Library now has copy of three-volume 'Encyclopedia of Social Media and Politics'

As journalists covering politics are gearing up for mid-term elections, the National Press Club's National Journalism Institute now has a resource to offer those interested in the latest available research on the impact of social media on the U.S. political process.

"Its scope encompasses the disruptive technologies and activities that are changing basic patterns in American politics, and the amazing transformations that social media use is rendering in other political systems heretofore resistant to democratization and change," said Publisher Sage/CQ of the just-published three-volume set of The Encyclopedia of Social Media and Politics.

Dr. Kerric Harvey, associate professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University and a member of the Press Club, is general editor of the reference set. In presenting a copy of the encyclopedia to the Journalism Institute on April 28, Harvey said she sees "the role of the free press as the connective tissue to politics and social media. Because I regard the National Press Club as a symbol of the free press, I felt strongly about donating a copy of the encyclopedia to its library.”

Harvey described it as “a living document,” atypical of the traditional encyclopedia format in that it puts a frame around two institutions that are rapidly evolving. She added that as a resource for writers who cover politics and mass media, it provides the background and insight necessary for journalists to understand how social media impacts politics and vice versa. “If you’re a writer looking for timely story ideas, you can come to this source,” she said.

Through more than 600 academic articles, the 1,640-page encyclopedia illustrates how the rise of social media is changing the landscape of politics, both in the United State and globally, as well as in key moments and movements.

In receiving the copy, Club President Myron Belkind, also a member of the Journalism Institute board of directors and an adjunct professor of journalism at GWU, noted that the donation is “perfectly timed” just as talk of the upcoming mid-term elections are starting up. He also noted that “only four copies are available on Amazon.com.”

Later this year, the Institute will host a panel of journalists, academics and political strategists who will debate the impact of social media on politics and how both institutions are evolving. Look for details about this in upcoming issues of the Wire.

The Journalism Institute and the NPC's Professional Development Committee are sponsoring a series of Campaign Boot Camp sessions for journalists covering elections throughout the year. Watch the calendar and Wire for details about both.