Movements and Media as Interacting Systems

William A. Gamson, Gadi Wolfsfeld

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

758 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this article, some organizing principles and hypotheses are offered concerning the ways in which social movements interact with the news media and the outcomes for both parties. The structural part of the analysis focuses attention on the power and dependency aspects of the relationship and the consequences of the asymmetries. The cultural part focuses attention on the more subtle contest over meaning. Hypotheses on how social movement characteristics affect media coverage focus on movement standing, preferred framing, and sympathy. The authors argue for the importance of organization, professionalism, and strategic planning and for the benefits of a division of labor among movement actors. Hypotheses on how media characteristics affect movement outcomes focus on leadership, action strategy, and framing strategy. The authors argue for audience size, emphasis on the visual, and emphasis on entertainment values as influencing movements.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)114-125
Number of pages12
JournalAnnals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Volume528
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1993

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Movements and Media as Interacting Systems'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this