Communicating for Change: Strategies of Social and Political Advocates

by John P. McHale

Overview

This book explores the various ways social activists use media and communication strategies, including mass media, face-to-face/interpersonal communication, the telephone, group communication, events, papers or literature, and computer-mediated or online communication. Focusing on examples of advocacy against the death penalty, for universal health insurance, and for increased environmental awareness, the author looks at which communication methods are most successful in each case and draws theory-based conclusions for effective communication strategies for future activists—especially at the local level.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742529724
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	12/27/2003
Series:	Communication, Media, and Politics
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.28(w) x 9.28(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

John P. McHale is assistant professor in the communication department at Illinois State University in Normal.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Acknowledgements Part 2 Foreword Chapter 3 1 Introduction: The Importance of Activist Media Use Chapter 4 2 Face-To-Face Interaction Chapter 5 3 Talking on the Telephone Chapter 6 4 Meeting in Small Groups Chapter 7 5 Communicating at Events Chapter 8 6 Using Paper Chapter 9 7 Disseminating Messages through Mass Media Chapter 10 8 Connecting through Computers Chapter 11 9 Conclusion Part 12 Appendix A: Advocate Participants Part 13 Appendix B: Research Method Part 14 References Part 15 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

McHale documents how activists use a wide range of communication forms. .. to enact significant social change. The result of this in-depth, compelling ethnographic study is no less than a groundbreaking grounded theory of communication for social change that serves as both an exemplar for scholars studying communication activism and as a useful handbook that provides practical suggestions for communication activists.

Lawrence R. Frey

The book is aimed to give practical tools to social activists, fund raisers, lobbyists, and other persons who want to have access to the inside of the mass media, in order to disseminate their messages. Communicating for Change is a well-constructed book, following the same methodological structure in each of its eight chapters. Professional advocates and political advisers will find here some inspiring strategies for campaigns (or maybe ways to protect themselves from these aggressive methods). Scholars in media studies, political science, and students in associations will also find many case studies.

Political Studies Review

An important contribution to our understanding of social movements and a useful toolkit for organizers. Concrete and practical discussions of how face-to-face communication, group meetings, telephone, printed media (leaflets, posters, newsletters, and so on), mass media, and the Internet are used—as well as the factors that influence their usage and of the functions they serve—make the book invaluable.. .. A sourcebook for movement scholars and activists.

Bert Klandermans