Praise for the Second Edition
The strengths of this books first edition were its ability to take contributions from top scholars in the field and make them accessible, and its focus on how changes in the media affect the ability of American democracy to function. The second edition builds on this solid foundation by adding topics that currently preoccupy my students, such as fake news and President Trumps unique relationship with the media. There isnt a better introduction to what political science has to say about the relationship between the media and politics out there.
Keena Lipsitz , CUNY Queens College & The Graduate Center
New Directions in Media and Politics takes a unique approach, tackling big questions effectively while stepping outside of artificial subfield boundaries in todays quick-moving media environment. This method makes it easy for students to contribute to lively discussions and for instructors to teach with this birds-eye view of issues in the field.
Henrik Schatzinger , Ripon College; Co-Director, Center for Politics and the People
New Directions in Media and Politics
It would be difficult to find a more interesting topic than the relationship between the news media and politics, especially given that Americans are now living in the Twitter presidency of Donald Trump. Academic research in the area of media and politics is rapidly breaking new ground to keep pace with prolific media developments and societal changes. This innovative, up-to-date text moves beyond rudimentary concepts and definitions to consider exciting research as well as practical applications that address monumental changes in media systems in the US and the world. This carefully crafted volume explores key questions posed by academics and practitioners alike, exposing students to rigorous scholarship as well as everyday challenges confronted by politicians, journalists, and media consumers.
Each chapter opens with a big question about the impact of the news media, provides an overview of the more general topic, and then answers that question by appealing to the best, most-up-to-date research in the field. The volume as a whole is held together by an exploration of the rapidly changing media environment and the influence these changes have on individual political behavior and governments as a whole.
New Directions in Media and Politics makes an ideal anchor for courses as it digs deeper into the questions that standard textbooks only hint atand presents scholarly evidence to support the arguments made.
New to the Second Edition
Fully updated through the 2016 elections and the early Trump presidency with a special focus on the role of social media.
Adds three new chapters: The Move to Mobile; Media and Public Policy; and Fake News.
Adds Discussion Questions to the end of each chapter.
Travis N. Ridout is Thomas S. Foley Distinguished Professor of Government and Public Policy in the School of Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs at Washington State University. He specializes in the study of political communication, with a focus on campaigns and political advertising. His most recent book is Political Advertising in the United States (2016). He also serves as co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project.
New Directions in American Politics
The Routledge series New Directions in American Politics is composed of contributed volumes covering key areas of study in the field of American politics and government. Each title provides a state-of-the-art overview of current trends in its respective subfield, with an eye toward cutting-edge research accessible to advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. While the volumes touch on the main topics of relevant study, they are not meant to cover the nuts and bolts of the subject. Rather, they engage readers in the most recent scholarship, real-world controversies, and theoretical debates with the aim of getting students excited about the same issues that animate scholars.
Titles in the Series:
New Directions in the American Presidency, Second Edition
Edited by Lori Cox Han
New Directions in Campaigns and Elections
Edited by Stephen K. Medvic
New Directions in Congressional Politics
Edited by Jamie L. Carson
New Directions in Public Opinion, Second Edition
Edited by Adam J. Berinsky
New Directions in Judicial Politics
Edited by Kevin T. McGuire
New Directions in American Politics
Edited by Raymond J. La Raja
New Directions in Interest Group Politics
Edited by Matt Grossmann
New Directions in Media and Politics, Second Edition
Edited by Travis N. Ridout
New Directions in Media
and Politics
Second Edition
Edited by Travis N. Ridout
Second edition published 2019
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
2019 Taylor & Francis
The right of the editor Travis N. Ridout to be identified as the author of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
[First edition published by Routledge 2013]
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Names: Ridout, Travis N., 1974- editor.
Title: New directions in media and politics / edited by Travis N. Ridout.
Description: Second edition. | New York, NY : Routledge, 2019. | Series: New directions in American politics | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018015259| ISBN 9781138559110 (hardback) | ISBN 9781138559127 (pbk.) | ISBN 9780203713020 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Communication in politicsUnited States. | Mass mediaPolitical aspectsUnited States. | Mass mediaUnited States.
Classification: LCC JA85.2.U6 N48 2019 | DDC 320.97301/4dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018015259
ISBN: 978-1-138-55911-0 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-55912-7 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-71302-0 (ebk)
Typeset in Sabon
by Swales & Willis Ltd, Exeter, Devon, UK
To my children, Lorelei, Julianne, and Isaac
Robyn Baragwanath is a graduate student in Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research examines how civil society organizations seek to influence social and political identities through mediated communication strategies.
Elizabeth C. Connors is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at Stony Brook University. Her research examines how social motivations influence political attitudes, political values, and political behaviorand therefore have important and substantive effects in the political world.
James N. Druckman is the Payson S. Wild Professor of Political Science and a Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University. His work focuses on preference formation and political communication.
