How Canadians Communicate IV

Over the past thirty years, the fundamental character of politicaldiscourse has been transformed. As the influence of on-the-spot TVcoverage and opinion programs grew, print media - newspapersespecially - began to lose their dominant position in thepolitical landscape. More recently, Facebook, Twitter, blogs andBlackBerrys have emerged as important tools for political reporting andanalysis and as platforms for the conduct of political campaigns. Whilethe Canadian party system has proved surprisingly resilient, therhythms of political life are now very different. A relentless, 24-hournews cycle has resulted in the "permanent" campaign. Theimplications of this new political style and its impact on politicaldiscourse are issues vigorously debated in this new volume of HowCanadians Communicate, as is the question on everypolitician's mind: How can we draw a generation of digital nativesinto the current political dialogue?With contributions from such diverse figures as Elly Alboim, RichardDavis, Tom Flanagan, David Marshall, and Roger Epp, How CanadiansCommunicate IV is the most comprehensive review of politicalcommunication in Canada in over three decades - one that posesquestions fundamental to the quality of public life.