Investigates how effective good media coverage for American activists is during political campaigns
There is an elaborate and often invisible carnival that emerges alongside presidential campaigns as innumerable activist groups attempt to press their issues into mainstream political discourse. Sarah Sobieraj’s fascinating ethnographic portrait of fifty diverse organizations over the course of two campaign cycles reveals that while most activist groups equate political success with media success and channel their energies accordingly, their efforts fail to generate news coverage and come with deleterious consequences. Sobieraj shows that activists’ impact on public political debates is minimal, and carefully unravels the ways in which their all-consuming media work and unrelenting public relations approach undermine their ability to communicate with pedestrians, comes at the expense of other political activities, and perhaps most perniciously, damages the groups themselves.
Weaving together fieldwork, news analysis, and in-depth interviews with activists and journalists, Soundbitten illuminates the relationship between news and activist organizations. This captivating portrait of activism in the United States lays bare the challenges faced by outsiders struggling to be heard in a mass media dominated public sphere that proves exclusionary and shows that media-centrism is not only ineffective, but also damaging to group life. Soundbitten reveals why media-centered activism so often fails, what activist groups lose in the process, and why we should all be concerned.
"Soundbittenis a compelling book whose insightful analysis is well supported by rich empirical data. It is a welcome contribution to the literature on politics, media, and activism." - American Journal of Sociology
"Sarah Sobieraj's book is an important contribution but not only to literature on social movements and media, but also to activists in the field trying to affect change." - Mobilization
"Soundbitten is a well-written and engaging book that both you and your students will enjoy. Sobierajs writing is accessible and the book is rife with interesting examples and colorful pictures that make the events outside of the conventions come alive...In short, Sobieraj outlines newavenues for research on civil society andthe public sphere and we ignore her findings at our own peril." - Contemporary Sociology
"Beyond its utility for activists, Soundbitten is essential for scholars of social movements and activism and would be a great read for an undergraduate or graduate social movements or political communication course. Additionally, this book is a valuable read for those interested in public relationspractitioners and scholars alikebecause it gives such detailed insights into the complex relationships between groups seeking media attention and the journalists reporting on them.-" - Political Science Quarterly
"Using her own fieldwork observations asa baseline, Sobieraj shows how activist groups' expectations of media coverage often fail to pan out. In this respect, the author providesa contemporary update to the conclusions of earlier scholars..." - Choice
Формат: Скан PDf
There is an elaborate and often invisible carnival that emerges alongside presidential campaigns as innumerable activist groups attempt to press their issues into mainstream political discourse. Sarah Sobieraj’s fascinating ethnographic portrait of fifty diverse organizations over the course of two campaign cycles reveals that while most activist groups equate political success with media success and channel their energies accordingly, their efforts fail to generate news coverage and come with deleterious consequences. Sobieraj shows that activists’ impact on public political debates is minimal, and carefully unravels the ways in which their all-consuming media work and unrelenting public relations approach undermine their ability to communicate with pedestrians, comes at the expense of other political activities, and perhaps most perniciously, damages the groups themselves.
Weaving together fieldwork, news analysis, and in-depth interviews with activists and journalists, Soundbitten illuminates the relationship between news and activist organizations. This captivating portrait of activism in the United States lays bare the challenges faced by outsiders struggling to be heard in a mass media dominated public sphere that proves exclusionary and shows that media-centrism is not only ineffective, but also damaging to group life. Soundbitten reveals why media-centered activism so often fails, what activist groups lose in the process, and why we should all be concerned.
"Soundbittenis a compelling book whose insightful analysis is well supported by rich empirical data. It is a welcome contribution to the literature on politics, media, and activism." - American Journal of Sociology
"Sarah Sobieraj's book is an important contribution but not only to literature on social movements and media, but also to activists in the field trying to affect change." - Mobilization
"Soundbitten is a well-written and engaging book that both you and your students will enjoy. Sobierajs writing is accessible and the book is rife with interesting examples and colorful pictures that make the events outside of the conventions come alive...In short, Sobieraj outlines newavenues for research on civil society andthe public sphere and we ignore her findings at our own peril." - Contemporary Sociology
"Beyond its utility for activists, Soundbitten is essential for scholars of social movements and activism and would be a great read for an undergraduate or graduate social movements or political communication course. Additionally, this book is a valuable read for those interested in public relationspractitioners and scholars alikebecause it gives such detailed insights into the complex relationships between groups seeking media attention and the journalists reporting on them.-" - Political Science Quarterly
"Using her own fieldwork observations asa baseline, Sobieraj shows how activist groups' expectations of media coverage often fail to pan out. In this respect, the author providesa contemporary update to the conclusions of earlier scholars..." - Choice
Формат: Скан PDf
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