Dr. Tammy Rae Matthews, assistant professor of Sports Journalism and Digital Journalism, earned the prestigious 2024 African Journalism Studies (AJS) Best Paper Award at the 74th Annual International Communication Association (ICA) Conference, held June 20-24 on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Themed “Communication and Global Human Rights,” the ICA conference brought together leading worldwide scholars and practitioners.

Matthews’ peer-reviewed paper, titled “Enhancing Social Change: Nurturing Nuanced Communication for Addressing Gender-Based Violence within Namibian LGBTQI+ Communities,” tackles the pervasive issue of gender-based violence within Namibian LGBTQI+ communities. It delves into the complexities of intimate partner abuse, whether physical, sexual, verbal or emotional, and sheds light on the unique challenges faced by LGBTQI+ survivors.

Matthews explores how psychological violence, rooted in gender roles and identities, permeates various aspects of life. She also examines the physical manifestations of this violence and critiques existing initiatives to address these behaviors.

Her paper also earned the Top Faculty Paper Runner-Up Award in the Global Communication and Social Change Division.

Matthews also presented her work during the conference’s Sport Communication poster session. Her presentation, “Encouraging Intersectionality in Sports Journalism Education: Exploring the Untold Stories of Diverse Sporting Communities,” highlighted integrating intersectionality into sports journalism education, ensuring that diverse voices and experiences receive the attention they deserve.