build knowledge, enhance trust, develop strategies and guide actions. 

Abstract: This research presents the findings from a large-scale national online survey of Chinese citizens (N = 1,713) about their general knowledge of COVID-19 and the key communication channels that they used both during and after the pandemic. The perceived impact of COVID-19, personal safety concern, and information retention during the times of lockdown and […]

Abstract: A conditional process model for the impact of obesity knowledge on healthy food choice was proposed to examine how consumers’ obesity knowledge and online search for nutritional information (OSNI) in food products jointly influenced their healthy food choice (HFC) and whether consumers’ attitude toward health and nutrition-related (HNR) claims in food advertisement directly or […]

Abstract: This study examines current critical situational issues and barriers that are likely to influence women’s leadership advancement along their career paths in public relations. A national online survey of female professionals in public relations was designed and conducted in the United States. Results confirmed the top three situational barriers to PR women’s advancement include […]

Abstract: This study addresses the persistent gender discrepancies in the communication profession at three levels (i.e., the micro level with individual communication professionals, the meso level with communication department and/or agency, and the macro level with the communication profession itself). By conducting an online survey of 1,046 communication professionals in the United States and Canada […]

Abstract: The rise of a professional career presents women in today’s public relations profession an intense challenge in balancing professional and family responsibilities. Therefore, this study is motivated to investigate female public relations professionals’ perceptions of work-family conflict in their daily life. Specifically, we focused our research on women working in the professions of communication […]

Abstract: This study is motivated to investigate the ethical challenges facing public relations professionals in today’s digital communication environment. Specifically, we focused our research on the new ethical challenges in digital practice, the resources relied on when encountering ethical challenges, and public relations professionals’ efforts in seeking trainings on communication ethics. Our research found nearly […]

Meng, J. (May 13, 2021). Leadership in public relations: the state of research. Invited talk at the School of Communication and International Relations, Blanquerna—Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain.  

Meng, J., & Neill, M. S. (May 19, 2021). Building mentorship and networks: Insights from PR Women with Influence. Invited live training session at the 2021 UGA AdPR Academy.  

Meng, J., Reber, B. H., Gower, K., Zerfass, A. (June 9, 2021). Exploring the 2020-2021 North American Communication Monitor. Facebook Live Webinar, invited and hosted by the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations.   

Meng, J. (July 2, 2021). Trusted sources of information, perceived quality in communication, and health knowledge retention: A national study of COVID-19 pandemic in China. Invited presentation as part of the research panel, Risk/Crisis Communication Research Related to COVID-19 in Asia, chaired by Sriramesh, K., presented at the 28th International Public Relations Research Symposium (BledCom).

Neill, M. S., & Meng, J. (July 27, 2021). Leadership Research Roundtable: Ethics of Care, invited and hosted by The Arthur W. Page Center and The Arthur W. Page Society.   

Hopkins, K., Dahmen, N., Russell, Karen M., Meng, Juan, & Neill, M. S. (August 5, 2021). AEJMC-Peter Lang Scholarsourcing Book Series Panel, invited talk at the 2021 annual conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), August 4-7, 2021.   

Abstract  This chapter presents the research findings from a national research project on women and leadership in public relations in the United States (Meng & Neill, 2021). Through its 51 in-depth interviews and a large-scale survey of women working in the public relations in the United States in the years of 2019-2020, the chapter offers […]

Abstract As an important group of internal stakeholders, communication professionals carry the responsibilities to communicate with multiple groups of audience and foster trusted and satisfied relationships, both internally and externally. However, while busy with taking care of various stakeholders, the trust-satisfaction perception of communication professionals is underrated. Therefore, this study shifts the investigation of the […]

Abstract This research is motivated to advance our understanding of measurement challenges in communication practice and coping strategies from a global perspective. To do so, we relied on data from a global online survey of communication practitioners in more than 20 countries, which result in five country clusters for final analysis and comparisons. Communication practitioners […]

This research is motivated to explore communication professionals’ understanding of the digital changes brought by the Industry 4.0 revolution and how such changes may affect the strategies and skills expected in effective communication management. A specific focus of the research is to define the concept of Readiness for Industry 4.0 in communication and propose a […]

Strategic Communication in a Global Crisis: National and International Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic

North American Communication Monitor 2020-2021. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic, ethical challenges, gender issues, cyber security, and competence gaps in strategic communication.

Meng, Juan: The 2021/2022 Page/Johnson Legacy Scholar Award for research contributions to the ethics of care in public relations research and practice. Awarded by The Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communications at Penn State University  

Neill, M. S. (CO-PI) at Baylor University and Meng, Juan (CO-PI) at University of Georgia: $6,000 (funded) (July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022)  Funder/Sponsor: The Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communications.  Project description: This sponsored study will focus on investigating the roles of ethics of care and servant leadership in building […]

Abstract: Practices of ethical leadership in public relations can be context-specific but they can influence organizational effectiveness. By conducting a national survey, this study examines female public relations professionals’ perspectives on ethical leadership. The results suggest that female professionals feel ready and confident in providing ethics counseling as needed. Public relations leaders’ ethical conduct help […]

Abstract: The paper presents findings from an international survey of communication professionals on change leadership in communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the strong impact brought by the pandemic, communication professionals adapt quickly in change management by using COVID-19 information to build knowledge, enhance trust, develop strategies and guide actions.

Abstract: This research presents the findings from a large-scale national online survey of Chinese citizens (N = 1,713) about their general knowledge of COVID-19 and the key communication channels that they used both during and after the pandemic. The perceived impact of COVID-19, personal safety concern, and information retention during the times of lockdown and […]

Abstract: A conditional process model for the impact of obesity knowledge on healthy food choice was proposed to examine how consumers’ obesity knowledge and online search for nutritional information (OSNI) in food products jointly influenced their healthy food choice (HFC) and whether consumers’ attitude toward health and nutrition-related (HNR) claims in food advertisement directly or […]

Abstract: This study examines current critical situational issues and barriers that are likely to influence women’s leadership advancement along their career paths in public relations. A national online survey of female professionals in public relations was designed and conducted in the United States. Results confirmed the top three situational barriers to PR women’s advancement include […]

Abstract: This research presents the findings from a large-scale national online survey of citizens in Mainland China about the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, both in the time of lockdown and post-pandemic. The study sheds light on the relationship between the trusted sources of COVID-19 information and the perceived quality in communication by jointly […]

Tench, R., Meng, J., & Moreno, A. (eds.) (2022). Strategic Communication in a Global Crisis: National and International Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic. London: Routledge.

Meng, J., & Neill, M. S. (2021). PR Women with Influence: Breaking Through Ethical and Leadership Challenges. New York: Peter Lang International Academic Publishers. *This book is Volume 6 of the AEJMC-Peter Lang Scholarsourcing Series. https://www.peterlang.com/view/title/70618

Juan Meng, University of Georgia, and Marlene S. Neill, Baylor University won The Arthur W. Page Center Top Ethics Paper Award in recognition for exceptional research that refines and expands the practices related to public relations pedagogy, Awarded by Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Educators Academy, Oct. 23, 2020.

Daniel Ziegele (Grady visiting graduate student), Master’s thesis title, “Work stress among communication professionals: A comparative study between Germany and the United States,” received the 2020 Best Master Thesis Award for Excellence on Theoretical Impact, awarded by the European Public Relations Education and Research Association (EUPRERA), Brussels, Belgium (www.euprera.org), November 19, 2020. Thesis Co-Chairs: Ansgar […]

Panel description: This joint panel between Media Ethics Division and Public Relations Division explores in depth the topic of women’s ethical and leadership challenges in public relations and communication management. This panel is based on an original research project jointly funded by the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations and the Arthur W. Page […]

Abstract: Communication leaders can strategically use organizational resources to co-define functions (the constructionist approaches in leadership) and to establish interpersonal alliances within and beyond communication units (the relational approaches in leadership). In the present study, we incorporated these theoretical lenses to evaluate how communication leaders’ performance helps build a positive communication structure and culture in […]

Abstract: This study tests how the cognitive component of work attitude, particularly the job cognition as tested by Williams and Anderson (1991), affects the dynamic relationships among trust, commitment, and satisfaction. Our interests emanates from researchers’ continued focus on the dynamic and relational processes in constructing workplace relationships. However, few attention has been paid to […]

Meng, J. (2019). The Most Dedicated Reviewer Award, recognized by Public Relations Division at the 2019 International Communication Association annual conference in Washington, D.C., May 27, 2019,

Meng, J., Berger, B. K., Heyman, W., & Reber, B. H. (2019). Public relations leaders earn a “C+” in The Plank Center’s Report Card 2019. Gender and hierarchy gaps widen, gains are elusive. Tuscaloosa, AL: The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations.

Zerfass, A., Volk, S. C., Meng, Juan., & Chen, P. (2021, forthcoming). Communication Management Toolbox: Thinking tools and methods for managing corporate communications. New York: Springer. * This book will be included and featured in the Springer series Management for Professionals comprises high-level business and management books.

Meng, J., Reber, B. H., Berger, B. K., Gower, K. K., & Zerfass, A. (2019). North American Communication Monitor 2018-2019. Tracking trends in fake news, issues management, leadership performance, work stress, social media skills, job satisfaction and work environment. Tuscaloosa, AL: The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. ISBN (paperback): 978-0-578-50179-6. ISBN (electronic): 978-0-578-50180-2. […]

This project is jointly funded by the National Social Science Fund of China (NSSFC) (Funded Project Series ID: 18BXW065) and the Academic Research Project Funds of Shanghai International Studies University, 2019-2020.

Abstract: This longitudinal pedagogical research investigates students’ perceptions and learning outcomes by integrating web and social analytics-based learning activities (i.e., Google Analytics courses and certification test) into Public Relations Research course design. Results from the pre-test before introducing the analytics learning assignment confirmed that students’ knowledge on web and social analytics is low but their […]

Abstract: The study examines the impact of critical organizational factors (organizational culture and excellent leader performance) on public relations professionals’ overall job satisfaction by focusing on testing the joint mediating effects job engagement and trust could generate. A national online survey of 838 public relations professionals working in a variety of organizations was used as […]

Abstract: Although millennials have been extensively examined in the popular and academic literature, there have not been sufficient studies in strategic communication that help us fully understand this unique and influential cohort in the communication profession. The purpose of this research is to take a talent management approach to gain a deep understanding of millennial […]

Abstract: Although millennials have been extensively examined in the popular and academic literature, there have not been sufficient studies in strategic communication that help us fully understand this unique and influential cohort in the communication profession. The purpose of this research is to take a talent management approach to gain a deep understanding of millennial […]