Corporate Ventriloquism

Jen Schneider, Steve Schwarze, Peter K. Bsumek, Jennifer Peeples

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

“Corporate Ventriloquism” examines coal industry front groups and the “Faces of Coal” campaign. Using theories of voice and appropriation, this chapter argues that much of the coal industry’s advocacy operates through a rhetorical process of “corporate ventriloquism,” in which the coal industry appropriates elements of neoliberalism and neoconservatism, adapts them to the cultural circumstances specific to coal, and “throws” its voice through “front groups” to create the impression of broad support for coal. Corporate ventriloquism masks the industry’s influence over the spaces and conditions for “voice.” The coal industry constructs a corporate voice that is positioned as a voice of citizenship, blurring and flattening the distinction between corporation and citizen in ways that are advantageous to the industry.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPalgrave Studies in Media and Environmental Communication
Pages51-76
Number of pages26
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

Publication series

NamePalgrave Studies in Media and Environmental Communication
ISSN (Print)2634-6451
ISSN (Electronic)2634-646X

Keywords

  • Coal Industry
  • Front Group
  • Grassroots Organization
  • Market Rationality
  • National Audience

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