Calling All Activists to the Capitol

The role of elected officials as focal point of activism is well understood. However, activism by politicians is underexplored. Drawing on the collective action framing literature and the protest paradigm, this study examines the strategic messaging employed by elected officials in their efforts to...

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Main Author: Oluseyi Adegbola
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communications 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Public Interest Communications
Online Access:https://journals.flvc.org/jpic/article/view/135717
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author Oluseyi Adegbola
author_facet Oluseyi Adegbola
author_sort Oluseyi Adegbola
collection DOAJ
description The role of elected officials as focal point of activism is well understood. However, activism by politicians is underexplored. Drawing on the collective action framing literature and the protest paradigm, this study examines the strategic messaging employed by elected officials in their efforts to rally media attention and act as oppositional publics able to influence other citizens to action. Centered on the case of congresswoman, Cori Bush, who mobilized support for an eviction moratorium during the Covid-19 pandemic, this study reveals patterns of strategic messaging used to mobilize key publics in support of the moratorium and highlights the potential use of activism to elevate elected officials’ public profile. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
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publisher University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communications
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spelling doaj-art-532ad0fcdbe2471fba7d6b01faff8ac72025-08-20T01:58:35ZengUniversity of Florida, College of Journalism and CommunicationsJournal of Public Interest Communications2573-43422024-12-0182Calling All Activists to the CapitolOluseyi Adegbola0University of Tennessee Knoxville The role of elected officials as focal point of activism is well understood. However, activism by politicians is underexplored. Drawing on the collective action framing literature and the protest paradigm, this study examines the strategic messaging employed by elected officials in their efforts to rally media attention and act as oppositional publics able to influence other citizens to action. Centered on the case of congresswoman, Cori Bush, who mobilized support for an eviction moratorium during the Covid-19 pandemic, this study reveals patterns of strategic messaging used to mobilize key publics in support of the moratorium and highlights the potential use of activism to elevate elected officials’ public profile. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. https://journals.flvc.org/jpic/article/view/135717
spellingShingle Oluseyi Adegbola
Calling All Activists to the Capitol
Journal of Public Interest Communications
title Calling All Activists to the Capitol
title_full Calling All Activists to the Capitol
title_fullStr Calling All Activists to the Capitol
title_full_unstemmed Calling All Activists to the Capitol
title_short Calling All Activists to the Capitol
title_sort calling all activists to the capitol
url https://journals.flvc.org/jpic/article/view/135717
work_keys_str_mv AT oluseyiadegbola callingallactiviststothecapitol