RESEARCH
My research interests overlap across public relations, strategic communication, and social media. I have published academic scholarship in various contexts including sport, health, public diplomacy, and mis/disinformation. I employ multiple methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, and computational) to explore social phenomena.
Recent Journal Publications
Below is a sample of recent published scholarship in peer-reviewed journal articles.
Boatwright, B. C., DiRusso, C., & Pyle, A. (2026). Somebody’s poisoned the water hole! Advancing social media data collection principles to account for the effects of AI slop on public relations scholarship. Public Relations Review, 52(3).
Boatwright, B. C. (2025). Embracing computational approaches to social media research: Implications for theory and praxis in sport communication. Communication & Sport, 13(1), 6-32.
Morehouse, J., & Boatwright, B. (2024). Factionalism and schisms: Analyzing network structure and characteristics of online opinion leaders in an international religious crisis. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 32(1), e12512.
Boatwright, B. C., & Pyle, A. S. (2023). “Don’t Mess with Ukrainian Farmers”: An examination of Ukraine and Kyiv’s official Twitter accounts as crisis communication, public diplomacy, and nation building during Russian invasion. Public Relations Review, 49(3), 102338.
Pangborn, S. M., Boatwright, B. C., Miller, C. L., & Velting, M. N. (2021). “I Don’t Feel Like a Hero”: Frontline Healthcare Providers’ Social Media Storytelling during COVID-19. Health Communication, 38(8), 1508–1518.
Textbooks
Social Media in Sport
Social Media in Sport: Analysis and Application Across Contexts provides a comprehensive exploration of the intersection between sport communication and social media, examining case studies from various stakeholder perspectives, including fans, athletes, organizations, and media. Utilizing a diverse set of social media platforms, such as Twitter/X, YouTube, Reddit, Weibo, Facebook, and Instagram, the text presents a detailed analysis of social media's impact on sports culture and discourse.
Social Media Research Methods
By integrating applied concepts, theories, and practical advice for working with and presenting social media data, the textbook arms students with the latest research and social media tools. Each chapter features interactive, applied examples and exercises, as well as review questions, to bring the material to life and reinforce key learnings.