Dr Mark O’Brien is Lecturer in the School of Communications at Dublin City University. Dr Donnacha Ó Beacháin is Director of Research in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University.

'In an era of 24/7 news cycles, constant opinion polling and new technologies, political communications will continue to evolve. Today's spin-doctors are faced with the serious problem posed by fake news on social media and the crucial debate about where does information end and misinformation begin. For anyone who wants to inform themselves about the terrain from which Irish political communications has emerged and where this may lead, this very enjoyable book is required reading.' Irish Literary Supplement

• PART ONE: POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND POLITICIANS 1. Farrel Corcoran - Political communication: an overview 2. Donnacha Ó Beacháin - Elections and political communication 3. Sarah Kavanagh - A pragmatic partnership? Politicians and local media 4. Bryce Evans - Political communication and the ‘loony left’PART TWO: POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND JOURNALISM 5. Mark O’Brien - ‘Sources say . . .’ Political journalism since 1921 6. Mark Byrne - In sickness and in health: politics, spin and the media 7. Tom Clonan - Media advisors and programme managers 8. Declan Fahy - A limited focus? Journalism, politics and the Celtic TigerPART THREE: POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND THE PUBLIC 9. Gary Murphy - A private affair? Lobbying and transparency in modern Ireland 10. Colum Kenny - Equal Time for Judas Iscariot? Broadcast treatment of political contests in the Republic of Ireland 11. Kevin Rafter - ‘There now follows . . .’ The role of the party political broadcast and the 2007 ‘peace broadcast’ 12. Martin Molony - Social Media and political communication 13. Eoin O’Malley et al - Mediating elections in Ireland: evidence from the 2011 general election Conclusion Bibliography Index

Dr Mark O’Brien is Lecturer in the School of Communications at Dublin City University. Dr Donnacha Ó Beacháin is Director of Research in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University.

'In an era of 24/7 news cycles, constant opinion polling and new technologies, political communications will continue to evolve. Today's spin-doctors are faced with the serious problem posed by fake news on social media and the crucial debate about where does information end and misinformation begin. For anyone who wants to inform themselves about the terrain from which Irish political communications has emerged and where this may lead, this very enjoyable book is required reading.' Irish Literary Supplement

• PART ONE: POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND POLITICIANS 1. Farrel Corcoran - Political communication: an overview 2. Donnacha Ó Beacháin - Elections and political communication 3. Sarah Kavanagh - A pragmatic partnership? Politicians and local media 4. Bryce Evans - Political communication and the ‘loony left’PART TWO: POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND JOURNALISM 5. Mark O’Brien - ‘Sources say . . .’ Political journalism since 1921 6. Mark Byrne - In sickness and in health: politics, spin and the media 7. Tom Clonan - Media advisors and programme managers 8. Declan Fahy - A limited focus? Journalism, politics and the Celtic TigerPART THREE: POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND THE PUBLIC 9. Gary Murphy - A private affair? Lobbying and transparency in modern Ireland 10. Colum Kenny - Equal Time for Judas Iscariot? Broadcast treatment of political contests in the Republic of Ireland 11. Kevin Rafter - ‘There now follows . . .’ The role of the party political broadcast and the 2007 ‘peace broadcast’ 12. Martin Molony - Social Media and political communication 13. Eoin O’Malley et al - Mediating elections in Ireland: evidence from the 2011 general election Conclusion Bibliography Index

Dr Mark O’Brien is Lecturer in the School of Communications at Dublin City University. Dr Donnacha Ó Beacháin is Director of Research in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University.

'In an era of 24/7 news cycles, constant opinion polling and new technologies, political communications will continue to evolve. Today's spin-doctors are faced with the serious problem posed by fake news on social media and the crucial debate about where does information end and misinformation begin. For anyone who wants to inform themselves about the terrain from which Irish political communications has emerged and where this may lead, this very enjoyable book is required reading.' Irish Literary Supplement

• PART ONE: POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND POLITICIANS 1. Farrel Corcoran - Political communication: an overview 2. Donnacha Ó Beacháin - Elections and political communication 3. Sarah Kavanagh - A pragmatic partnership? Politicians and local media 4. Bryce Evans - Political communication and the ‘loony left’PART TWO: POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND JOURNALISM 5. Mark O’Brien - ‘Sources say . . .’ Political journalism since 1921 6. Mark Byrne - In sickness and in health: politics, spin and the media 7. Tom Clonan - Media advisors and programme managers 8. Declan Fahy - A limited focus? Journalism, politics and the Celtic TigerPART THREE: POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND THE PUBLIC 9. Gary Murphy - A private affair? Lobbying and transparency in modern Ireland 10. Colum Kenny - Equal Time for Judas Iscariot? Broadcast treatment of political contests in the Republic of Ireland 11. Kevin Rafter - ‘There now follows . . .’ The role of the party political broadcast and the 2007 ‘peace broadcast’ 12. Martin Molony - Social Media and political communication 13. Eoin O’Malley et al - Mediating elections in Ireland: evidence from the 2011 general election Conclusion Bibliography Index