Research Unplugged: Michael Hogan

J. Michael Hogan, professor of Rhetoric and Co-Director of the Center for Democratic Deliberation at Penn State, engages the audience in a discussion about the role of the media in portraying the political process. Regarding the recent town hall debates and "tea bag protests" about health care reform, he said that disruption and angry speech are nothing new and are "part of our legitimate democratic heritage." The speaker urged the public to become more "media literate" to avoid being unduly influenced by tactics such as fear appeals and fake grassroots campaigns, dubbed "astroturf." The event took place October 21, 2009 at the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center as part of its regular Research Unplugged series. (www.rps.psu.edu/unplugged)

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Education

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• Michael Hogan
• Penn State
• Research Unplugged
• democracy
• rhetoric
• town hall meetings
• health care reform
• debate
• Arlen Specter
• Alice Paul
• Malcolm X
• Cesar Chavez
• Wilma Mankiller
• John Kerry