The Political Communication Reader gathers together key writings in a unique one-volume resource. The selected texts are grouped into thematic sections, each introduced by the editors, covering such areas as:

the exercise of power, media and democracy

the media and elections

media effects

political participation and the media

the personalization of politics

new technologies and the reshaping of political communication.

Available as a companion Reader to Brian McNair's Introduction to Political Communication textbook, students will find The Political Communication Reader a valuable resource in this popular subject area.

Reviews

'Ralph Negrine and James Stanyer have constructed a valuable treasury of the key research and scholarly writing by distinguished academics, which has shaped the contemporary field of political communication. Lippmann’s analysis of public opinion, Hall Jamieson’s discussion of the ‘packaging of the Presidency’, as well as Robert McChesney’s insightful unravelling of the implications of the economic organisation of US media for democracy, are just a few of the intellectual nuggets horded inside the covers of The Political Communication Reader. There are many other gems to enjoy. It is essential reading for anyone who wishes to be well informed about current debates and developments in the expansive field of political communication.' - Bob Franklin, Professor of Journalism Studies, Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies

'This is a collection of some of the best works and finest writers in political communication. It provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of the state of the art and how the field developed over the last decades.' - Christina Holtz-Bacha, Professor of Communication, University of Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany

'a very useful book... a richer collection' - The Australian Journal of Politics and History

Ralph Negrine is Director of Research at the Department of Journalism Studies, University of Sheffield. His research interests are in political communication and media policy. Recent publications include Television and the Press Since 1945 (1999), and The Communication of Politics (1996). He is also co-editor of The 'Professionalization' of Political Communication in Europe (2007).

James Stanyer is Lecturer in Communication and Media Studies at the Department of Social Sciences, Loughborough University. His research focuses on developments in political communication in advanced industrial democracies. His work has appeared in a wide range of academic journals and he has also authored two books, The Creation of Political News (2001), and Modern Political Communication (2007).