The sociology of spin

An investigation into the uses, practices and consequences of political communication

Bibliographic Data

ID2399281
AuthorsMitchell Hobbs (0000-0003-2606-7652, The University of Sydney, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume52
Issue2
Pages371-386
Publication date2016-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Sociology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1440-7833 • E-ISSN: 1741-2978
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1440783314562414
OpenAlexW1974614309
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited19

This article explores the uses and consequences of political communication in Australia. It considers the different types of government 'spin doctors' and explores the dimensions of the 'Australian public relations state'. The article then examines the relationship between the media, political communication and democracy. It subsequently develops a typology of overt and covert practices that suggests that there should be an analytical and ethical distinction between 'spin' and 'political communication'. The article concludes that media advisers are 'key activists' within the public sphere and that good political communication gives people the capacity for informed citizenship. Ultimately this discussion demonstrates that political communication has both democratic and anti-democratic aspects, and it offers a conceptual framework for exploring communicative practices and their consequences

Citizenship · Communication studies · Covert · Democracy · Epistemology · Political communication · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Public sphere · Social science · Sociology · Typology · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Law · Media Studies and Communication · Social Media and Politics

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