Scandalous!
The Mediated Construction of Political Scandals in Four Nordic Countries
The purpose of this book is to spotlight the way in which political scandals in four Nordic countries have been launched, directed, dramatized and interpreted through different genres of journalism – in an interactive tug-of-war between editors and various political actors. News institutions help to build political careers – and to tear them down. A mediated scandalization process can make the path from power to powerlessness, from a top position to exclusion, very short.
A number of questions are discussed: How important are the norm violations that have led to political scandals? Have the types of scandals changed over time? How may rivals and political opponents use mediated scandals? Are character assassination and demonization typical traits of a scandalization process? Are male and female politicians treated differently? Scandalous! is based on case studies and content analyses of mediated political scandals in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, including an analysis of the frequencies, types, characteristics and consequences of national political scandals during the period 1980–2010.
Content
Preface
Mediated Scandals
Sigurd Allern, Ester Pollack
Increased Scandalization: Nordic Political Scandals 1980-2010
Sigurd Allern, Anu Kantola, Ester Pollack, Mark Blach-Ørsten
Ten Commandments for the Scandalization of Political Opponents
Anders Todal Jensen, Audun Fladmoe
Warriors for Democracy: Scandal as a Strategic Ritual of Journalism
Anu Kantola
Pundits and Political Scandals: A Study of Political Commentators in Norway and Sweden
Lars Nord, Gunn Enli, Elisabeth Stúr
Security Scandals in the Age of Mediated War
Mark Blach-Ørsten, Anker Brink Lund
From Tiara to Toblerone: The Rise and Fall of Mona Sahlin
Mia-Marie Hammarlin, Gunilla Jarlbro
When Women Have to Apologize: Female Apologia and Political Scandals
Elin Strand Hornnes
Do Mediated Political Scandals Affect Party Popularity in Norway?
Tor Midtbø
Media Victims and Media Morals
Paul Bjerke
The Marketplace of Scandals
Sigurd Allern, Ester Pollack
Literature
Index
The Contributors
