Examines the work and the life of German public opinion expert Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann. Shows that the attitudes and analytic tools she forged during her youth and brought to bear in her work as a Nazi Collaborator and apologist shaped her later thinking, including her articulation of the "spiral of silence" model of mass communication…

Discusses several weak spots in critical communication research. Argues that critical communication scholars should privilege journalism, engage in activism, and incorporate capitalism into the heart of their calculations. (SR)

Analyzes events surrounding the 1993 withdrawal of Zoe Baird as nominee for U.S. Attorney General. Indicates that, under certain conditions, when deliberation by surrogates (professional communicators) becomes unrepresentative of the general public's values, direct popular intervention may occur through alternative communication channels,…

Analyzes newspaper accounts of the sociopolitical opposition encountered by the head of a state government agency forced to publicly apologize after attempting to control the external communication of an agency staff member with a reputation for organizational dissent. Discusses academic and applied implications of these findings for the emerging…

Argues that an adequate analysis of current political, economic, and cultural changes requires a firm grounding in political economy. Argues for a holistic approach to the study of culture and communication, an approach firmly rooted in political economy. (SR)

Examines the development of mass media in China since 1949. Suggests that the rapid growth of television at a time when China is experiencing its fastest economic growth may indicate a mutual reinforcing relationship. Argues that television and entertainment may play an important role in economic growth since they may help build consensus and…

Compares news content in China Central Television's National Network News and "People's Daily" newspaper for a one-month period in 1992 with content from 15 years ago. Suggests that news in China provides Chinese society and people with the baseline knowledge needed for the building of a forced consensus, the basis of Communist rule, and…