Table of Contents

Introduction
PART ONE: AN INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PROCESSES AND THE MASS MEDIA
Politics
Image Versus Substance
Western Political Development
An Evolving Symbiosis of Media and Politics
Political Media Practice
An Outline
PART TWO: IDENTITY, POLITICS AND THE MEDIA
National Identity and Communication
New Media
New Politics? New Identity?
PART THREE: THE MEDIA-IZATION OF POLITICS
Spin-doctoring
The Art of Political Public Relations
Selling Politicians and Creating Celebrity
Selling Political Policies and Beliefs
Selling War/Selling Peace
The Media and Terrorism
The Media and Foreign Relations
Conclusion
Searching for Answers (and Questions)

About the Author

Eric Louw, School of Communication & Arts, University of Queensland, previously worked for a number of South African universities (University of South Africa, University of Natal and Rand Afrikaans University), and ran a NGO engaged in development work.

His books include: Media and Society: production, content and participation (SAGE, 2015), The Media and Political Process (SAGE, 2010), The Media and Cultural Production (SAGE, 2001), The Roots of the Pax Americana (MUP, 2010), New Voices Over the Air: The Transformation of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (Hampton Press, 2010), South African Media Policy (1995), and The Rise, Fall and Legacy of Apartheid (Praeger, 2005).

Louw has published widely in the fields of political communication, South African media and South African political discourse.  His current research is focusing on the transformation of South Africa.