Prof. Yuan WANG 王遠

Dr. Yuan Wang is an assistant professor and program leader of the Master of Arts in Communication and New Media in the Department of Media and Communication at City University of Hong Kong. His research interests focus on examining the role of communication technology (e.g., social media, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and mobile technology) in public relations processes and outcomes, which include organization−public relationships, internal communication, and crisis communication, from social scientific approaches. He has published dozens of articles in peer-reviewed journals, such as Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, Public Relations Review, New Media & Society, Mass Communication and Society, and Nonprofit Management and Leadership. His research has won multiple top paper awards from the International Communication Association (ICA) and the National Communication Association (NCA). He has secured research grants from various organizations. He is currently an associate editor for the Journal of Creative Communications and the Frontiers in Political Science and an editorial board member of the Management Communication Quarterly and the Journal of Communication Management. He has taken leadership roles in major academic associations such as ICA, AEJMC, NCA, and Chinese Communication Association. He has also been selected as a Page/Johnson Legacy Scholar by the Arthur W. Page Center (U.S.). Before joining City University of Hong Kong, Dr. Wang was a tenure-track assistant professor at Eastern Kentucky University (U.S.) for one year. Prior to entering academia, he gained professional experience in strategic communication, digital media, and marketing at some leading corporations. In addition, he has been interviewed, covered, and consulted by various prestigious media, such as The Economist, Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network, Radio Television Hong Kong, and Ming Pao.

• Cheng, Y., Wang, Y., & Lee, J. (2024). Using a chatbot to combat misinformation: Exploring gratifications, chatbot satisfaction and engagement, and relationship quality. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2024.2344149 [SSCI and SCI]
• Cheng, Y., Wang, Y., Zhao, W., Zhang, K., Cai, X., & Jiang, H. (2024). Virtually enhancing public engagement during the pandemic: Measuring the impact of virtual reality powered immersive videos on CSR communication. Social Science Computer Review, 42(2), 438-459. https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393221111482 [SSCI and SCI]
• Meng, X., & Wang, Y. (2023). To trust or not to trust? Exploring the roles of Facebook and WhatsApp use and network diversity. Mass Communication and Society. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2023.2248956 [SSCI]
• Huang, W., & Wang, Y. (2023). Military’s public relations practice in the social media era: Exploring the Chinese military’s use of WeChat and public engagement. Asian Journal of Communication, 33(6), 592−610. https://doi.org/10.1080/01292986.2023.2257226 [SSCI]
• Wang, Y. (2023). Exploring the effect of organization–employee relationships on employee communication behaviors on social media: The moderating role of position level. Psychology of Popular Media, 12(3), 344−353. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000407 [SSCI]
• Wang, Y., Huang, Y.-H. C., & Cai, Q. (2022). Exploring the mediating role of government–public relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic: A model comparison approach. Public Relations Review, 48(4), 102231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2022.102231 [SSCI]
• Wang, Y., Cheng, Y., & Gonzenbach, W. J. (2022). Toward an employee communication mediation model: Exploring the effects of social media engagement on employee–organization relationships and advocacy. International Journal of Communication, 16, 4164−4186. [SSCI]
• Cheng, Y., Wang, Y., & Pan, F. (2022). The impact of CSR perceptions on employees’ turnover intention during the COVID-19 crisis in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(14), 8297. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148297 [SSCI and SCI]
• Cheng, Y., Wang, Y., & Kong, Y. (2022). The state of social-mediated crisis communication research through the lens of global scholars: An updated assessment. Public Relations Review, 48(2), 102172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2022.102172 [SSCI]
• Wang, Y. (2022). When relationships meet situations: Exploring the antecedents of employee communication behaviors on social media. Social Science Computer Review, 40(1), 77−94. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439320904719 [SSCI and SCI]
• Cheng, Y., Wang, Y., & Zhao, W. (2022). Shared virtual reality experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring the gratifications and effects of engagement with immersive videos. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), 5056. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095056 [SSCI and SCI]
• Wang, Y., Cheng, Y., & Sun, J. (2021). When public relations meets social media: A systematic review of social media related public relations research from 2006 to 2020. Public Relations Review, 47(4), 102081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2021.102081 [SSCI]
• Wang, Y. (2021). Building relationships with fans: How sports organizations used Twitter as a communication tool. Sport in Society, 24(7), 1055−1069. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2020.1725475 [SSCI, lead article]
• Wang, Y. (2020). Exploring the linkages among transparent communication, relational satisfaction and trust, and information sharing on social media in problematic situations. Profesional de la Información, 29(3), e290207. https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2020.may.07 [SSCI]
• Wang, Y., & Yang, Y. (2020). Dialogic communication on social media: How organizations use Twitter to build dialogic relationships with their publics. Computers in Human Behavior, 104, 106183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.106183 [SSCI]
• Wang, Y., & Guan, L. (2020). Mapping the structures of international communication organizations’ networks and cross-sector relationships on social media and exploring their antecedents. Public Relations Review, 46(4), 101951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2020.101951 [SSCI]
• Wang, Y., & Ki, E.-J. (2018). Membership matters: Why members engage with professional associations. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 29(1), 71−82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-017-9873-x [SSCI]
• Hopp, T., Parrot, S., & Wang, Y. (2018). Use of military-themed first-person shooter games and militarism: An investigation of two potential facilitating mechanisms. Computers in Human Behavior, 78, 192−199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.09.035 [SSCI]
• Kim, Y., Kim, B., Kim, Y., & Wang, Y. (2017). Mobile communication research in communication journals from 1999 to 2014. New Media & Society, 19(10), 1668−1691. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444817718162 [SSCI]
• Wang, Y., Ki, E.-J., & Kim, Y. (2017). Exploring the perceptual and behavioral outcomes of public engagement on mobile phones and social media. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 11(2), 133−147. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1553118X.2017.1280497 [Scopus]
• Wang, Y., & Dong, C. (2017). Applying social media in crisis communication: A quantitative review of social media-related crisis communication research from 2009 to 2017. International Journal of Crisis Communication, 1(1), 29−37.
• Ki, E.-J., & Wang, Y. (2016). Membership benefits matter: Exploring the factors influencing members’ behavioral intentions in professional associations. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 27(2), 199−217. https://doi.org/10.1002/nml.21230 [SSCI]
• Kim, Y., Chen, H., & Wang, Y. (2016). Living in the smartphone age: Examining the conditional indirect effects of mobile phone use on political participation. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 60(4), 694−713. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2016.1203318 [SSCI]
• Yang, Y., Wang, Y., & Billings, A. C. (2016). Online Chinese discussions about the 2014 World Cup. Online Information Review, 40(6), 834−848. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/OIR-01-2016-0031 [SSCI and SCI]
• Wang, Y. (2016). How do television networks use Twitter? Exploring the relationship between Twitter use and television ratings. Southern Communication Journal, 81(3), 125−135. http://doi.org/10.1080/1041794X.2015.1116593 [Scopus, lead article]
• Kim, Y., Wang, Y., & Oh, J. (2016). Digital media use and social engagement: How social media and smartphone use influence social activities of college students. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 19(4), 264−269. http://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2015.0408 [SSCI]
• Kim, Y., Kim, Y., Wang, Y., & Lee, N. Y. (2016). Uses and gratifications, journalists’ Twitter use, and relational satisfaction with the public. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 60(3), 503−526. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2016.1164171 [SSCI]
• Kim, Y., Kim, Y., & Wang, Y. (2016). Selective exposure to podcast and political participation: The mediating role of emotions. International Journal of Mobile Communications, 14(2), 133−148. http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJMC.2016.075021 [SSCI]
• Wang, Y. (2015). Incorporating social media in public relations: A synthesis of social media-related public relations research. Public Relations Journal, 9(3). Available online: https://prjournal.instituteforpr.org/wp-content/uploads/2015v09n03Yang.pdf
• Wang, Y., & Zhou, S. (2015). How do sports organizations use social media to build relationships? A content analysis of NBA clubs’ Twitter use. International Journal of Sport Communication, 8(2), 133−148. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/IJSC.2014-0083 [ESCI]

• The Arthur W. Page Center, Page/Johnson Legacy Scholar Grant (U.S.A.), Fostering Digital Internal Listening: The Impact of EORs and Employees’ Supportive Behaviors, 2023−2024, Principal Investigator, On-going
• Equal Opportunities Commission, Funding Programme of Research Projects on Equal Opportunities (Hong Kong), A Study of Online Media Representation of Ethnic Minorities and Online Racial Discrimination in Hong Kong, 2020−2022, Principal Investigator, Completed
• National Social Science Fund of China (Youth Program) (China), Communication and Integration of Traditional Culture in China in the Context of Mobile Communication, 2017−2021, Co-Investigator, Completed
• Center for Collaborative Innovation in the Heritage and Development of Tibetan Culture (China), Tibetan Image and International Communication: A Big Data Research Project on Chinese and International Social Media, 2016−2020, Co-Investigator, Completed

• Principles of Public Relations
  
• Crisis Communication and Management
• Public Relations Strategies
• Public Communication Campaign Management
  
• Public Relations Writing
• Social Media and Public Relations
• Public Relations Campaigns

• Page/Johnson Legacy Scholar, The Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication, Pennsylvania State University (U.S.A.) (2023−Present)
  
• Thought Leader, Internal Communication Research Hub, University of Florida (U.S.A.) (2023−Present)
  
• Best Faculty Paper Award, Chinese Communication Association, International Communication Association (2023)
  
• Top Paper Award, Association for Chinese Communication Studies, National Communication Association (U.S.A.) (2022)
  
• Top Research Case Award, Institute for Creative Communication of the Chinese Story (China) (2022)
  
• Peter Debreceny Corporate Communication Award, International Public Relations Research Conference (2017)
  
• Top Paper Award, Master’s Education Section, National Communication Association (U.S.A.) (2014)
  
• Outstanding Research by a Master’s Student, College of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Alabama (U.S.A.) (2014)
  
• Outstanding Graduate Student, Department of Telecommunication and Film, University of Alabama (U.S.A.) (2014)

• Member, Outstanding Book Award Committee, International Communication Association (2023−2026)
• International Liaison−Elect, Public Relations Division, International Communication Association (2023−present)
• AEJMC Research & Conference Co-chair and Steering Committee Member, Chinese Communication Association (CCA) (2023−2025)
• Editorial Board Member, Management Communication Quarterly (SSCI and Scopus journal) (2023−Present)
• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Communication Management (Scopus and ESCI journal) (2023−Present)
• Board Member, Chinese Cognitive Communication Association, The Global Rhetoric Society (2022−Present)
• External Examiner, Hong Kong College of Technology (2022−2024)
• Associate Editor (2021−Present) and Editorial Board Member (2019−Present), Frontiers in Political Science (Scopus and ESCI journal)
• Associate Editor, Journal of Creative Communications (a SAGE journal indexed in Scopus and ESCI) (2020−Present)
• Member, Research Committee, Public Relations Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) (2020−2021)
• Mentor, Mentoring Program, AEJMC Public Relations Division (2019−2020)
• Member, Teaching Committee, AEJMC Public Relations Division (2018−2020)
• Member, Academic Committee, 12th International Forum on Public Relations and Advertising & 4th Annual Conference of Public Relations Society of China (2019)
• Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Crisis Communication (2017−2020)
• Associate Editor, PR UPDATE (2017−2018)
• Member, PRIDE Committee, Public Relations Division of the National Communication Association (NCA) (2017−2018)
• Co-chair, Graduate Student Liaison Committee, AEJMC Public Relations Division (2016−2017)
• Member, Selection Committee, NCA Public Relations Division (2015−2016)
• Graduate Student Representative, NCA Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division and Caucus (2015−2016)