Is Social Media Really the Answer? How Issues Create Communities and Communities Create Issues Online

Public relations scholars have emphasised the role of the Internet, and in particular social media, as a new and effective way for communication professionals to engage with stakeholders on social issues. However, beyond conceptual papers, there has been limited to no empirical evidence that online...

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Main Authors: Desai, R., Wolf, Katharina
Format: Journal Article
Published: Deakin University Australia 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.pria.com.au/journal/area?command=record&id=165&cid=60#
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11356
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author Desai, R.
Wolf, Katharina
author_facet Desai, R.
Wolf, Katharina
author_sort Desai, R.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Public relations scholars have emphasised the role of the Internet, and in particular social media, as a new and effective way for communication professionals to engage with stakeholders on social issues. However, beyond conceptual papers, there has been limited to no empirical evidence that online spaces are indeed more effective when aiming to engage diverse, dispersed communities. This paper aims to address this gap, by examining the social media activities of two seemingly dissimilar communities: the Australian Asbestos Network and the West Australian Anti Nuclear Movement. The authors conclude that in an online advocacy context, communities create issues, as opposed to congregate around carefully crafted communications messages.
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format Journal Article
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T06:54:38Z
publishDate 2014
publisher Deakin University Australia
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-113562017-01-30T11:24:19Z Is Social Media Really the Answer? How Issues Create Communities and Communities Create Issues Online Desai, R. Wolf, Katharina social issues virtual communities advocacy New media public relations Public relations scholars have emphasised the role of the Internet, and in particular social media, as a new and effective way for communication professionals to engage with stakeholders on social issues. However, beyond conceptual papers, there has been limited to no empirical evidence that online spaces are indeed more effective when aiming to engage diverse, dispersed communities. This paper aims to address this gap, by examining the social media activities of two seemingly dissimilar communities: the Australian Asbestos Network and the West Australian Anti Nuclear Movement. The authors conclude that in an online advocacy context, communities create issues, as opposed to congregate around carefully crafted communications messages. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11356 http://www.pria.com.au/journal/area?command=record&id=165&cid=60# Deakin University Australia restricted
spellingShingle social issues
virtual communities
advocacy
New media
public relations
Desai, R.
Wolf, Katharina
Is Social Media Really the Answer? How Issues Create Communities and Communities Create Issues Online
title Is Social Media Really the Answer? How Issues Create Communities and Communities Create Issues Online
title_full Is Social Media Really the Answer? How Issues Create Communities and Communities Create Issues Online
title_fullStr Is Social Media Really the Answer? How Issues Create Communities and Communities Create Issues Online
title_full_unstemmed Is Social Media Really the Answer? How Issues Create Communities and Communities Create Issues Online
title_short Is Social Media Really the Answer? How Issues Create Communities and Communities Create Issues Online
title_sort is social media really the answer? how issues create communities and communities create issues online
topic social issues
virtual communities
advocacy
New media
public relations
url http://www.pria.com.au/journal/area?command=record&id=165&cid=60#
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11356