THE ROLE OF POLITICAL COMMUNICATION ?

Political Communication prepares for professional careers in government, politics, public affairs, public policy, and communication through the study of political and communication theory, research, and practice. Political Communication concepts and issues include an understanding of the public sphere and the role of the role of political communication in the creation of an informed citizenry; an identification of the ways in which politicians, media and citizens engage to shape public policy; an identification of how political decision-makers and opinion leaders influence policy outcomes by framing issues in specific ways and seek to control media agendas
 

Specifically, Political Communication examines the role of communication in politics and advocacy and applies public communication principles to advocacy and political campaigns. It includes the role of media relations in politics, the impact of television on political discourse, political message development, political advertising, ethics in political persuasion, and the impact of political communication on democratic institutions, as well as how to interpret public opinion, identify and reach constituencies, and develop political communication strategies.

The European Association of Political Consultants (EAPC) is a platform for mutual exchange of information and experience. Association membership consists of political consultants, campaign managers, media consultants, pollsters, Public Affairs officers, fundraisers, lobbyists, teachers, professors, students, active politicians, political journalists. Political consultants don’t just work for parties and candidates. A growing number of corporations, interest groups and other entities interested in public policy are hiring political consultants as members of their Public Relations, Public Affairs or Advocacy teams.

Resources

Across Europe and beyond there are a large number of resources in political communication, such as scholarly organizations, practitioner organizations, funding organizations, and data archives.

Scholarly organizations

1. American Political Science Association (APSA)
2. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)
3. European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA)
4. European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR)
5. International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR)
6. International Communication Association(ICA)
7. Nordic Political Science Association
8. Political Communication (joint site for the political divisions of APSA and ICA)
9. Political Studies Association (PSA)
10. Providing an Infrastructure for Research on Electoral Democracy in the European Union (PIREDEU)
11. World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR)

Practitioner Organizations

1. European Association of Political Consultants (EAPC)
2. International Association of Political Consultants (IAPC)

Specialized Political Communication Journals

1. International Journal of Press/Politics
2. Journal of Political Marketing
3. Political Communication

Other Political Communication Journals

1. Communication Research
2. European Journal of Communication
3. International Journal of Public Opinion Research
4. Journal of Communication
5. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion & Parties
6. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly
7. Public Opinion Quarterly