38: Political Communication

Stephen J. Farnsworth, George Mason University, sfarnswo@gmu.edu

Political Communication has always been an interdisciplinary field in motion, using diverse methodological approaches to examine an ever-increasing range of media outlets and their influences on elite actors and on mass behavior. Our subfield is particularly closely linked to Change and Complexity in the Contemporary Era, the 2009 conference theme. In line with that theme, papers exploring the role of a range of modern mass media in affecting current political and cultural developments, including civic engagement, are welcomed. Studies that examine the impacts of new media technologies and networks, including peer-to-peer communication, are particularly relevant to this year's theme.

In recognition of the first APSA annual meeting to be held outside the US as well as the growing international nature of political communication, papers that address cross-national questions or use international data collections are especially encouraged.

Paper proposals should explain why the proposed research is important, detail the methodological approach, the data sources to be employed, and the hypotheses to be tested. If applicable, proposals can also briefly outline preliminary findings. Proposals for political communication panels and roundtables are also welcomed.