The Amplifier Magazine
“Welcome to the new Amplifier Magazine— refreshed in appearance, but with deep roots in the same tradition of impactful, timely content.” – Perry Reed, Editor
From Our President:
A Year of Stewardship, Momentum, and Collective Storytelling
By Kristian A Alomá, PhD
As I write this final message in my last issue of The Amplifier as President of Division 46—the Society for Media Psychology and Technology—I am struck by just how much this community has shaped me, challenged me, supported me, and invited me to grow. Leadership is never a solo undertaking, but in this Division it is especially communal. We lead together. We work together. We imagine together. And we continue….
More Updates from Leadership
Past President’s Column: Division 46 Awardees
By Grant J. Rich, PhD
President-Elect’s Column: Leadership, Legacy, and the Algorithm: How Media and Perception Shape Who Gets to Lead
By Lawrence M. Drake II, PhD
Editor’s Column: Parasocial, Rage Bait, 6-7, and Slop: Reflecting on the 2025 Words of the Year
By Perry A. Reed, PhD
Featured Article:
The Media Psychology of Brain-Computer Interface: A Call to Action
By Bernard Luskin, EdD, MFT
Media psychology sits at the intersection of technology, identity, and communication. Brain-computer interface (BCI) is redefining human-robot communication. BCI now uses “black box” technology systems to process thoughts that enable direct communication between a human and a robot…
Featured Article:
The Current State of Parasocial Theory
By Gayle S. Stever, PhD
Recent years have seen a number of publications that focus on parasocial theory. Indeed, parasocial was one of the finalists for Oxford’s “word of the year” in 2023. [Editor’s note: Parasocial was selected by Cambridge Dictionary in 2025, after this article was submitted.] Most notable among recent publications are…
How The Summer I Turned Pretty Used the Love Triangle as a Recipe for Success
By Tiffany Bui, BS & Amy Pezoldt, BS
This past July, the final season of the teen romantic drama show entitled The Summer I Turned Pretty (TSITP)—featuring a conflict-ridden but nonetheless endearing summer love story—left a monumental impact on the mixed-media world. By the series finale in September, the show had…
Membership Updates
Featuring three upcoming events.