Description
Book SynopsisWhat is the purpose of talk in a democratic society? Do the American people interact with their government in distinctive ways? In this text, contributors present work on how politics is transacted in American society and how public communication affects those transactions.
Trade ReviewHart and Sparrow bring together some of the best young minds on political communication, resulting in a series of essays that are provocative and original in their insights. The authors challenge many aspects of conventional understanding and show how outlets from presidential town meetings to talk shows have important political ramifications. -- Darrell M. West, Brown University
This richly rewarding volume, authored by a bevy of promising young scholars, presents novel insights into the complex interplay of political discourse and cultural forces. It's fun to read, stimulating to ponder, and bound to spark fruitful new approaches to political communication research. -- Doris Graber, University of Illinois at Chicago
The contributors collectively reach beyond simple models of media effects. . . . These fresh perspectives on the complexity and significance of political communications offer much food for scholarly discussion. * CHOICE *
A splendid collection of diverse personal agendas. * Political Communication *
This is an edgy book, setting for itself the goals of understanding the political agendas of politicians, journalists, and citizen activists in a new century and of pushing fellow scholars into new conceptual territories. Both goals are fulfilled splendidly. -- Bruce Gronbeck, University of Iowa
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Tocqueville and Political Communication in America Part 2 Part I: Presidential Discourse in a Complex Nation Chapter 3 Identity, Democracy, and Presidential Rhetoric Chapter 4 Prometheus Chained: Communication and the Constraints of History Part 5 Part II: National Beliefs and Political Identity Chapter 6 Using the Past in Political Discourse Chapter 7 Rights Talk As Political Communication Part 8 Part III: The Mass Media and Lay Understanding Chapter 9 Meaningful Events: Problem Definition in the Media Arena Chapter 10 The Paradox of News Bias: How Local Broadcasters Influence Information Policy Part 11 Part IV: Enlarging the Public Sphere Chapter 12 Voice, Polling, and the Public Sphere Chapter 13 Deliberation in Practice: Connecting Theory to the Lives of Citizens Part 14 Part V: Popular Venues, Popular Politics Chapter 15 Presidential Communication As Cultural Form: The Town Hall Meeting Chapter 16 Forums for Citizenship in Popular Culture Chapter 17 Political Authenticity, Television News, and Hillary Rodham Clinton
