Rhetorical public relations and issues management strategies of social movement organizations: The communication of values and policy preferences

Denise Perry Ferguson, Purdue University

Abstract

This research project seeks to extend theories that aid in understanding the relationship between the nature of ideological issues groups and social movements, and their use of public relations and issues management strategies for influencing public policy decisions. This study examines the vehicles (i.e., publics, including interest groups, issue groups, social movements and social movement organizations [SMOs]) citizens may create and/or access to express their public policy preferences and the resulting public relations and issues management strategies used in such vehicles. The following research questions assist in answering how social movement organizations use rhetorical public relations and issues management strategies in efforts to influence elections with the goal of effecting public policy decision making compatible with their ideology: (1) What is the relationship between how central values, beliefs or issues are to an organization's core and the communication strategies employed? (2) What is the relationship between the various publics of a social movement organization and the SMO's rhetorical strategies? and (3) How do social movement organizations perform critical persuasive functions?

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Botan, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Communication|Religious education|Sociology

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