Mediating the Movement

Social movements have a symbiotic, though not always friendly, relationship with media whose dissemination of their concerns and activities is crucial if campaigners hope to influence public opinion and to put pressure on governments and policy-makers. Yet movement and media interactions have received limited academic attention. This book explores this relationship through an examination of the Australian Aboriginal rights movement and its print media, charting over ninety years of movement and mainstream and alternative media interactions. Drawing on interviews with journalists, editors, campaigners and activists, archive materials and news content analysis, Mediating the Movement　investigates the convergence of journalism, political science, Aboriginal history and social movement theory. It considers the Aboriginal rights movement’s framing, its evolving strategic approach, alliances forged, its leadership and network of individuals and organisations. Demonstrating how charismatic leaders and organisations have fought to improve Australia’s First Nations people’s lives, Mediating the Movement will appeal to social movement, journalism, political science scholars, researchers and historians and supporters of First Nations people’s struggle for human and legal rights.