The outrage industry : political opinion media and the new incivility / Jeffrey M. Berry and Sarah Sobieraj.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Berry, Jeffrey M., 1948-

Contributor:

Sobieraj, Sarah.

Series:

Studies in Postwar American Political Development

Oxford studies in postwar American political development

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Television and politics--United States.

Television and politics.

Television in politics--United States.

Television in politics.

Mass media--Political aspects--United States.

Mass media.

Mass media and public opinion--United States.

Mass media and public opinion.

Political culture--United States.

Political culture.

Television viewers--United States--Attitudes.

Television viewers.

United States--Politics and government--21st century--In mass media.

United States.

United States--Politics and government--21st century--Public opinion.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (286 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

[Oxford] : Oxford University Press, [2014]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"In early 2012, conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh claimed that Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown University law student who advocated for insurance coverage of contraceptives, "wants to be paid to have sex." Over the next few days, Limbaugh attacked Fluke personally, often in crude terms, while a powerful backlash grew, led by organizations such as the National Organization for Women. But perhaps what was most notable about the incident was that it wasn't unusual. From Limbaugh's venomous attacks on Fluke to liberal radio host Mike Malloy's suggestion that Bill O'Reilly "drink a vat of poison ... and choke to death," over-the-top discourse in today's political opinion media is pervasive. Anyone who observes the skyrocketing number of incendiary political opinion shows on television and radio might conclude that political vitriol on the airwaves is fueled by the increasingly partisan American political system. But in The Outrage Industry Jeffrey M. Berry and Sarah Sobieraj show how the proliferation of outrage-the provocative, hyperbolic style of commentary delivered by hosts like Ed Schultz, Bill O'Reilly, and Sean Hannity- says more about regulatory, technological, and cultural changes, than it does about our political inclinations. Berry and Sobieraj tackle the mechanics of outrage rhetoric, exploring its various forms such as mockery, emotional display, fear mongering, audience flattery, and conspiracy theories. They then investigate the impact of outrage rhetoric-which stigmatizes cooperation and brands collaboration and compromise as weak-on a contemporary political landscape that features frequent straight-party voting in Congress. Outrage tactics have also facilitated the growth of the Tea Party, a movement which appeals to older, white conservatives and has dragged the GOP farther away from the demographically significant moderates whose favor it should be courting. Finally, The Outrage Industry examines how these shows sour our own political lives, exacerbating anxieties about political talk and collaboration in our own communities. Drawing from a rich base of evidence, this book forces all of us to consider the negative consequences that flow from our increasingly hyper-partisan political media"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note:

Chapter 1 Outrage

Chapter 2 Mapping Outrage in Blogs, Talk Radio, and Cable News

Chapter 3 The Perfect Storm

Chapter 4 It's a Business

Chapter 5 Political Anxiety and Outrage Fandom

Chapter 6 Mobilizing Outrage

Chapter 7 Continuity, Change, Synergy

Chapter 8 The Future of Outrage

Appendix.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-19-933865-5

0-19-049846-3

0-19-992898-3

OCLC:

863326446