Media, Mobilization, and Human Rights: Mediating SufferingTristan Anne Borer What impact do mass media portrayals of atrocities have on activism? Why do these news stories sometimes mobilize people, while at other times they are met with indifference? Do different forms of media have greater or lesser impacts on mobilization? These are just some of the questions addressed in Media, Mobilization, and Human Rights, which investigates the assumption that exposure to human rights violations in countries far away causes people to respond with activism. Turning a critical eye on existing scholarship, which argues either that viewing and reading about violence can serve as a force for good (through increased activism) or as a source of evil (by objectifying and exploiting the victims of violence), the authors argue that reality is far more complex, and that there is nothing inherently positive or negative about exposure to the suffering of others. In exploring this, the book offers an array of case studies: from human rights reporting in Mexican newspapers to the impact of media imagery on humanitarian intervention in Somalia; from the influence of celebrity activism to the growing role of social media. By examining a variety of media forms, from television and radio to social networking, the interdisciplinary set of authors present radical new ways of thinking about the intersection of media portrayals of human suffering and activist responses to them. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 44
Page v
... campaigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 tristan annE borEr 6 Celebrity diplomats as mobilizers? Celebrities and activism in a hypermediated time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 andrEw f. CooPEr and josEPh f ...
... campaigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 tristan annE borEr 6 Celebrity diplomats as mobilizers? Celebrities and activism in a hypermediated time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 andrEw f. CooPEr and josEPh f ...
Page 2
... campaign to end the famine. In an online video entitled 'The FWord: Famine is the real Obscenity,' the celebrities urged viewers to sign a petition, among other things (ONE 2011). On 15 August, Stephen Colbert, during an interview with ...
... campaign to end the famine. In an online video entitled 'The FWord: Famine is the real Obscenity,' the celebrities urged viewers to sign a petition, among other things (ONE 2011). On 15 August, Stephen Colbert, during an interview with ...
Page 24
... campaigns.' She defines shock media as 'the use of graphic and disturbing images and prose to try to shock readers into taking action on a particular human rights issue.' The chapter focuses in particular on the use of shocking language ...
... campaigns.' She defines shock media as 'the use of graphic and disturbing images and prose to try to shock readers into taking action on a particular human rights issue.' The chapter focuses in particular on the use of shocking language ...
Page 25
... campaign, to mention the best known. As Traub notes: 'Hollywood celebrities have become central players on deeply political issues ...' (ibid.). What do we make of this? Are they successful in bringing attention to – and action to stop ...
... campaign, to mention the best known. As Traub notes: 'Hollywood celebrities have become central players on deeply political issues ...' (ibid.). What do we make of this? Are they successful in bringing attention to – and action to stop ...
Page 32
... campaigns (Kristof 2009) – thus pitting himself against Friedman, his oped colleague at the New York Times. Critiques Thus far this chapter has focused on two broad questions. First, why do people sometimes act to stop human rights ...
... campaigns (Kristof 2009) – thus pitting himself against Friedman, his oped colleague at the New York Times. Critiques Thus far this chapter has focused on two broad questions. First, why do people sometimes act to stop human rights ...
Contents
1 | |
42 | |
artistic media and the dream of a culture without borders | 67 |
a case study of Mexican newspapers | 96 |
4 Framing strategies for economic and social rights in the United States | 122 |
shock media and human rights awareness campaigns | 143 |
6 Celebrity diplomats as mobilizers? Celebrities and activism in a hypermediated time | 181 |
social medias emerging role in activism | 205 |
8 The spectacle of suffering and humanitarian intervention in Somalia | 216 |
About the contributors | 240 |
Index | 243 |
Other editions - View all
Media, Mobilization and Human Rights: Mediating Suffering Tristan Anne Borer No preview available - 2012 |
Media, Mobilization, and Human Rights: Mediating Suffering Tristan Anne Borer No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
abuses action activism activists advertising Africa aims American appeal argues asked atrocities attention audience awareness become called campaign cause celebrity chapter compassion cover coverage create critical cultural Darfur death debate described economic editors effect efforts engagement example experience face fact famine feel force foreign framing framing strategies global graphic human rights humanitarian ibid images important individuals interest intervention issue journalism journalists Kristof literature lives mass means mission mobilization moral movement newspapers notes organizations particular photographs political position practices Press Print produce protest provides question readers referred remain reporting represent response result role says shock shock PSAs social media society soldiers Somalia specific spectacle story Studies suffering television texts tion traditional United University victims Vietnam violations violence Western witness women York