Folia Toruniensia

Sławomir Soczyński, (Re)definition of the concept of the media taboo as an axionormative category from a theoretical and functional perspective, Kraków 2021, ss. 331 ISBN 978-83-7720-665-2.

Rafał Leśniczak — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The aim of Sławomir Soczyński's monograph (Re)definition of the concept of media taboo as an axionormative category from a theoretical and functional perspective is an attempt to understand the phenomenon of media taboo, to show its importance for participants of mediatized communication processes, and thus to show taboo as an element of the system that regulates the space of the mediasphere. The monograph consists of two parts: the first, comprised of two chapters, conceptualizes the concept of taboo in theoretical media studies, and the second part, comprised of four chapters, is a pragmatic study of taboos in the mediasphere. The research contained in the book is situated in the field of social sciences in the discipline of social communication and media science.

Remarks on greed (aneleutheria, illiberalitas) as a moral flaw in Aristotelis de virtutibus libellus by Franciscus Tidicaeus

Tomasz Dreikopel — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The aim of this study is to present the reflections on greed as a moral flaw, which were included in the Aristotelis de virtutibus libellus of Franciscus Tidicaeus, then professor of the Academic Gymnasium in Toruń, published in 1609 in Leipzig. The work of the Toruń scholar contains an insightful and erudite exegesis of the essay On Virtues and Vices, preserved under the name of Aristotle. A comparison of the part of commentary we are interested in with the material contained in Aristotle's three ethical treatises leaves no doubt that Tidicaeus' remarks on this flaw reflect the moral teaching of his predecessor, constituting the starting point and at the same time the main goal of his arguments.

The Czechoslovak Librarianship 1945-1959

Jana Brozovska Onderkova — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The article focuses on the transformation of the role of public libraries in Czechoslovakia in the 1950s in dependence on the political development of the country. It describes the changes of educational goals of Czechoslovak librarianship in the reporting period and methods used in educational activities.

In the period after the end of WWII, Czechoslovak librarianship continued its development, especially in the legislative area, on the foundations built during the 1918–1938 period. Even in the post-war period, the General Public Libraries Act remained in force and there was a coordination center for educational activities which after the end of the war adopted its original name - Masaryk Institute of Adult Education.

However, after 1945, training and public librarianship were in a completely different social and political situation. The field of adult education and the public librarianship remained priority areas of interest for political representation and individual political parties that operated in post-war Czechoslovakia. The political representation of post-war Czechoslovakia cooperated intensively with the USSR, and the left-wing ideas had very strong position in the political and public life of the state. In the first part of the article, we study the efforts of the communists in the period 1945–1948 to control the public libraries, which were one of the most important elements of the educational system and were of importance, especially in the rural environment. The second part of the article focuses on the period 1948–1959. It shows the development in the field of legislation and on the examples of the activities of public libraries, it shows how they concentrated on their main task, i.e., how they worked with the reader.

Improving Library Service Delivery by the Instrumentality of Knowledge Management Practices: A Critical Review

Magnus Osahon Igbinovia — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Purpose: The paper critically examines the nexus between Knowledge Management Practices (KMP) and service delivery in libraries through a detailed review of relevant literature. Special attention was placed on university libraries given their relatively robust system and structures for KMP. The paper also explores how the Socialization, Externalization, Combination and Internalization (SECI) model of Knowledge Management (KM) serves as a tool for the improvement of service delivery in libraries.

Method: The approach employed in this study is the critical review of literature.

Result: The effective management of knowledge reflected in its creation, organization, sharing and use significantly influences service delivery in libraries. Also, the paper revealed that the SECI model serves as an effective guide in adopting KMP for the improvement of service delivery in libraries.

Conclusion: KMP is an influencing factor in the improvement of service delivery in libraries regardless of their type and size.

The use of the Aristotelian concept of topos in the study of the media image of political and religious leaders – a contribution to the discussion

Rafał Leśniczak — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Purpose: The text is a review and is an attempt to indicate the usefulness of the Aristotelian theory of rhetorical “places” in media studies of the image of political and religious leaders. The division of topoi into natural (anthropological) and cultural (ideological) is taken into consideration. The first one is understood as consciously or unconsciously deeply rooted in the common human nature, and therefore concerns all people. The second one, in turn, examines the way of realization of the human nature in cultural spaces of different historical epochs. The text is a voice in the discussion and an attempt to prove that the theory of topos can be considered complementary to the theory of framing in the analysis of the media image of political and religious leaders.

Method: The analysis took into consideration, among others, issues of identity, stereotyping and selected image and communicological dimensions of political and religious leadership. It uses the method of analysis and synthesis. Reference was made to theoretical research work on the application of the concept of topoi in the sciences of social communication and media and framing analysis of such media experts as, among others, Norberto Gonzàlez Gaitano, Terézia Rončáková, Piotr Studnicki, Douglas Walton, Chris Reed, Fabrizio Macagno.

Result/Conclusion: Topoi can be used to build both a positive and a negative image of political and religious leaders. The use of the same argumentative structures in the text provides an opportunity to meet supporters and opponents of specific people or institutions. Topoi are used in the construction of the categorization key and are an important help in the interpretation of the text. They can be considered as a theory complementary to framing in the analysis of the media image of political and religious leaders.

Innovative Digital Transformation for Dynamic Information Service Sustainability in University Libraries in Nigeria

Iguehi Joy Ikenwe, Obiora Kingsley Udem — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Aim: Technologies have ushered in a significant innovative digital transformation to sustain dynamic information services in modern libraries. This has prompted the assessment of innovative digital transformation for dynamic information service sustainability in university libraries in Nigeria. Specifically, the research examined the nature of digital transformation, universities and digital transformation, innovative digital transformation in university libraries, dynamic modern information services in university libraries for sustainability, and the essentials for dynamic information service sustainability in university libraries.

Conclusion: Libraries globally, and particularly in developing countries, must be re-positioned in this era of digital transformation due to technology adoption to offer valuable information services for their sustenance and to retain their relevance in the lives of the public. Moreso, there is a great need for innovative digital transformation in libraries to sustain modern information services as well as to increase their efficacy in information use as part of their mandate to leverage digital technology systems. The study, therefore, recommends that more sophisticated technologies are used in university libraries. University libraries in developing countries like Nigeria need more funding to fully exploit the opportunities introduced by digital technologies. Thus, university management should work hand in hand with libraries to enable them to fully connect to the opportunities of the digital era. The continuous human resource development is necessary to equip universities with appropriate digital competencies useful in the digital context.

Smartphones and social media as status symbol of Gen Z

Dóra Szabó, Erzsébet Dani — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Smartphones have led to the formation of new habits and behavioral patterns and are the most widespread infocommunication tool today. They also appear as status symbols among the Z and Alpha generations. This tool performs an important role in the lives of the younger generation and impacts social media platforms; which has led to further questions. This is a particularly important topic nowadays because the area of media awareness does not only refer to the family, but also encompasses educational institutions that contribute to the promotion of conscious use of the media. A PILOT survey was used with the goal of mapping out how students relate to their phones. This survey was the right choice because it is one of the cornerstones of education for proper media behavior and critical thinking. In the course of the research, I asked young people aged 13-19 what they thought about status symbols, how they related to their smartphones, what role they took on social media when they encounter a multitude of influencers.

Guidelines for authors

Editorial board — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

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Redakcja — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

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Redaktion — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Report from the international science conference Communication Research in the Era of Neo-Globalisation: Reorientations, Challenges and Changing Context, organized by International Association for Media and Communication Research, Beijing (China), 11-15.07.2022

Rafał Leśniczak — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

On July 11-15, 2022, an international scientific conference “Communication Research in the Era of Neo-Globalisation: Reorientations, Challenges and Changing Contexts” took place in Beijing. The meeting was organized by the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR). The aim of the conference was to analyze the unprecedented challenges of new media and cultural topography in the post-pandemic era of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, including but not limited to issues related to public health, climate change, and sustainable development. The main speakers of the conference were, among others, Prof. Manuel Castells (University of Southern California, USA), Prof. Changfeng Chen (Tsinghua University, China), Prof. Jantima Kheokao (Asian Network for Public Opinion Research, Thailand), Prof. Dadang Rahmat Hidayat (Padjadjaran University, Indonesia), Prof. Yu-li LIU (City University of Hong Kong, China).