Activism and the role everyday people play in making a change in society are increasingly popular topics in the world right now, especially as younger generations begin to speak out. From traditional protests to activities on college campuses, to the use of social media, more individuals are finding accessible platforms with which to share their views and become more actively involved in politics and social welfare. With the emergence of new technologies and a spotlight on important social issues, people are able to become more involved in society than ever before as they fight for what they believe. It is essential to consider the recent trends, technologies, and movements in order to understand where society is headed in the future. The Research Anthology on Citizen Engagement and Activism for Social Change examines a plethora of innovative research surrounding social change and the various ways citizens are involved in shaping society. Covering topics such as accountability, social media, voter turnout, and leadership, it is an ideal work for activists, sociologists, social workers, politicians, public administrators, sociologists, journalists, policymakers, social media analysts, government administrators, academicians, researchers, practitioners, and students.

New media forums have created a unique opportunity for citizens to participate in a variety of social and political contexts. As new social technologies are being utilized in a variety of ways, the public is able to interact more effectively in activities within their communities. The Handbook of Research on Citizen Engagement and Public Participation in the Era of New Media addresses opportunities and challenges in the theory and practice of public involvement in social media. Highlighting various communication modes and best practices being utilized in citizen-involvement activities, this book is a critical reference source for professionals, consultants, university teachers, practitioners, community organizers, government administrators, citizens, and activists.

Outreach and engagement initiatives are crucial in promoting community development and social change. This can be achieved through a number of methods including public policy and urban development. The Handbook of Research on Civic Engagement and Social Change in Contemporary Society is a critical scholarly resource that examines the unexplored field of applying social change to civic engagement in an effort to enlarge public welfare activities. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics, such as civic education, sustainable development, and child labor, this publication is geared towards academicians, researchers, and students seeking current research on civic engagement and public welfare.

This is an open access book.We would like to welcome you to the official website of the 8th International Conference on Communication and Media 2022 (i-COME’22). This biennial event is organized by the Department of Communication, School of Multimedia Technology and Communication, Universiti Utara Malaysia and will be held on 1 – 3 October 2022, virtually. The conference provides an opportunity to researchers, practitioners and students to interact and share their experience and knowledge in communication and media. I-COME’22 provides an excellent international platform for knowledge sharing in the areas of communication and media, as well as providing an ideal environment for new collaborations and meeting scholars and experts in the areas of communication and media. I-COME’22 welcomes participants from all over the world who are interested in communication and media, especially how globalization and current situation affects the future landscape of the fields. The aim of the conference is to provide platform for scholars, researchers and practitioners from both academia and industry to meet and share the advanced development and changes in both areas. The conference also hopes to discuss the innovative discovery of research level and promote international scientific cooperation and exchange of ideas among researchers and practitioners. Our conference relies on a wide range of challenges and issues in the fields of communication and media which will be presented through keynote addresses, plenary sessions, presentations by distinguished scholars and practitioners, and doctoral colloquium which is specially designed for post graduate students to share their experiences. The highlight of the conference will be the award presentation during the closing ceremony which will be given as recognition to the outstanding work of the selected researchers.

Chapters 6, 24, 26 and 36 are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

With the newly inaugurated US Presidential Administration signing several orders to mitigate discrimination and racism within the United States government, attentions globally are once again brought to the Black Lives Matter campaign, and its message. Discrimination in business contexts, social interactions, and educational institutions remains a concern for leaders today. The empowerment of marginalize communities has been rapidly spreading through societies, thanks to the platforms that social media now offer. The Research Anthology on Empowering Marginalized Communities and Mitigating Racism and Discrimination is a three-volume, hand-selected compilation of the highest quality research on the empowerment of marginalized communities that have been experiencing ongoing discrimination. To shed light on the underpinnings of disparities between marginalized groups and overreaching society, this text explores social justice applications and practices and the changes being made or pushed for around the globe that promote equality, fair treatment, and inclusivity. This book is ideal for sociologists, teachers, activists, practitioners, managers, administrators, policymakers, government officials, researchers, academicians, and students working in fields such as gender studies, race studies, social justice, behavioral studies, history, sociology, anthropology, psychology, law, as well as anyone interested in the current practices and advances in mitigating racism and discrimination in society.

Gamification plays a major role in individual and business decision-making in today’s digital era, remarkably changing the way businesses perform basic functions. Gamification techniques can be applied to a variety of marketing activities to help marketers create a more immersive and interactive experience for their customers, by leveraging elements such as points, badges, leaderboards, challenges, quizzes, sweepstakes, and rewards to encourage desired behaviors, foster engagement, and build a sense of community around a brand or product. In this book, international academicians and researchers will discuss the influence and potential of gamification on marketing management dynamics. This edited collected investigates why the use of gamification in marketing is vital to enhance the customer base and increase revenue, whilst also critically exploring the dark side of gamification and ethical issues. Chapters cover various marketing domains, including tourism marketing, social marketing and sustainable marketing, to provide a comprehensive resource on this emerging area. This volume will be an essential resource for scholars researching and teaching across marketing, as well as innovation, technology, and business ethics.