New study examines the role of communication sources and channels for shaping employee issue engagement
A new study has found that internal communicators, particularly peers and supervisors, can strategically “build” employee agendas in ways analogous to how external media influence the public.
The findings were featured in “Understanding Internal Agenda-Building: The Role of Communication Sources and Channels in Shaping Internal Issues Salience and Employee Issue Engagement” by University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) doctoral student Quiyue Cho-Li, Public Relations Professor and Internal Communications Research Hub Director Linjuan Rita Men, Public Relations Associate Professor Haoran “Chris” Chu, Francis Akanbi, Ph.D. 2026, and UFCJC Executive Associate Dean and Public Relations Professor Spiro Kiousis. The article was published in the International Journal of Strategic Communication on Aug. 14.
This study applied agenda-building theory to the novel context of internal communication to explore how an organization’s use of internal media, through various information sources and communication channels, strategically shapes employee agendas.
According to the authors, “Through an online survey of 996 U.S. employees, results showed that interpersonal communication channels positively influenced perceived issue salience and employee issue engagement. At the same time, print media negatively influenced issue salience. In terms of communication sources, supervisors were found to positively influence employees’ perceptions of organizational issue salience, whereas peers enhanced employee issue engagement.”
The study further suggests that while AI-enabled communication technologies may enhance the efficiency and reach of organizational communication, human communicators remain central actors in shaping employee attention, meaning-making, and engagement with organizational issues.
Category: Alumni News, College News, ICRH News, Student News
Tagged: AI Francis Akambi Haoran "Chris" Chu Internal Communication Research Hub internal communications Linjuan Rita Men Public Relations Quiyue Cho-Li Spiro Kiousis
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