Lexington Studies in Political Communication
2 total works
Us against Them: The Political Culture of Talk Radio examines the phenomenon of talk radio and the role that it plays in the American political process as well as popular culture. Among the central questions addressed is a basic one regarding why people choose to listen to political talk instead of music. Do they listen to get objective information on both sides of political issues to help them make their own voting decisions, or do they seek out the hosts and content that simply validates their own beliefs? After a consideration of the history of talk radio as well as where the industry stands today in terms of audience demographics and advertiser support, Randy Bobbitt takes a theoretical look at how talk radio may or may have not impacted political issues and campaigns from the 1950s through the 2006 mid-term election, as well as the real impact of talk radio on the 2008 presidential campaign. Finally, Bobbitt considers the future of political talk radio in light of the newest threat to the First Amendment: the possible return of the Fairness Doctrine, a twentieth century law that once required broadcasters to provide politically balanced programming.
Between 1986 and 2005, nearly every state in the Southeast grappled with one or more proposals for a state-run lottery. The political battles and marketing campaigns leading up to the decisions generated considerable public debate and media attention. Pro-lottery and anti-lottery groups executed costly and labor-intensive campaigns aimed at generating the involvement of the media, politicians, and voters. Using a variety of case studies, Lottery Wars examines those debates and campaigns from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Using thousands of media articles and government documents, in addition to dozens of interviews with politicians, religious leaders, and journalists who covered the campaigns, Bobbitt brings up-to-date the research on state lotteries in the Southeast United States. Accessible and journalistic in style, Lottery Wars is an ideal supplement to any political communication course.