Pauline Cheong
Biography
Pauline Cheong studies the complex interactions between communication technologies and different cultural communities around the world. She believes that invisible yet powerful cultural and communicative forces make up how we interact and organize with digital media, to impact participation and power in society.
Her recent projects related to changing knowledge and authority practices examine the socio-cultural implications of Big Data, including user skills, perceptions and practices of privacy and security within the Internet of Things. She is also examining how non-profit and spiritual organizations use Artificial Intelligence and digital platforms to interact and form both local and global communities.
In the area of strategic communication, she has investigated how digital and social media networks facilitate the spread of narratives and memes by extremist groups, cyber-vigilantes and rumor-mongers. Her personal interests in innovative pedagogy & mentoring have also led to research projects examining how underserved and youth populations experience multiple digital divides in the learning process.
Cheong has published more than 100 articles and books and has received research awards by the National Communication Association, Western Communication Association, and the International Communication Association. She is often invited to teach and speak in Asia, North America and Europe.
Pauline Cheong is the receipient of the Zebulon Pearce Distinguished Teaching Award in the Social Sciences, the highest teaching honor in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. She has also received the Master Teacher Award (Western States Communication Association), and the Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award (Faculty Women's Association, ASU).
Cheong serves on national and international boards and committees, and has chaired doctoral colloquiums for the Association of Internet Researchers and the International Society of Media, Religion & Culture. At ASU’s Center for Asian Research, she is co-director of @AsiaMediated: Interdisciplinary research and teaching innovation, funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
Education
- Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow. Jointly award by the Social Science Research Council, U.S.A. and the Economic and Social Research Council, U.K.
- Ph.D. Communication, University of Southern California
- M.A. Communication, University of Southern California
- B.S. Communication, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Research Interests
communication technologies and culture, authority and community, religion, globalization
Publications
Recent and selected works:
Cheong, P.H. & Mossberger, K. (in press). Voicing the future: Folk epistemic understandings of smart and datafied lives. In Katz, J. Schiepers, K. & Floyd, J. (Eds). Encountering tomorrow: studies of humans’ engagement with technological systems. UK, London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Cheong, P.H. (2021). Bounded religious automation at work: Communicating human authority in Artificial Intelligence networks. Journal of Communication Inquiry, 45(1), 5-23. https://doi.org/10.1177/0196859920977133. Lead Article.
Cheong, P.H. (2020). Religion, Robots and Rectitude: Communicative affordances for spiritual knowledge and community. Applied Artificial Intelligence, 34 (5), 412-431. https://doi.org/10.1080/08839514.2020.1723869k
Brummans, H.J.M., Hwang, J.M. & Cheong, P.H. (2020). Recycling stories: Mantras, communication, and organizational materialization. Organization Studies, 41(1), 103-126. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840618819033
Chen, Y. & Cheong, P.H. (2019). ‘Airpocalyse’ and the China smog crisis: Examining online and offline civic engagement motives, attention and actions. International Journal of Communication, 13, 693-714. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/8738
Yang, A. & Cheong, P.H. (2019). Building a cross-sectoral interorganizational network to advance nonprofits: NGO incubators as relationship brokers in China. Non-profit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 48 (4), 784-813. https://doi.org/10.1177/0899764018819869
Dutta, U., Cheong, P.H. & Shuter, R. (2018). Contemporary gurus in Indian classrooms: Changing professorial authority and cultural tensions in managing digital connectivity. International Journal of Communication, 12, 1369-1388.
Cheong, P.H. & Yang, A. (2017). Chinese non-governmental organizations, media, and culture: communication perspectives, practices, and provocations. Chinese Journal of Communication, 10 (1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/17544750.2017.1275084
- Cheong, P.H. (2018). Religion and the Internet. In B. L. Warf (Ed). The SAGE Encyclopedia of the Internet, 725-729. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781473960367.n214
- Cheong, P.H. (2017). The vitality of new media and religion: Communicative perspectives, practices and authority in spiritual organization. New Media & Society, 19(1), 25-33. doi:10.1177/1461444816649913
- Shuter, R., Dutta, U., Cheong, P.H., Chen, Y. & Shuter, J. (2017). Digital Behavior of University Students in India and the U.S.: Cultural Values and Communication Technologies in the Classroom, 1-21. Western Journal of Communication, 82(2), 160-180. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2017.1294703
- Cheong, P.H., Shuter, R. & Jittaporn, T. (2016). Managing student digital distractions and hyperconnectivity: Communication strategies and challenges for professorial authority. Communication Education, 65 (3), 272-289. doi:10.1080/03634523.2016.1159317
- Cheong, P.H. (2016). Religious authority and social media branding in a culture of religious celebrification. In S. Hoover (Ed). The Media and Religious Authority. (pp.81-104) PA: Penn State University Press.
- Shuter, R., Cheong, P.H., & Chen, Y. (2016). The influence of cultural values on US and Danish students' digital behavior: Exploring culture, new media, and social context. Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 9 (2), 161-178. doi:10.1080/17513057.2016.1154183
- Brummans, H.J.M., Cheong, P.H. & Hwang, J.M. (2016). Faith-based non-governmental environmental organizing in action: Veroes' campaigning for vegetarianism and mindful food consumption. International Journal of Communication, 10, 4807-4829.
- Cheong, P.H. & Arasa, D. (2015). Religion. In L. Cantoni & J. Danowski (Eds.) Handbooks of Communication Science. Vol 5. Communication and Technology (pp. 455-466). Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.
- Cheong P.H., Brummans H.J.M., & Hwang J.M. (2015). Researching religious authority in organizations from a communicative perspective: A connective online-offline approach. In Contractor S, Shakkour S (Ed.), Digital Methodologies in the Sociology of Religion (pp. 137-146). London: Bloomsbury.
- Cheong, P.H. & Chen, Y. (2015). Memetic Engagement as Middle Path Resistance: Contesting Mainland Chinese Immigration and Social Cohesion. In W. Chen & S. Reese (Eds.), Networked China: Global Dynamics of Digital Media and Civic Engagement (pp. 93-124). NY: Routledge.
- Cheong, P.H. (2014). Tweet the message? Religious authority and social media innovation. Journal of Religion, Media and Digital Culture, 3 (3), 1-19. http://www.jrmdc.com/journal/article/view/27. Lead Article.
- Cheong, P.H., Hwang, J.M. & Brummans, H.J.M. (2014). Transnational immanence: The autopoietic co-constitution of a Chinese spiritual organization through mediated communication. Information, Communication & Society, 17 (1), 7-25. Lead Article.
- Cheong, P.H. (2014). Religion and the Internet: Understanding digital religion, social media and culture. In G. Laderman & L. Leon (Eds). Religion and American Cultures. An Encyclopedia of Traditions, Diversity and Popular Expressions (pp. 1215-1236). Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO.
- Cheong, P.H. & Lundry, C. (2012). Prosumption, transmediation and resistance: Terrorism and man-hunting in Southeast Asia. American Behavioral Scientist, 56 (4), 488-510.
- Cheong, P.H., Huang, S.H., & Poon, J.P.H. (2011). Religious communication and epistemic authority of leaders in wired faith organizations. Journal of Communication, 61 (5), 938-958.
- Cheong, P.H., Huang, S.H., & Poon, J.P.H (2011). Cultivating online and offline pathways to enlightenment: Religious authority in wired Buddhist organizations. Information, Communication & Society, 14 (8), 1160-1180.
- Cheong, P.H., & Halverson, J. F. (2010). Youths in violent extremist discourse: Mediated identifications and interventions. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 33 (12), 1104-1123.
- Cheong, P.H. & Gong, J. (2010). Cyber vigilantism, transmedia collective intelligence, and civic participation. Chinese Journal of Communication, 3 (4), 471-487.
- Sanderson, J. & Cheong, P.H. (2010). Tweeting prayers and communicating grief over Michael Jackson online. Bulletin of Science, Technology, & Society, 30 (5), 328-340.
- Cheong, P.H., Poon, J.P.H., Huang, S.H., Casas, I. (2009). The Internet highway and religious communities: Mapping and contesting spaces in religion-online. The Information Society, 25 (5), 291-302. Lead Article.
- Cheong, P.H. & Poon, J.P.H. (2009). Weaving webs of faith: Examining Internet use and religious communication among Chinese Protestant transmigrants. Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 2(3), 189-207. Lead Article. Top Research Paper.
- Cheong, P.H. & Poon, J.P.H. (2008). ‘WWW.Faith.Org’: (Re)structuring communication and social capital building among religious organizations. Information, Communication and Society, 11 (1), 89-110.
- Cheong, P.H., Halavis, A. & Kwon, K.H.* (2008) The chronicles of me: Understanding blogging as a religious practice. Journal of Media and Religion, 7, 107-131. Lead Article.
- Cheong, P.H. (2008). The young and techless? Internet use and problem solving behaviors among young adults in Singapore. New Media and Society, 10 (5), 771-791.
- Cheong, P.H., Edwards, R., Goulbourne, H. & Solomos, J. (2007) Immigration, social capital, and social cohesion: A critical review. Critical Social Policy, 27 (1), 24- 49.
Research Activity
- Schober, Juliane & Cheong, Pauline. Asia Mediated. US Department of Education (10/1/2016- 10/30/2018).
- Corman,Steven Robert*, Bernardi,Daniel Leonard, Bernardi,Daniel Leonard, Cheong,Pauline, Davulcu,Hasan, Davulcu,Hasan, Goodall,Harold Lloyd, Goodall,Harold Lloyd, Trethewey,Angela. Identifying Terrorist Narratives and Counter-Narratives: Embedding Story Analysis in Expeditionary Unit. DOD-NAVY-ONR(4/1/2009 - 3/31/2015).
Courses
| Summer 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Spring 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 394 | Special Topics |
| COM 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| COM 493 | Honors Thesis |
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Fall 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| COM 493 | Honors Thesis |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Summer 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Spring 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 394 | Special Topics |
| COM 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| COM 493 | Honors Thesis |
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Fall 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 263 | Elements Intercultural Comm |
| COM 394 | Special Topics |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Summer 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Spring 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 263 | Elements Intercultural Comm |
| COM 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| COM 598 | Special Topics |
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Fall 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 263 | Elements Intercultural Comm |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Summer 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Spring 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 394 | Special Topics |
| COM 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| COM 598 | Special Topics |
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Fall 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 263 | Elements Intercultural Comm |
| COM 394 | Special Topics |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Summer 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Spring 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 598 | Special Topics |
| COM 691 | Seminar |
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| Fall 2017 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| COM 394 | Special Topics |
| COM 493 | Honors Thesis |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
Honors/Awards
Master Teacher Award, Communication and Instruction interest group, Western States Communication Association, 2017
Zebulon Pearce Distinguished Teaching Award in the Social Sciences, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, 2015-2016
Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award, Faculty Women's Association, Arizona State University, 2016
Outstanding co-authored Book Award of the Year, International and Intercultural Communication Division, National Communication Association, 2013
Exceptional scientific achievement group research award, Human Social Culture Behavior Modeling Program, Office of Naval Research, 2011
Top 4 Paper Award. Environmental Communication Division, National Communication Association, 2018.
Top 3 Paper Award. Environmental Communication Interest Group, Western States Communication Association, 2017.
Top Faculty Paper Award, Global Communication and Social Change Division, International Communication Association, 2009
Applied & Public Policy Group Research Award, International Communication Association, 2009
Editorships
Editorial board, Journal of Communication
Editorial board, Western Journal of Communication
Editorial board, Journal of Religion, Media and Digital Culture
Service
Graduate Mentoring Activities
Founding Chair & Mentor, Inaugural Doctoral Colloquium, International Society of Media, Religion & Culture conference, Seoul, Korea, August 1, 2016.
Chair & Senior Mentor, Doctoral Colloquium, Association of Internet Researchers Conference, Phoenix, USA, October 21, 2015
Top Scholar Mentor and Respondent, International and Intercultural Communication Division, National Communication Association Conference, Honors Graduate Student Seminar, Chicago, USA, November 22, 2014.
Tutor, Oxford Internet Institute Summer Doctoral Program, University of Oxford. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, China, July 7-21 2005.
Undergraduate Mentoring Activities
Disciplinary Faculty, Honors Thesis Director & Advisor, Barrett, The Honors College
Faculty Mentor, President Barack Obama Scholars program
Faculty Mentor, Undergraduate Research Fellows Program, The Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict
Chair, Undergraduate Summer Enrichment Award, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Journal and Conference reviewing Activities
Journal reviewer for:
New Media and Society, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Information, Communication and Society, Journal of Communication, Journal of Religion, Media and Digital Culture, Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, Journal of Health Communication, The Open Communication Journal, Women's Studies International Forum, Political Studies, International Sociology, Progress in Development Studies, Australian Religion Studies Review, Journal of Applied Communication Research, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Western Journal of Communication, Social Science and Computer Review, Australian Journal of Communication, Feminist Media Studies, Mobile Media & Communication, Asian Communication Research, Language and Intercultural Communication, Chinese Journal of Communication, Religions, Church, Communication and Culture, International Journal of Communication.
Conference Paper reviewer for:
Association of Internet Researchers, International Society of Media, Religion & Culture, Cultural Attitudes towards Technology and Communication, Western States Communication Association, National Communication Association, International Communication Association.
University Service
College Marshal, University undergraduate commencement ceremony, May 9th, 2016
Speaker, A.T. Steele Lecture, Center for Asian Research, April 5th, 2016
Chair, Council for Southeast Asia, Arizona State University, 2015-2016
Executive Committee, Center for Asian Research, Arizona State University, 2012-2016
Consultant, Center of the Study of Religion and Conflict, Arizona State University, Difficult Dialogues Initiative, funded by the Ford Foundation.
School Committees
- Chair of the Academic Program (7 year) Review Committee, Chair of the Honors Program Committee
- Personnel (Promotion & Tenure), Job Search, International PhD Student Concerns, Globalization of Graduate students, Graduate Faculty Council.