College

Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences

Date of Last Revision

2026-01-06 09:33:21

Major

Communication

Honors Course

COMM 485 501

Number of Credits

3

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Date of Expected Graduation

Spring 2025

Abstract

The internet is a powerful place. People feel that they can share how they feel with no consequences. Hedviga Tkáčová (2021) argues that negative media portrayals of Christianity contribute to prejudice against Christian university students in Slovakia, which undermines social cohesion and highlights the need for greater support of religious diversity. From memes to viral videos, these digital interactions can feel like a personal attack, exposing how online spaces can betray the trust and faith of the Roman Catholic Church. As a Roman Catholic, I frequently encounter such issues when engaging with content in the media. In public settings, it is evident that individuals hold a wide range of beliefs that are different from my own, which often leaves me feeling isolated. In many contexts, I find myself in the minority as a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

This raises a concern for me: How might the media influence how others see Catholicism? In my documentary, we see that the Catholic interviewees are more knowledgeable about this question since they are a part of the Roman Catholic Church. Although the additional interviewees are not Catholics themselves, including Atheist, LGBTQ+ members, and non-denominational Christians, offered valuable perspectives on how this issue is viewed by those who experience religion differently. While conducting research on this question, I found it challenging to locate academic sources that directly addressed the issue in the United States. However, I was able to identify materials that reflected experiences similar to my own in other countries around the world.

With this in mind, I decided that I would talk about this topic, the Catholic side of media, in a documentary. My vision for the documentary involved interviewing individuals from four category groups: Catholics, Christians from other denominations, atheists, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. I wanted to focus on these four groups specifically because of a diverse range of perspectives on how the betrayal of Catholicism is represented in the media. There were some public moments that were talked about in my documentary like Sinead O’Connor tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II on live television that have shaped public opinion about the Catholic Church in strong and sometimes misleading ways. Social media adds another layer, amplifying criticism, disagreements, and misunderstandings. For many Catholics, these portrayals feel like a betrayal of their faith and identity. These tensions serve as the foundation for my project, which explores how media framing and personal storytelling influence modern perceptions of Catholicism and why open, respectful conversations remain essential.

Glen Bowman and Tyler Sheppard (2021) illustrates that many Christians actively engage in social media to build supportive, faith-related communities. However, the sheer volume of negative representation fundamentally overrides this positive impulse. The constant focus on scandals, controversies, and criticisms, often amplified by platform algorithms, creates a pervasive narrative that distorts public perception. I worry that audiences that are viewing these strong, negative opinions about Catholicism, are misguided before they have interacted with the faith. This continuous negative framing has led to a deep, personal spiritual and intellectual disengagement, creating feelings of isolation and abandonment. Ultimately making me feel like I’m unable to speak about my own beliefs for fear of immediate judgment and misunderstanding.

Collecting data from my research and my interviewees allows the study to incorporate marginalized viewpoints, increasing the findings and offering a more comprehensive understanding of how religious identity, social conflict, and digital discourse intersect. Each participant was interviewed individually and I asked the same set of questions without engaging in debate. They were encouraged to respond fully, sharing their thoughts and experiences without any time constraints. Presenting the interviews in this format felt like the most natural and impactful way to convey participants’ perspectives.

What I was expecting from the interviews was answering the overall question, leading to new discoveries that I haven’t seen before. I also wanted to challenge myself by working in a new filmmaking style, and this experience broadened my skills while allowing me to experiment with a different format. I already have experience producing sketch comedy shorts, history/science based videos, and news coverage with my teams at the University of Akron’s student-run television station, ZTV, where students get the chance to have hands-on experience in television and video production. Venturing into documentary work has helped me stand out in my field. Being comfortable with a variety of formats and techniques strengthens my resume and demonstrates versatility. Additionally, the documentary/interview approach makes the project more engaging and allows the material to be presented to audiences in a clear and compelling way.

Research Sponsor

Juan Eduardo Contreras Baberena

First Reader

Christopher Keppler

Second Reader

McKenna Vietmeier

Honors Faculty Advisor

Rhiannon Kallis

Proprietary and/or Confidential Information

No

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