Alison Dagnes is Professor of Political Science at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, and she earned her doctorate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She is the author of three books about the American political media: Super Mad at Everything All the Time (2019), A Conservative Walks Into a Bar (2012) and Politics on Demand (2010). A former C-SPAN producer, Dr. Dagnes is frequently interviewed in the national and international press about American politics, ideology, and the press.
Why are there so few conservative satirists? This book examines the question and offers a some an... more Why are there so few conservative satirists? This book examines the question and offers a some answers...
As this edited volume so aptly demonstrates, there is no single or simple reason why men who have... more As this edited volume so aptly demonstrates, there is no single or simple reason why men who have been elected to political office engage in risky sexual behaviors that may bring them down from the pinnacle of power. Just as complex is the hair-trigger response of the American public and media, even to behaviors that while they may be amoral, are not illegal. Dagnes and contributors offer multiple analytic lenses to help readers understand both the dynamics that drive individual behavior, as well as the social and political context in which these behaviors and responses occur - American society in the 21st century — one that is so profoundly ambivalent about sex, and the role of sex in our lives. — Betsy Crane, Ph.D., Professor, Director, Graduate Programs in Human Sexuality, Widener University.
Taking on today's brave new world of political reporting, Politics on Demand: The Effects of 24-H... more Taking on today's brave new world of political reporting, Politics on Demand: The Effects of 24-Hour News on American Politics examines how the technological changes and financial imperatives of the American media have led to an entertainment-driven news system that cannot meet the needs of a democracy.
Free of partisan slant and easily accessible to all readers, Politics on Demand explains the evolving media system, showing how politicians use the media to sell themselves and how the media uses politicians to its own advantage. The book demonstrates that, with vast amounts of programming time to fill, the spotlight has shifted away from substantive information to opinion, which, in turn, has helped perpetuate partisan politics. Politicians now have to contort themselves to fit within media confines, and political discourse has become extreme and over-simplified. Combining insider interviews with facts, statistics, anecdotes, and analysis, the author, herself a former C-SPAN producer, argues that the American media has become harmful for our nation and a detriment to our political system.
Contributors Introduction by Alison Dagnes Section I: Congress Preface by Lara Brown, Jeff Gulati... more Contributors Introduction by Alison Dagnes Section I: Congress Preface by Lara Brown, Jeff Gulati, Doug Harris and Scott Basinger Chapter 1: Sack the Quarterback by Doug Harris Chapter 2: Spending More Time with My Family: Scandals and Premature Departures from the House by Lara Brown & Jeff Gulati Chapter 3: The Electoral Effects of Congressional Scandals by Scott Basinger Section II: Historical Accounts, Modern Implications Introduction by Mark Sachleben Chapter 4: Tom Clark Under Fire by Craig Smith Chapter 5: Sherman Adams' Fall, and the Scandal Behind the Scandal by Michael Birkner Chapter 6: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same by George Hale Chapter 7: Sex, Scandal and Catholic Politics during Italy's Dolce Vita by Roy Domenico Section II Conclusions: Paralleling History: Scandal and the Lessons of the 2012 Election by Neal Allen Section III: Shaping the Perceptions of Scandal Introduction by Stephanie Jirard Chapter 8: Scandal and the Politics of Race ...
... Page 3. New Directions in Media Blogging America: The New Public Sphere Aaron Barlow Celeb 2.... more ... Page 3. New Directions in Media Blogging America: The New Public Sphere Aaron Barlow Celeb 2.0: How Social Media Foster Our Fascination with Popular Culture Kelli S. Burns Politics on Demand: The Effects of 24-Hour News on American Politics Alison Dagnes Page 4. ...
There is more money in media but also more problems. In addition to concerns about how they keep ... more There is more money in media but also more problems. In addition to concerns about how they keep the lights on amidst considerable competition, media organizations have to keep their eye on their duties as the messengers of news and information at a time when everyone has their own messaging system. News media today also have to worry about the polarization of their audience, which feeds into the increasing distrust by the public against them. Their platforms are shifting, and they have to keep up with the competition and the new technologies that emphasize shrunken content and speed. The news media, vital to an effective democracy, is facing threats from all sides. Dagnes examines how technological developments inspired a flood of money into the media while at the same time brought economic trouble to many legacy outlets. These technological and financial changes have expanded the political media landscape. Because there is so much space available, and because political messaging h...
Introduction: Who Brings the Funny? Data, Experiments & Proof Mirroring the Political Climate: Sa... more Introduction: Who Brings the Funny? Data, Experiments & Proof Mirroring the Political Climate: Satire in History Art and Profession Being Funny & Being Right, Being Left & Being Right Conclusions
American attitudes toward the institutions of knowledge have transformed in the past half-century... more American attitudes toward the institutions of knowledge have transformed in the past half-century. As the national culture developed to include more citizens in the areas of higher education, the media, and politics, many conservatives began to question those in power. Since the mid-twentieth century, there has been a growing accusation of liberal bias in colleges, in the news, and in government. These verdicts of one-sidedness helped usher in a new media system, one tailored specifically for those on the right. Rooted in truth but inflated into the illusory, the conservative accusations of bias have led to a cynical dismissal of these three foundations. Dagnes examines the formation, development, and contemporary conservative arguments against liberal universities and professors, against a large and intrusive government, and against a biased news media. These arguments together comprise one important reason that there is a right-wing media circle today.
The American public is deeply divided by politics. Polarization is no longer contained only withi... more The American public is deeply divided by politics. Polarization is no longer contained only within American politics, and it seeps into the larger national culture through the media. Even the majority of the public who tries to avoid politics cannot escape the hot rage of political polarity, because it is seemingly everywhere. Dagnes examines the reasons for the polarization, including the development of identity politics and the way elections have become vicious individual battles in a much larger partisan war. There are political, ideological, and financial victories to be claimed in these clashes and with this much at stake, the battles are intensifying. The fights about candidates or issue positions are simplified in order to be understandable, which make them ideal for media coverage. Hence, our polarization is lucrative for the media and politically beneficial for those who fight well, which is why the public hears about political divisions frequently and with such intensity. ...
WHITE NOISE: THE POLITICAL USES OF INTERNET TECHNOLOGY BY RIGHT-WING EXTREMIST GROUPS SEPTEMBER 2... more WHITE NOISE: THE POLITICAL USES OF INTERNET TECHNOLOGY BY RIGHT-WING EXTREMIST GROUPS SEPTEMBER 2003 ALISON D DAGNES, BA, ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY Ph D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Jerome Mileur The Internet helps right-wing extremist groups reach and connect with the American public because their message of anti-government sentiment is an attractive one. As the nation continues to grow increasingly disaffected with the political system as a whole, the anti-government message of the extremist Right will prove to be progressively more attractive to those who are not extreme. History has shown that the radical Right has always tapped into the mainstream to reach the disaffected, and ideological surveys show that many of the position stands concerning the size and scope of the federal government are shared by both the extreme and the moderate. Media framing, the process by which articles and features are shaped to provide an understanding context, affords...
There are serious consequences for the divided political media system in modern American culture.... more There are serious consequences for the divided political media system in modern American culture. Dagnes examines the costs and effects of a polarized media on American democracy and on civil discourse. These are serious and important outcomes that will have a lasting impact on American politics. Dagnes also provides some possible solutions to the problems this system creates, offering strategies and approaches for communicating in a modern world. In doing so, Dagnes offers hope for the future with the possibility that Americans will not be super mad at everything all the time.
Why are there so few conservative satirists? This book examines the question and offers a some an... more Why are there so few conservative satirists? This book examines the question and offers a some answers...
As this edited volume so aptly demonstrates, there is no single or simple reason why men who have... more As this edited volume so aptly demonstrates, there is no single or simple reason why men who have been elected to political office engage in risky sexual behaviors that may bring them down from the pinnacle of power. Just as complex is the hair-trigger response of the American public and media, even to behaviors that while they may be amoral, are not illegal. Dagnes and contributors offer multiple analytic lenses to help readers understand both the dynamics that drive individual behavior, as well as the social and political context in which these behaviors and responses occur - American society in the 21st century — one that is so profoundly ambivalent about sex, and the role of sex in our lives. — Betsy Crane, Ph.D., Professor, Director, Graduate Programs in Human Sexuality, Widener University.
Taking on today's brave new world of political reporting, Politics on Demand: The Effects of 24-H... more Taking on today's brave new world of political reporting, Politics on Demand: The Effects of 24-Hour News on American Politics examines how the technological changes and financial imperatives of the American media have led to an entertainment-driven news system that cannot meet the needs of a democracy.
Free of partisan slant and easily accessible to all readers, Politics on Demand explains the evolving media system, showing how politicians use the media to sell themselves and how the media uses politicians to its own advantage. The book demonstrates that, with vast amounts of programming time to fill, the spotlight has shifted away from substantive information to opinion, which, in turn, has helped perpetuate partisan politics. Politicians now have to contort themselves to fit within media confines, and political discourse has become extreme and over-simplified. Combining insider interviews with facts, statistics, anecdotes, and analysis, the author, herself a former C-SPAN producer, argues that the American media has become harmful for our nation and a detriment to our political system.
Contributors Introduction by Alison Dagnes Section I: Congress Preface by Lara Brown, Jeff Gulati... more Contributors Introduction by Alison Dagnes Section I: Congress Preface by Lara Brown, Jeff Gulati, Doug Harris and Scott Basinger Chapter 1: Sack the Quarterback by Doug Harris Chapter 2: Spending More Time with My Family: Scandals and Premature Departures from the House by Lara Brown & Jeff Gulati Chapter 3: The Electoral Effects of Congressional Scandals by Scott Basinger Section II: Historical Accounts, Modern Implications Introduction by Mark Sachleben Chapter 4: Tom Clark Under Fire by Craig Smith Chapter 5: Sherman Adams' Fall, and the Scandal Behind the Scandal by Michael Birkner Chapter 6: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same by George Hale Chapter 7: Sex, Scandal and Catholic Politics during Italy's Dolce Vita by Roy Domenico Section II Conclusions: Paralleling History: Scandal and the Lessons of the 2012 Election by Neal Allen Section III: Shaping the Perceptions of Scandal Introduction by Stephanie Jirard Chapter 8: Scandal and the Politics of Race ...
... Page 3. New Directions in Media Blogging America: The New Public Sphere Aaron Barlow Celeb 2.... more ... Page 3. New Directions in Media Blogging America: The New Public Sphere Aaron Barlow Celeb 2.0: How Social Media Foster Our Fascination with Popular Culture Kelli S. Burns Politics on Demand: The Effects of 24-Hour News on American Politics Alison Dagnes Page 4. ...
There is more money in media but also more problems. In addition to concerns about how they keep ... more There is more money in media but also more problems. In addition to concerns about how they keep the lights on amidst considerable competition, media organizations have to keep their eye on their duties as the messengers of news and information at a time when everyone has their own messaging system. News media today also have to worry about the polarization of their audience, which feeds into the increasing distrust by the public against them. Their platforms are shifting, and they have to keep up with the competition and the new technologies that emphasize shrunken content and speed. The news media, vital to an effective democracy, is facing threats from all sides. Dagnes examines how technological developments inspired a flood of money into the media while at the same time brought economic trouble to many legacy outlets. These technological and financial changes have expanded the political media landscape. Because there is so much space available, and because political messaging h...
Introduction: Who Brings the Funny? Data, Experiments & Proof Mirroring the Political Climate: Sa... more Introduction: Who Brings the Funny? Data, Experiments & Proof Mirroring the Political Climate: Satire in History Art and Profession Being Funny & Being Right, Being Left & Being Right Conclusions
American attitudes toward the institutions of knowledge have transformed in the past half-century... more American attitudes toward the institutions of knowledge have transformed in the past half-century. As the national culture developed to include more citizens in the areas of higher education, the media, and politics, many conservatives began to question those in power. Since the mid-twentieth century, there has been a growing accusation of liberal bias in colleges, in the news, and in government. These verdicts of one-sidedness helped usher in a new media system, one tailored specifically for those on the right. Rooted in truth but inflated into the illusory, the conservative accusations of bias have led to a cynical dismissal of these three foundations. Dagnes examines the formation, development, and contemporary conservative arguments against liberal universities and professors, against a large and intrusive government, and against a biased news media. These arguments together comprise one important reason that there is a right-wing media circle today.
The American public is deeply divided by politics. Polarization is no longer contained only withi... more The American public is deeply divided by politics. Polarization is no longer contained only within American politics, and it seeps into the larger national culture through the media. Even the majority of the public who tries to avoid politics cannot escape the hot rage of political polarity, because it is seemingly everywhere. Dagnes examines the reasons for the polarization, including the development of identity politics and the way elections have become vicious individual battles in a much larger partisan war. There are political, ideological, and financial victories to be claimed in these clashes and with this much at stake, the battles are intensifying. The fights about candidates or issue positions are simplified in order to be understandable, which make them ideal for media coverage. Hence, our polarization is lucrative for the media and politically beneficial for those who fight well, which is why the public hears about political divisions frequently and with such intensity. ...
WHITE NOISE: THE POLITICAL USES OF INTERNET TECHNOLOGY BY RIGHT-WING EXTREMIST GROUPS SEPTEMBER 2... more WHITE NOISE: THE POLITICAL USES OF INTERNET TECHNOLOGY BY RIGHT-WING EXTREMIST GROUPS SEPTEMBER 2003 ALISON D DAGNES, BA, ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY Ph D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Jerome Mileur The Internet helps right-wing extremist groups reach and connect with the American public because their message of anti-government sentiment is an attractive one. As the nation continues to grow increasingly disaffected with the political system as a whole, the anti-government message of the extremist Right will prove to be progressively more attractive to those who are not extreme. History has shown that the radical Right has always tapped into the mainstream to reach the disaffected, and ideological surveys show that many of the position stands concerning the size and scope of the federal government are shared by both the extreme and the moderate. Media framing, the process by which articles and features are shaped to provide an understanding context, affords...
There are serious consequences for the divided political media system in modern American culture.... more There are serious consequences for the divided political media system in modern American culture. Dagnes examines the costs and effects of a polarized media on American democracy and on civil discourse. These are serious and important outcomes that will have a lasting impact on American politics. Dagnes also provides some possible solutions to the problems this system creates, offering strategies and approaches for communicating in a modern world. In doing so, Dagnes offers hope for the future with the possibility that Americans will not be super mad at everything all the time.
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Free of partisan slant and easily accessible to all readers, Politics on Demand explains the evolving media system, showing how politicians use the media to sell themselves and how the media uses politicians to its own advantage. The book demonstrates that, with vast amounts of programming time to fill, the spotlight has shifted away from substantive information to opinion, which, in turn, has helped perpetuate partisan politics. Politicians now have to contort themselves to fit within media confines, and political discourse has become extreme and over-simplified. Combining insider interviews with facts, statistics, anecdotes, and analysis, the author, herself a former C-SPAN producer, argues that the American media has become harmful for our nation and a detriment to our political system.
Free of partisan slant and easily accessible to all readers, Politics on Demand explains the evolving media system, showing how politicians use the media to sell themselves and how the media uses politicians to its own advantage. The book demonstrates that, with vast amounts of programming time to fill, the spotlight has shifted away from substantive information to opinion, which, in turn, has helped perpetuate partisan politics. Politicians now have to contort themselves to fit within media confines, and political discourse has become extreme and over-simplified. Combining insider interviews with facts, statistics, anecdotes, and analysis, the author, herself a former C-SPAN producer, argues that the American media has become harmful for our nation and a detriment to our political system.