Controlling the Message New Media in American Political Campaigns

This is an indispensable book for those studying politics and social media. This is especially the case given the diversity of research strategies and subject matter examined throughout the text. Summing Up: Highly recommended. (Choice) [T]he book is a great resource book for the role of social media in political campaigns with a nuanced view and solid empirical data to back up their claims. (Communication Booknotes Quarterly) Controlling the Messagebrings valuable data and sharp analysis to bear on timely, important questions. (International Journal of Communication) Much has been made of President Barack Obama's strategy on social media...it's an interesting examination at a time when pundits are already discussing that the last time potential GOP candidate Jeb Bush ran for office (2002's Florida gubernatorial election), neither Twitter nor Facebook existed. (Library Journal) The 2012 presidential and congressional races serve as a laboratory for the scholars in this volume, who contribute 13 chapters on the impact of social media (Twitter,Facebook, YouTube, blogs, and online forums) on these elections...[P]olitical scientists specializing in this emerging field will appreciate the rigor of these studies (Library Journal) This book is well researched and is a high quality addition to the existing literature on campaign communications. The contributors do an excellent job relying on current research in the field while presenting new and important data. The timeliness of the research throughout makes it a solid contribution, particularly with the new data provided on various forms of social media use during the most recent presidential campaign. - Lori Cox Han,author of New Directions in the American Presidency The research reported in this comprehensive volume provides a snapshot of an important point in the evolution of American political campaigns. The books examination of the production and effects of social media messages will help us understand their role in contemporary campaigns. Most importantly, the research helps the discipline define the practical limits of social media influence and identify areas for future research. - David Tewksbury,co-author of News on the Internet: Information and Citizenship in the 21st Century