The MESA Group
ABOUT
The Media Ecology and Strategic Analysis (MESA) Group is a transdisciplinary group with a broad mission to address the rising need for strategic narrative assessment as a tool for promoting cooperative assistance and creating community power.
NEWS
Media framing analysis shows gap in NGO coverage depth 9.19.25
A new study, published in the Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs, examines how Ukrainian news media portray nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from 2019-2024, analyzing 306 news articles to understand media representation patterns. The research reveals that while NGOs received generally positive coverage and were frequently used as information sources, they were predominantly framed episodically rather than thematically and often portrayed as story attributes rather than primary subjects. This framing pattern may limit public understanding of NGOs' broader societal impact, despite their crucial role in Ukrainian civil society.
The findings highlight important implications for both NGOs and journalists working to strengthen civil society in challenging environments. NGOs should engage more proactively with media to promote deeper, thematic coverage of their work, while journalists should consider how their framing choices affect public perception of civil society organizations. This research contributes valuable insights for stakeholders working to support Ukrainian civil society and demonstrates the critical importance of strategic communication for NGOs operating in complex political contexts.
New research demonstrates environmental impact on digital mental health interventions 7.25.25
MESA researchers published findings of their study examining the effects of video background and device type on mental health. The paper is now available in Computers in Human Behavior journal. The project involved 202 college students in an experimental design that assessed mental health outcomes using multiple validated psychological assessment tools.
Key findings revealed that while meditation videos improved mental health across all measures regardless of device type (VR vs. computer), nature-based video backgrounds significantly enhanced outcomes compared to classroom settings, particularly for distress tolerance, psychological well-being, and mood. This research contributes valuable insights into how environmental context in digital meditation resources can be optimized to better support mental health interventions for young adults, demonstrating that the visual environment matters more than the technology platform used for delivery.
Chris Boyington presents at the Strategic Multilayer Assessment Conference 6.22.25
MESA graduate student Chris Boyington presented his research "Balancing Narratives in the Balkans: Strategic Information Engagement in Serbian Media Environments" at the Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) Conference at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. His paper presents findings from summer 2024 embedded research with the Balkan Security Network in Serbia, where he examined how competing information operations shape Serbian public opinion and geopolitical positioning. Through direct observation, media analysis, and interviews with Serbian journalists and government officials, Chris documented how Russian information operations exploit historical grievances and cultural ties to create anti-Western narratives that complicate Euro-Atlantic integration efforts.
His research identified a "dichotomy of perception" in Serbian public opinion, where emotional pro-Russian sentiment coexists with rational recognition of EU economic benefits, and highlighted successful counter-messaging strategies, including leveraging shared US-Serbian historical cooperation like Operation Halyard. The work demonstrates how strategic communication can create "revolutionary advantage" by addressing both emotional and rational dimensions of audiences in contested narrative environments, offering valuable insights for developing information resilience strategies in regions with complex geopolitical dynamics.
