Ethical Dimensions Of Political Communication

This unique study is the first to focus specifically on political communication ethics. Denton has brought together a group of works that address ethical concerns related to political communication, including political culture, campaigns, media, advertising, ghostwriting, discourse, politicians, and new technologies.

All of the contributors raise a number of salient questions and discuss various methods, criteria, and issues for exploring and addressing ethical concerns. These ten chapters cover a range of topics that include the ethics of popular culture, political advocacy, ethics and morality in American presidential campaigns, virtue and character, the role of television in modern politics, the ethical implications of ghostwriting, polls and computer technology, and narrative form in political news.

The central theme that emerges from these varied contributions is that we cannot depend on politicians, their handlers, or the media to correct real or perceived problems of ethics in American politics and that the greatest threat to democracy is neglect of the public forum. In analyzing the weak ethical links in the American political process, the authors call for a return to civic culture based on communication and persuasion, active citizen participation, and a high level of information.

This work will be an important new resource for courses in political and mass communication, political ethics, and political science, as well as for students of sociology and American studies. Review: ?In this first book devoted entirely to the subject of political communication ethics, there are 10 chapters, covering political culture, campaigns, media, advertising, ghostwriting, discourse, politicians, and new technologies.

These diverse chapters are unified by the central theme that we cannot depend upon the politicians, their handlers or even the media . . . to correct real or perceived problems of ethics in American politics. The task is ours. If such a task begins with a thorough understanding of the problem, then with this book it is well begun.

All the essays, especially those by Gronbeck, Kaid, and Woodward, combine insightful analysis with conscientious reviews of the relevant literature. The volume has impressive breadth, including chapters on political culture and postmodern approach, as well as material more familiar to political scientists.

For libraries with collections in politics, history, and communication studies, or for anyone interested in politics and the processes of political communication. It is accessible to undergraduates and community college students, and still offers insights that will be useful to scholars.?-Choice