Communication between citizens and their governments is a key measure of the health of any democracy. In this book, authors from a range of backgrounds - political science, law, media, public policy and government, as well as those who have worked as journalists, press secretaries, PR consultants and speech writers - assess the state of government communication in Australia today. They consider the political, legal and economic context of government communication including the institutions and actors involved and the relationships between them. This includes analysing the media-government relationship and how governments use 'spin', new media and expensive government advertising to influence media reporting and public opinion. The authors shine a spotlight on the work of government spin doctors, speechwriters and PR consultants but they also analyse the social framework of modern communications and how citizens, NGOs and governments communicate in a mediated world.

This book explores and assesses how well Australian governments communicate with their citizens.

About the Author
Dr Sally Young is a Senior Lecturer in Media and Communications at the University of Melbourne.

Reviews
' ... its scope, case studies, explanations and critique all suggest its strong appeal as a second text or recommended reading for both undergraduate and postgraduate students in political communication and related courses. ... Government Communication in Australia delivers significant material to begin filling ... a 'sizeable gap in our understanding of political communication in Australia.' Wayne Murphy, Queensland University of Technology



Book Information
ISBN 9780521681711
Author Sally Young
Format Paperback
Page Count 382
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 558g
Dimensions(mm) 228mm * 152mm * 22mm