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Politics and the Media
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Politics and the Media
Intersections and New Directions

First Edition
  • Jane Hall - American University, Washington, DC, USA


August 2021 | 400 pages | CQ Press

“The book is well versed in the scholarly literature as well as pop-culture references found in contemporary television shows and movies. But what stands out in the volume’s research is its utilization of interviews conducted by the author that provide a range of perspectives on the media and politics from the vantage points of U.S. senators, journalists, critics, and activists.”
—Kirkus Reviews

"Jane Hall has written a brilliant analysis that is educational, entertaining and important. Her comprehensive and timely book will be required reading for scholars, and will be invaluable for general readers and anyone interested in the relationship between politics and the media."
- Kenneth T. Walsh, veteran White House correspondent, adjunct professorial lecturer in communication, and author of 10 books on the presidency including Presidential Leadership in Crisis.

"Finally, as current a book as possible incorporating scholarly work on the media and politics and up-to-date examples and suggested exercises that are sure to rivet student interest.  From its coverage of a tweeting President constantly assailing the media to trenchant analyses of coverage of the BLM movement, immigration and how the media treats women candidates this book is a must- adopt for Media and Politics classes.  It is also an excellent add on for classes on American Politics and Campaigns and Elections." 
- Karen O’Connor, Jonathan N. Helfat Distinguished Professor of Politics, Founder Women and Politics Institute, American University.  

"The book is very timely and it has good case studies for students to discuss in class. It has chapters on
race- and gender-related issues. You can use it as the main textbook, or you can assign it as supplementary reading material."
—Ivy Shen, PhD. Southeast Missouri State University

Politics and the Media: Intersections and New Directions examines how media and political institutions interact to shape public thinking and debates around social problems, cultural norms, and policies. From the roles of race and gender in American politics to the 2020 elections and the global coronavirus pandemic, this is an extraordinary moment for politicians, the news media, and democracy itself. Drawing from years of experience as an active political media analyst, an award-winning journalist and professor of politics and the media, Jane Hall explores how media technologies, practices, and formats shape political decision-making; how political forces influence media institutions; and how public opinion and media audiences are formed. Students will gain an understanding of these issues through a combination of scholarship, in-depth interviews, and contemporary case-studies that will help them develop their own views and learn to express them constructively. 



 
Chapter 1: The Landscape of Media and Politics Today
The 2016 Presidential Election

 
Media-Centered Politics

 
The Roles Media Play

 
The Goals for This Book

 
 
Chapter 2: Underlying Concepts and Historical Foundations
Media-Effects Theory

 
Agenda-Setting Theory

 
Priming Theory

 
Framing

 
The Power of the Senses

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 3: Political Advertising: Persuasion and Deception
Spending on Political Advertising

 
Persuasive Techniques: From Classical Rhetoric to Product Advertising

 
Advertisements in Recent Campaigns

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 4: Reporting the News: Cultural Bias, Trust, and Accountability
Bias toward Immediacy across Media

 
Bias toward Conflict and Narrow Debate

 
Bias toward Insiderism

 
Bias toward Horse-Race Coverage

 
Bias toward Establishment Candidates and Perceived Front-Runners

 
Bias toward Official Sources

 
Bias toward Media Narratives

 
Bias toward Objectivity in Journalism

 
Where Do We Go from Here?

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 5: Politicians, the Media, and Social Media: The Push-Pull Relationship
Congress: Divided and Gridlocked

 
The Presidency and the Media

 
Covering Trump

 
Changes in Coverage of Party Conventions

 
Outreach on Social Media—Messaging and Mobilizing

 
Fake News/Disinformation

 
The 2020 Campaign and Moving Forward

 
Critiques and Self-Critiques of 2016

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 6: Race and Immigration in Media and Politics: Protests, Policies, and Reform
Death of George Floyd

 
Coverage of Race and Ethnicity in the Media

 
The Obama Presidency

 
Immigration

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 7: Global Media: The International Influencer
American Exceptionalism and Global Public Opinion

 
The Coronavirus Pandemic

 
Climate Change

 
Humanitarian Crises

 
Terrorism

 
Far-Right Domestic Terrorism

 
Wartime Coverage

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 8: The Media and Women in Politics
Gender Dynamics in Running for President

 
“Hair, Hemlines, and Husbands”: Sexist Coverage and Impact

 
Women World Leaders and Structural Barriers to Women Running in the U.S.

 
Identity Politics and Voters in 2016

 
Gender in Media and Politics in the 2020 Presidential Campaign

 
Kamala Harris

 
Summary

 

“This tour de force” is “a definitive resource on politics and the media for years to come.” It provides “expert analysis on the modern media’s  theoretical and ethical underpinnings” and “in-depth coverage of social media, race, immigration, women and media globalization, along with standout interviews with “a range of perspectives on the media and politics from the vantage points of U.S. senators, journalists, critics, and activists…”   

“Reflecting Hall’s experience in engaging with the general public, the book is written in a jargon-free style that makes for an accessible read beyond academia” as well as “an ideal classroom text.”

Kirkus Reviews

"Jane Hall has written a brilliant analysis that is educational, entertaining and important. Her comprehensive and timely book will be required reading for scholars, and will be invaluable for general readers and anyone interested in the relationship between politics and the media."

Kenneth T. Walsh
Veteran White House correspondent, adjunct professorial lecturer in communication, and author of ten books on the presidency including Presidential Leadership in Crisis

"Finally, as current a book as possible incorporating scholarly work on the media and politics and up-to-date examples and suggested exercises that are sure to rivet student interest.  From its coverage of a tweeting President constantly assailing the media to trenchant analyses of coverage of the BLM movement, immigration and how the media treats women candidates this book is a must- adopt for Media and Politics classes.  It is also an excellent add on for classes on American Politics and Campaigns and Elections."

- Karen O'Connor: Co-author, Women, Politics and American Society, 5th ed. ; Editor, Gender and Leadership, 2 vol.; Editor, Women &Congress, Running, Winning and Ruling; Co-author, American Government: Roots and Reform, 16th ed. Jonathan N. Helfat Distinguished Professor of Politics, Founder Women and Politics Institute, American University.  

Karen O'Connor
American University

“I’m impressed with the range of topics in this book, particularly the chapters on the role of gender, race and ethnicity in politics and the media. It puts contemporary issues in recent historical context through the 2020 election—and beyond. I’m sure students will enjoy—and learn a lot.”

Celinda Lake
President, Lake Research Partners
Celinda Lake, President, Lake Research Partners

"It better contextualizes RECENT changes to media politics - integration of digital media, complexity of political phenomenon like fake news and misinformation, and puts it into a perspective that accounts for changes in the last 60 years."

Jeffrey N. Carroll
Chestnut Hill College

"The book is very timely and it has good case studies for students to discuss in class. It has chapters on
race- and gender-related issues. You can use it as the main textbook, or you can assign it as supplementary reading material."

Ivy Shen, PhD
Southeast Missouri State University

"An up-to-date exploration of the changing role of media in our politics."

Donna Halper, PhD, Associate Professor of Communication and Media Studies
Lesley University, Cambridge MA
Key features

KEY FEATURES:

  • Highly accessible writing style is equally informative and approachable for students new to the discipline.
  • In-depth interviews and detailed case studies give students a well-rounded look at the media's relationships with politics.
  • End-of-chapter assignments give students extra opportunities to analyze political advertisements, examine candidacy announcement videos, and compare and contrast global news coverage.

For instructors

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