The #1 Resource for the Communication Field
Of all of the fields of communication, political communication is perhaps the most frequently analyzed and one of the most important on a global stage. In this section of our blog, we will look at the ways that communication influences politics. Through the study of political communication, we can understand how the 24-hour news cycle and various types of new communication can affect election campaigns and policy. We will look at the latest research and analyses to see how political communication has changed due to new mass media technologies such as the Internet. We will look at recent surveys to show how these technologies influence voters, and we will see how voters subsequently influence the campaigns and governance of their elected officials.
Do you think male politicians have bigger heads than female politicians? If you answered yes, you’d be correct. But not if you were referring to ego. A new study published in the Psychology of Women Quarterly found that male politicians literally have bigger heads when portrayed in photographs. More specifically, the study found “face-ism” bias [...] Read more »
One of the most powerful weapons a politician has is their words. By controlling language they can shape perceptions. Just think of the effect a phrase like “estate tax” has when turned to “death tax.” Far more powerful, right? In this TED Talk, Etymologist Mark Forsyth walks us through some historical examples of how politicians [...] Read more »
The 2012 presidential election was especially tough, but a new video compares 60 years of presidential advertisements to show that the latest attack ads and stump speeches are part of a greater American political legacy. The video, created by Australian video editor Hugh Atkin, builds dozens of campaign advertisements from Presidents, candidates, VPs and first [...] Read more »
On Sunday evening following the horrible tragedy that took place at the the ‘Dark Knight’ premiere, President Obama addressed the nation from Aurora, Colorado. Comforting a country — especially following one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history — is no easy task, but Obama does his best by highlighting a heroine rather than [...] Read more »
Credibility is everything. Newspapers that get the facts wrong are torn to shreds and politicians lacking experience don’t get elected, while people in lab coats command our respect immediately. Communication scholars define credibility as being the perception of one’s competence, trustworthiness, and goodwill. But as you probably know, perceptions can be hacked. Read more »
According to a report published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, voters may naturally prefer politicians who have deeper voices. Biologists from Duke University collaborated with a political scientist from the University of Miami to determine voter preferences regarding the pitch of a candidate’s voice. Read more »
A study suggests the thought that political partisans only immerse themselves in media which reinforce their beliefs may be unfounded. They discovered that even the most partisan readers visit mainstream news sites, as well as partisan sites that express views that oppose their own. Read more »
Even in politics, good looks open a lot of doors. A study conducted by the University of Haifa found that the amount of television coverage a member of congress gets is directly proportional to how attractive he or she is perceived to be. Read more »
In the center of the political limelight is 2012 Presidential Candidate Herman Cain as he fights off allegations of past sexual infidelity and sexual harassment. The story has leaked out bit by bit, with new accusers coming from different directions and casting even more of a negative shadow on Cain. In his defense, Cain has turned around and pointed a finger at Texan rival Governor Rick Perry claiming that he is conducting a smear campaign against him to try to whittle his chances of receiving the GOP nomination presidency. Read more »
A new study out of Michigan State University shows that greater media coverage of Washington politicians does not translate into greater influence on the public. Americans are much more likely to respond to stories of political grassroots efforts led by average citizens, even though such stories are few compared to those chronicling congressional debates and speeches. Read more »