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Organically Grown: Emergent Power and Influence in Complex Issue Networks

While issues management is an important area of research and practice in organizational communication and public relations, the literature focuses primarily on instrumental applications. Conceiving of issue networks--loose configurations of institutional actors, interest groups, organizations, technical specialists, and concerned citizens--as complex systems of interconnected agents offers a fresh perspective on the ways power and influence are exercised and negotiated among organizations, the media, and policymaking bodies. Combined use of social and semantic network analysis makes it possible to examine complex, dynamic linkages between social relationships and conceptual positions. This paper reports on a study of the organic foods issue network in the United States, based on the minutes of National Organics Standards Board meetings and media coverage of the issue. The use of textual as well as relational data allows for more sophisticated computations of patterns, providing insight on power structures as well as organizational and issue identities. This study is intended as a first step toward understanding the mechanisms of issue emergence and development as an aid for scholars and practitioners of media communication, organizational issues management, cultural economy, and policy studies. / Mass Media and Communication

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:TEMPLE/oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/3660
Date January 2008
CreatorsGilpin, Dawn R.
ContributorsMurphy, Priscilla J., Kitch, Carolyn L., Morris, Nancy, 1953-, McKie, David, 1947-
PublisherTemple University. Libraries
Source SetsTemple University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis/Dissertation, Text
Format413 pages
RightsIN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Relationhttp://dx.doi.org/10.34944/dspace/3642, Theses and Dissertations

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