Conservative Political Communication: How Right-Wing Media and Messaging (Re)Made American Politics

Conservative Political Communication explores the evolution of appeals, media, and tactics in right-wing media and political communication, tracing trends and shifts from the 1950s to the Trump administration. It examines how right-wing channels and communications help and hinder partisan fragmentation, and interrogates conservative media and messaging to track their origins, functions, and potential future directions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Inc

Conservative Political Communication delves into the intricate evolution of appeals, media, and tactics within right-wing media and political communication, spanning from the early days of contemporary conservatism in the 1950s to the Trump administration. The chapters in this edited volume, featuring the insights of esteemed senior and junior scholars from the domains of communication, journalism, and political science, employ a diverse range of research methodologies, including content analysis, experimental studies, surveys, historical analysis, and rhetorical approaches. Through comprehensive examinations of the rise of the 24-hour news cycle, the proliferation of partisan news sources, and the impact of social media algorithms on political campaigns, the book offers valuable insights into our media and information ecosystems. A central theme that permeates these chapters is the profound impact of right-wing channels and communications on partisan fragmentation, a phenomenon wherein novice elected officials establish personal conservative brands, engage with their bases through partisan media, and complicate the ability of senior leaders to engage in bargaining, compromise, and deal-making. This volume serves as a critical interrogation of conservative media and messaging, aimed at tracing their origins, examining their functioning during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, and forecasting their potential trajectories in the future.

This book holds immense appeal to scholars and upper-level students specializing in political communication, media and politics, and political science, as well as those who are deeply interested in the evolving political media landscape in the United States. It provides a comprehensive and insightful examination of the dynamic interplay between conservative media, messaging, and political behavior, offering valuable perspectives and methodologies for future research and analysis.

Weight: 328g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780815393863