Ethical Dimensions of Political Communication

Focusing specifically on political communication ethics in the USA, this book brings together a group of works which address ethical concerns related to political communication, including political culture, campaigns, media, advertising, ghostwriting, discourse, politicians and new technologies. All of the contributors raise questions and discuss various methods, criteria and issues for exploring and addressing ethical concerns. The central theme which emerges from the varied contributions is that we cannot depend on politicians, their handlers or the communications media to correct real or perceived problems of ethics in American politics, and that the greatest threat to democracy is neglect of the public forum. In analyzing the ethical links in the American political process, the authors call for a return to civic culture based on communication and persuasion, active citizen participation and a high level of information.