Election Politics and the Mass Press in Long Edwardian Britain

The emergence of the 'new daily mass press' in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries was a significant period in the histories of the British press and political system, according to this book. It explores how the three 'new dailies - Mail, Express, and Mirror - represented political news during the four general elections of the period and how their content intersected with the mass consumer culture of pre-Great War Britain. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of media history, British popular politics, journalism history, and media studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 116 pages
Publication date: 17 January 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The emergence of the 'new daily mass press' in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries marked a pivotal period in the histories of both the British press and the British political system. In this comprehensive study, the author employs a parallel analysis of election-time newspaper content and archived political correspondence to argue that the 'new dailies' were a welcome and vibrant addition to the existing mass political culture in Britain prior to World War One.

The book is organized into several chapters, each exploring different aspects of the 'new dailies' and their impact on political news and popular culture. The first chapter examines the representation of political news in the three 'new dailies' during the four general elections of the period. It explores how their content intersected with and became a part of the mass consumer culture of pre-Great War Britain, and how political parties reacted to this new press. The second chapter delves into the ways in which the 'new dailies' shaped public opinion and influenced political outcomes. It examines the different strategies employed by political parties to engage with the new press and the messages they conveyed to their constituents.

The third chapter explores the broader political attitudes towards the worth of 'mass political communication' during this period. It examines the debates and discussions that took place within political circles about the role of the press in shaping public opinion and influencing political outcomes. The fourth chapter examines the legacy of the 'new daily mass press' in the post-World War One era. It explores how the press continued to evolve and adapt to changing technological and social conditions, and how it continued to play a significant role in shaping British politics and popular culture.

This book will be of interest to students and scholars of media history, British popular politics, journalism history, and media studies. It provides a detailed and nuanced analysis of a critical period in the history of the British press and political system, and sheds light on the ways in which the media has influenced public opinion and political outcomes.

Weight: 268g
Dimension: 223 x 142 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032182315