Generating forms of media capital inside and outside a field: the strange case of David Cameron in the UK political field

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Davis, Aeron and Seymour, Emily. 2010. Generating forms of media capital inside and outside a field: the strange case of David Cameron in the UK political field. Media, Culture & Society, 32(5), pp. 739-759. ISSN 0163-4437 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

As societies become more ‘mediated’ so the elevation of public figures is increasingly linked to their ability to generate a positive public profile through the mass media. Politicians, artists, film stars, authors and others each gain
professional status, in part, based on how consumer-citizens actively respond to media representations of themselves. The linking of media to individual celebrity and symbolic power is now implicit in much writing. Individuals succeed because of their personal charisma (Weber, 1948) and an innate ability to present a media personality that directly engages with large publics
(Ankersmit, 1997; Horton and Wohl, 1993; Pels, 2003; Street, 2003). Alternatively, one’s symbolic image is primarily manufactured by promotional professionals (Boorstin, 1962; Evans, 2005; Franklin, 2004; Hall Jamieson, 1996; Lilleker and LeesMarshment, 2006) and parts of themedia industry itself (Evans and Hesmondhalgh, 2005; Turner, 2004). However one’s public image develops, media exposure then bestows a ‘primary definer’ status on those placed in positions of power thus drawing additional media coverage (Bennett,
1990; Champagne, 2005; Hall et al., 1978, Herman and Chomsky, 2002).

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Article

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https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443710373951