Study: Labels Used to Describe Immigrants Can Influence Public Perceptions
A new study has found that the language used to describe immigrants significantly affects how people perceive and react to them.
The findings are detailed in “Labeling Immigrants: Examining the Effects of Labels on Associations Toward Immigrants,” a study by University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Advertising Assistant Professor Juliana Fernandes and University of Idaho Assistant Professor Moritz Cleve, Ph.D. 2022. The article will be published in the International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Volume 108, Sept. 2025.
The authors used a multi-study approach that showed exposure to positive labels produces more favorable associations with immigrants than exposure to negative labels.
According to the authors, “Immigrants in the United States are often described in the media using a variety of labels. While these labels are connected to an immigrant’s documented status within a nation, they can also evoke associations that dehumanize these groups and perpetuate stereotypes.”
In addition, Fernandes is a member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) organizing committee for the Advertising Division Pre-Conference Day on Aug. 6 in San Francisco. She will assist with planning sessions that represent the theme: “Advertising Creativity in the Age of AI.”
Category: Alumni News, College News
Tagged: Advertising AEJMC Immigrant Perceptions Juliana Fernandes Mortiz Cleve
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