1. The Social Movements Reader: Media and the State Goodwin and Jasper

2. Media and the State The state is arguably the most important outside force that socila movements have to deal with. Another important external factor is the media.

3. Media and the State Understanding the Role of the Media and State How do the various scholars of thought we have examined address question of the state and the media? Political Process/Opportunity: The state is treated as the central variable. It is an political opening or opportunity offered by the state that enables a movement to cohere. Examples: Political Opportunity 1) Loosen of State Repression 2) Divisions among elites

4. Media and the State Understanding the Role of the Media and State Political Opportunity: Defined Social movements do not create, but merely respond to such political opportunities. Examples: Jenkins and Perrow The development of a farmer workers movement was a division among elites.

5. Media and the State Understanding the Role of the Media and State Political Opportunity: Structural View. Discontent maybe necessary, but it is not sufficient to provoke the development of a social movement. You need the state to provide an opening, or be externally compromised. Political Opportunity: The Media Such a crisis may also facilitate a movement by generating media attention for an issue (human rights abuse by the state, for example) which a movement can capitalize on.

6. Media and the State Media: A Double Edge Sword Managing the message, and retaining control of a movement’s message is an extremely difficult task. Media Challenges: 1) How do you control media spin? 2) The Media anointment of leaders 3) Sound Bite Politics 4) Unclear, inconsistent message 5) Feeding Frenzy

7. Media and the State Media Challenges: Media can also provide a false sense of success, or strength. Anti-Nuclear Movement: 1980s After the media attention that followed large demonstrations, the ant- nuclear movement was subjected to Democratic Party efforts to co-opt it as a means of challenging president Reagan.

8. Media and the State Media Challenges: 1960s Anti-War Movement: Todd Gitlin Another classic example of the impact media attention can have on a movement is provided by Todd Gitlin’s analysis of media coverage of the New Left. Example: Everyone Loves a Parade