Promotional Information

Hate speech: Scholars have documented it. Politicians have tried to legislate it. And activists have sought meaningful ways to counter hate speech without violating freedom of speech. But only Cherian George has provided a deep, theoretical approach that connects the nuance of the debates in ways that are translatable across cultural, religious, and political lines. Hate Spin goes beyond easy labels to understanding the way media are misappropriated to fuel hatred and violence, impinging on democracy along the way. Unlike other scholars, George expands beyond a single religious tradition or medium. This book can help scholars, policy makers, and advocacy groups understand not just how the media feed sectarian conflict, but also how to create and measure effective strategies for change. -- Debra Mason, Professor, School of Journalism, University of Missouri In the era of Donald Trump and the rise of manufactured outrage, Hate Spin provides an important contribution. Cherian George sheds new light on a politics of grievance and the intentional targeting of minorities through hate speech, and does so through a narrative structure that moves seamlessly across several continents. The book deserves close attention from scholars and practitioners in fields from political science to communications studies. -- Michael Signer, Lecturer, University of Virginia, author of Demagogue: The Fight to Save Democracy from Its Worst Enemies

About the Author

Cherian George is Professor in the Department of Journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University. He is the author of Freedom from the Press: Journalism and State Power in Singapore and other books. Sandra Braman is Professor in the Department of Communication, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is the editor of Communication Researchers and Policy-Making (MIT Press, 2003).

Reviews

This timely work provides an essential warning against the misuse of perceived religious-based bias and an unmasking of the real motives of those who incite manufactured offense. -Publishers Weekly