The Media and Political Process
- Eric Louw - University of Queensland, Australia
How have professional communicators transformed the business of politics? How do political bodies use the media to sell domestic and foreign policies to the public? This fully revised new edition of The Media and Political Process assesses the impact of spin doctoring and media activity in liberal democracies that are just as concerned with impression management and public relations as with policy.
Political processes never stand still, and this revised second edition explores the mediatization of the political process in light of recent developments, from Vladimir Putin's growth into a political celebrity, to the activities of spin doctors in the 2008 US Presidential Elections.
Providing a comprehensive overview of the evolution, operation, and terminology of political communication, this text is an accessible, lively resource for students of political communication and media and politics, and will be important further reading for students of journalism, public relations, and cultural studies.
This is a timely new edition of Louw's accessible and comprehensive book. It will make essential reading for students and teachers of political media
Brian McNair
Professor of Journalism & Communication, University of Strathclyde
This is a reflective, thorough and welcome overview of the field. It carefully considers the dynamic relationships between the media and political spheres and will therefore be highly valuable to students seeking to understand and analyse developments
Dominic Wring
Reader in Political Communication, Loughborough University
For more than 300 years media and politics in the western world have been complex institutions and the subjects of numerous works. In this book Dr Louw has successfully drawn together the various strands that create politics and media, providing an enjoyable narrative that demonstrates his strong understanding of the roles they play in modern socioeconomic policy and processes. This second edition makes a vital contribution to the way we view media and politics at the beginning of what promises to be an exciting century
Richard Stanton
Senior Lecturer, The University of Sydney
A must-read book for contemporary media scholars
This is a great book for courses on media and politics. It's down to earth, critical, argumentative and challenging, and still remains accessible for students.
The book is highly recommended for lecturers who teach Mass Communication course. By using the book, I could introduce the role of media within political processes. The book also gives important notes about the origin and development of political process in the west (section 3). It is good and useful for us in the east.
Section 6-8 give another inspiration about the role of media in 'selling' politician, peace, or even war. Here the students realize that there is indeed close relationship between mass media (an important agent in mass communication) and political process.
This is a wonderful book with fascinating structure and in-depth information for everyone interested in political process and the role of media within it. It was suggested as a recommended reading for our students, and I have no doubt they will greatly benefit from it.
Adopted another title
A comprehensive overview of the subject area, including particularly strong chapters on image management and the media and war/terrorism.
An in-depth study of the relationship between the media, public relations and modern day politics. A trusted guide to understanding many of the power relationships at play, and a variety of theoretical lenses through which to explore the terrain. Insightful and thought-provoking.
A highly interesting and thought-provoking text. Well written & accessable, covering a wide range of issues.
Engaging topics. Clear breakdown in chapters/sections with boxes, diagrams to help explain key areas. Very accessible and definitely one for the library and to suggest to students.
Sage College Publishing
