Mark A. Flynn

Associate Professor of Communication & Media Studies, Department of English

Contact Information

617-732-1677

Office Hours

Office: Administration Building, Room 434-C

Office hours: T/W/TH from 9:30-10:30 a.m.; TH 3-4 p.m. Additional hours by appointment.

Education

Ph.D., Bowling Green State University; M.A., University of Rhode Island; B.A., Roger Williams University

Bio

I joined the English Department at Emmanuel College as an Assistant Professor in Communication and Media Studies. I received a BA in Communications from Roger Williams University, an MA in Communication Studies from the University of Rhode Island, and a PhD in Media and Communication from Bowling Green State University.

My research has primarily focused on media effects and health communication, and the intersection between these two areas. I am particularly interested in the relationship between media use and health issues related to body image and risk behavior (e.g. drinking, smoking, drug use, etc.). As a complementary area of inquiry, I have also focused on strategic communication to impact health outcomes. I am currently on the editorial board of two journals: Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, and Communication Research Reports.

What I Love About Emmanuel

I love the energy that students bring into the classroom. It is clear that Emmanuel students are eager to learn and possess a contagious level of intellectual curiosity. I consistently find myself leaving the classroom feeling inspired.

Courses I Teach

ENGL1502 Introduction to Media and Communication Studies
ENGL2521 Public Relations and Persuasion
ENGL2523 Advertising & Culture
ENGL3708 Digital Culture
ENGL3806 Health Communication
ENGL4998 Communication & Media Studies Senior Seminar

Publications and Presentations

Publications

Flynn, M.A., Lin, L., & Champigny, L. (2020). The Relationship between women’s peer and social networking site thinness discrepancies and body dissatisfaction. Southern Communication Journal, 85, 290-301
Flynn, M.A., Surprenant, T., Craig, C.M., & Bergstrom, A. (2020). Is it good for me? A content analysis of the healthiness of foods advertised in magazines. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 1-15
Lin, L., Roberge, A., & Flynn, M.A. (2020). Appearance-based praise and criticism: does the source matter? Communication Research Reports, 37, 149-160
Flynn, M.A., Cotchett, E., & Lin, L. (2020). The relationship between men’s peer and social media muscularity ideal discrepancies and body satisfaction. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37, 1534-1553
Lin, L., Flynn, M.A., & Roberge, A. (2019).Hearing vs. engaging in negative body talk: an examination of adult men. Eating disorders, 27, 538-549
Craig, C., Flynn, M.A., & Bergstrom, A. (2019). So they claim: A content analysis of magazine food advertising techniques and branding. Journal of Magazine Media, 19, 72-97
Lin, L., Flynn, M. A., & Roberge, A. (2019). Hearing vs. engaging in negative body talk: An examination of adult men. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention, 22, 1-12.
Bergstrom, A., Flynn, M. A., & Craig, C (2018). Deconstructing Media in the College Classroom: A Longitudinal Critical Media Literacy Intervention. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 10 (3), 113 - 131.
Flynn, M. A., Carter, E., & Craig, C. (2017). Let's get involved! The impact of service learning on drinking perceptions, alcohol use, and protective behaviors in college students. Journal of Drug Education.
Stana, A., Flynn, M. A., & Almeida, E. (2017). Battling the stigma: Combat veterans' use of social support in an online PTSD forum. International Journal of Men's Health, 16(1), 20-36.
Craig, C.M., Flynn, M.A., & Holody, K.J. (2017). Name dropping and product mentions: Branding in popular music lyrics. Journal of Promotion Management, 23, 258-276.
Holody, K. J., Anderson, C., Flynn, M. A., & Craig, C. (2016). Drunk in love: The portrayal of risk behavior in music lyrics. Journal of Health Communication, 21, 1098-1106.
Craig, C.M., Ngondo, P. S. & Flynn, M.A. (2016). How firm is your digital handshake?: Mission Statements & Transparency. Public Relations Review, 42, 692-694.
Flynn, M. A., Craig, C., Anderson, C., & Holody, K. J. (2016). Objectification in popular music lyrics: An examination of gender and genre differences. Sex Roles, 75, 164-176.
Flynn, M.A. (2016). The effects of body ideal profile pictures and friends' comments on social network site users' body image. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, & Social Networking, 19, 239-245.
Flynn, M. A., & Carter, E. (2015). Curriculum infusion of the social norms approach: Information only vs. service learning. Communication Education.
Flynn, M. A., Morin, D., Park, S., & Stana, A. (2015). Let's get this party started!: An analysis of health risk behavior on MTV reality television shows. Journal of Health Communication, 20, 1382-1390.
Flynn, M. A., Park, S., Morin, D., & Stana, A. (2015). Anything but real: Body idealization and objectification of MTV docusoap characters. Sex Roles, 72 173-182.
Park, S., Flynn, M. A., Stana, A., Morin, D., & Yun G. (2015). From Laguna Beach to Jersey Shore: A content analysis of minority characters on popular MTV reality shows. Howard Journal of Communication, 26, 381-402.
Morin, D., Flynn, M. A. (2014). We are the Tea Party!: The use of Facebook as an online political forum for the construction and maintenance of in-group identification. Communication Quarterly, 62, 115-133.
Flynn, M.A. & Stana, A. (2012). Social support in a men's online eating disorder forum. International Journal of Men's Health, 11(2).

Research Focus

I have primarily focused on two complementary areas of health communication research: media content and its potential influence on health attitudes and behavior; and strategic communication to impact health outcomes. In researching these areas, I have explored women's and men's body image and objectification, risky health behaviors such as drinking and smoking, social norms, and stigmatized men's health issues. I have investigated these topics in a variety of media contexts, including television, magazines, music lyrics, and social media.

This research has also led me to explore strategic communication messages and health campaign efficacy. I have designed and implemented multiple strategic health campaigns on the topics of media literacy, body image, eating disorders and high risk drinking. These campaigns have allowed me, with great pleasure, to collaborate with colleagues in student affairs and a nonprofit organization focusing on mental health and disordered eating behavior.

My most recent research focuses on body image and disordered eating behavior in social media contexts.