Theoretical discussions about the false dichotomy between interpersonal and mass communication scholarship continue while the emergence of powerful and flexible digital communication tools have made the old distinctions more permeable than ever. Individuals are using communication technologies in ways that expand the intersection of interpersonal communication and mass communication, calling for new frameworks. We introduce masspersonal communication as a concept at the intersections of mass and interpersonal communication, with examples from older and newer communication technologies and practices. The masspersonal communication model is introduced incorporating two dimensions—perceived message accessibility and message personalization—that link mass communication and interpersonal communication and redefine each independent of channel.

Researchers examining ‘flaming’ - defined as hostile and aggressive interactions via text-based computer mediated-communication - have proposed theoretical frameworks to explain possible causes. However, precise conceptual and operational definitions of ‘flaming’ have yet to be established, which has implications for understanding this phenomenon. Consequently, we propose an interactional- normative framework that focuses on interpretations of messages from multiple perspectives in the situated and evolving context of appropriateness norms. This framework incorporates intentionality and individuals’ strategic choices in language use and channel selection. We discuss the implications of this framework for research on flaming and other problematic interactions.

This article examines the conceptual construct of social innovation in business as distinct from social innovation implemented by civil society and the state. The general absence of sustained research and analysis of this phenomenon, and the dominance of grey and policy-oriented literature, mean that a broadly accepted definition of how social innovation theorises the changing role of business in society is missing. Design/methodology/approach We conducted an integrative review of the representative literature on social innovation. The analysis focused on the key arguments made about the involvement of business actors in processes of social innovation and interweaved in this study to build a logically coherent definition of what social innovation in business means for the bulk of those who write and speak about it today. The scope of the literature review was expanded by integrating insights from the extant 'business in society' and social innovation literatures, thereby adding clarity to our conceptualisation. Findings The findings indicate that social innovation is best understood as a process driven by human relations, morality and creative capacity breaking routines and path dependencies. It fundamentally relies on the socially constructed dynamics between business and social actors who carry ideas, focus their energies, mobilise competences and create new complementarities to tackle social problems. Economic gain, in this approach, is at best an outcome of social innovation, not its engine.

This study addresses the implications of interpersonal communication technology use for personal relationships. Elements of an impression management model, which specifies the processes and outcomes of strategic uses of channel and message for self-presentational goals, are tested. Respondents indicated their preference for interpersonal communication channels (telephone, answering machine, electronic mail, letters) in 4 types of episodes involving issues that either supported or threatened their own or their partner's self-presentation. Findings supported the hypotheses predicting that individuals recognize mediated channels' capacity to manage ambiguity and clarity in interactional episodes and use those perceptions in forming their channel preferences. The constrictions of mediated channels are often seen as advantageous for interactions that could threaten positive impressions. The results support a functional perspective that views mediated communication channels as a tool for managing self-relevant information in pursuit of self-presentational goals.

Despite tremendous progress in communication research and theory, the history ofthe communication field has been marked by theoreticalfragmentation, identity mkes, and disciplinary isolation. Human Communication Research (HCR) has provided a forum for research that strengthens the discipline's legacy of theory construction as well as discussions about theo ry development. An important contribution was a 2988 symposium, where leading scholars examined the 'yalse dichotomy" between mass and interpersonal communication research. Although the philosophical discussion has continued, innovation in communication technologies have challenged the traditional definitions of mass and interpersonal communication by blurring many of the practical distinctions. This articleassesses HCR's contribution to synthesis scholarship and compares it to similar @arts in other national journals. It also examines how new communication technologies are intenslfiing the need for scholars to construct theory that transcends outmoded levels of analysis. This important theoretical discussion is viewed as central to thefuture ofthefield during its next 25 years.espite tremendous progress in communication research and theory in recent decades, the history of the communication field