Anonymous media sources & Sentiments: A case study of Slovenian Newspapers.

Although various cases of inappropriate use of anonymous news sources have shaken journalistic practice in the past and encouraged media organizations to act and tighten editorial policies, they remain at the center of journalistic practice. In times of rising demands from media consumers for increased transparency in media content and journalism grounded on ethical principles, the issue of anonymous sources presents an important stage. In our study, we conducted content analysis on four Slovenian daily newspapers which held the largest readership share, during the period from October 1 to December 31, 2021, to explore the extent of the use of anonymous sources of information and how they are employed. In addition, we analyzed the relationship between the use of anonymous sources and various topics of the news stories, the type and sentiment of information. It was found that information from anonymous sources is often of a primary type and neutral in sentiment. According to our research, the sentiment of anonymous information is not related to the content. The connection between the topic of the news story and the type of anonymous information was recognized in the case of reporting on the public sector. Furthermore, articles contained minimal specific descriptions about the sources, providing very limited information about their use. Our study revealed an exceptionally low share of provided explanation on the approval of anonymity for media consumers with very general and generic reasons.

The (In)effectiveness of Attention Guidance Methods for Enhancing Brand Memory in 360° Video.

Sensing and remembering features in visual scenes are conditioned by visual attention and methods to guide it. This should be relevant in terms of product placement, which has become an important part of incorporating brands into different mass media formats with a commercial purpose. The approach can be challenging in 360° video, where an omnidirectional view enables consumers to choose different viewing perspectives, which may result in overlooking the brands. Accordingly, attention guidance methods should be applied. This study is the first to explore diegetic guidance methods as the only appropriate guiding method for an unobtrusive and unconscious nature of product placement. To test the effectiveness of three different diegetic guiding methods, a between-subject design was employed, where the participants were assigned randomly to one of four videos with the same scene but different guiding methods. The findings show and explain the discrepancy with studies on guiding attention in other contexts, as there were no significant differences between the guiding cues according to brand recall and brand recognition. The results also indicate a significant influence of brand familiarity on brand recall in 360° video. The article concludes by providing limitations, future research directions, and recommendations for audiovisual policy.

The Role of Different Behavioral and Psychosocial Factors in the Context of Pharmaceutical Cognitive Enhancers' Misuse.

In an effort for better memory, greater motivation, and concentration, otherwise healthy individuals use pharmaceutical cognitive enhancers (PCEs), medicines for the treatment of cognitive deficits of patients with various disorders and health problems, to achieve greater productivity, efficiency, and performance. We examined the use of PCEs among 289 students at the Slovenian Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the behavioral and psychosocial context (students' attitudes towards study, parents, health, leisure time, and work). Furthermore, we also addressed the immediate reasons, or the hypothesized connections of behavioral and psychosocial aspects, related to PCE misuse. The study consisted of a structured questionnaire, and chi-squared tests were used. An analysis of student statements revealed differences in students' and parents' attitudes toward good academic grades. In addition, students chose among 17 values related to relationships with parents, friends, partners, careers, study obligations, leisure, hobbies, material goods, appearance, and the future, and assessed their importance. Regardless of the group they belonged to, young people cited the same values among the most important. Good grades and parental opinions have proven to be key factors in the context of PCE abuse. This research was the first study to examine the relation between PCE misuse and the role of different behavioral and psychosocial factors.

Online Interventions for the Selective Prevention of Illicit Drug Use in Young Drug Users: Exploratory Study.

BACKGROUND: Digital technologies have a major impact on the daily lives of young people and are also used to seek information on and help with drug-related issues online. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article was to analyze current online interventions for young drug users in Slovenia, with the purpose of contributing to the development of guidelines and key recommendations for effective online interventions. METHODS: This study was part of the project Click for Support. We performed a keyword search, received input from national experts in the field of drug prevention, and conducted an assessment of recognized national online interventions through workshop-based discussions with the target group of 20 young drug users. RESULTS: The current online intervention services in Slovenia are satisfactory but are still not sufficiently recognized. The most important issues for young drug users were the design and functionality of the online intervention, presence of a clear structure, possibility of using it on smartphones, comprehensive and quick professional feedback, and data security. Playful elements and the ability to share (experiences) with other or former users were also recognized as important. CONCLUSIONS: With effective online interventions, we can include more young drug users, facilitate access to a more affordable service, provide quick professional feedback on patterns of consumption, increase knowledge about the effects and consequences of drugs, and support the reduction or cessation of drug use. From the public health perspective, it is challenging to provide drug interventions broadly to the target group and, hence, decrease inequities.

Ethical aspects of the abuse of pharmaceutical enhancements by healthy people in the context of improving cognitive functions.

Better memory, greater motivation and concentration lead to greater productivity, efficiency and performance, all of which are features that are highly valued in a modern society focused on productivity. In the effort for better cognitive abilities, otherwise healthy individuals use cognitive enhancers (also known as nootropics), medicines for the treatment of cognitive deficits of patients with various disorders and health problems, such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, stroke, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ageing. The use of these is more common in professions with emphasised cognitive abilities, or in occupations that require more attention, focus and alertness. Their use is also associated with the general working population, in that they are supposed to use them to alleviate the effects of sleep deprivation and to cope with increasing workloads.In the paper, we are addressing the ethical issue and the dilemmas of the use of pharmaceutical enhancements by healthy people who have no medical reason for taking such substances, in the context of improving their cognitive functions.