 | Soundbitten: The Perils of Media-Centered Political Activism Subjects: Public relations and politics -- United States; Mass media -- Political aspects -- United States; Communication in politics -- United States; 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. Sobieraj Sarah : Sarah Sobieraj is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Tufts University. |
