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The establishment of facts in public discourse: Actor-Network-Theory as a methodological approach in PR-research

Schölzel, Hagen LU and Nothhaft, Howard LU (2016) In Public Relations Inquiry 5(1). p.53-69
Abstract
This article discusses actor-network theory (ANT) as an approach in empirical public relations research. It is foremost a methodological reflection, but uses a case study to illustrate key points. The case, published as a full study elsewhere, revolved around the plagiarisms in the PhD-dissertation of former German Defence Minister zu Guttenberg and places special emphasis on the work of anonymous ‘plagiarism hunters’ organized in a so-called ‘swarm’. Here, the events that led to the minister’s resignation are discussed with an explicit reference to ANT and especially Bruno Latour’s approach. This article discusses the research questions inspired by the approach as well as observations leading to a new understanding of publics as... (More)
This article discusses actor-network theory (ANT) as an approach in empirical public relations research. It is foremost a methodological reflection, but uses a case study to illustrate key points. The case, published as a full study elsewhere, revolved around the plagiarisms in the PhD-dissertation of former German Defence Minister zu Guttenberg and places special emphasis on the work of anonymous ‘plagiarism hunters’ organized in a so-called ‘swarm’. Here, the events that led to the minister’s resignation are discussed with an explicit reference to ANT and especially Bruno Latour’s approach. This article discusses the research questions inspired by the approach as well as observations leading to a new understanding of publics as actor-networks. It thus contributes to rare theoretical discussions of ANT’s relevance for public relations research. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
ANT, Crisis Communication, Guttenberg, Latour, Public Relations, Strategic Communication
in
Public Relations Inquiry
volume
5
issue
1
pages
17 pages
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:85016125299
ISSN
2046-147X
DOI
10.1177/2046147X15625711
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b5747759-4b71-4745-93c4-6e1a9020f603
date added to LUP
2016-05-15 11:53:23
date last changed
2024-12-28 02:02:42
@article{b5747759-4b71-4745-93c4-6e1a9020f603,
  abstract     = {{This article discusses actor-network theory (ANT) as an approach in empirical public relations research. It is foremost a methodological reflection, but uses a case study to illustrate key points. The case, published as a full study elsewhere, revolved around the plagiarisms in the PhD-dissertation of former German Defence Minister zu Guttenberg and places special emphasis on the work of anonymous ‘plagiarism hunters’ organized in a so-called ‘swarm’. Here, the events that led to the minister’s resignation are discussed with an explicit reference to ANT and especially Bruno Latour’s approach. This article discusses the research questions inspired by the approach as well as observations leading to a new understanding of publics as actor-networks. It thus contributes to rare theoretical discussions of ANT’s relevance for public relations research.}},
  author       = {{Schölzel, Hagen and Nothhaft, Howard}},
  issn         = {{2046-147X}},
  keywords     = {{ANT; Crisis Communication; Guttenberg; Latour; Public Relations; Strategic Communication}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{53--69}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Public Relations Inquiry}},
  title        = {{The establishment of facts in public discourse: Actor-Network-Theory as a methodological approach in PR-research}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2046147X15625711}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/2046147X15625711}},
  volume       = {{5}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}