Political Communication and Social Theory presents an advanced and challenging text for students and scholars of political communication and mass media in democracies. It draws together work from across political communication, media sociology and political sociology, and includes a mix of theoretical debate and current examples from several democratic media systems. Its wide ranging discussions both introduce and contest the traditional scholarship on a number of contemporary topics and issues. These include:











comparative political and media systems







theories of democracy, representation and the public sphere







political party communication, marketing and elections







the production of news media and public policy







media sociology and journalist-source relations







celebrity politics, popular culture and political leadership







new media and online democracy