PUBLIC EXPRESSION OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM

Although most research in political communication concerns conventiona l, electoral politics and mainstream media, scholars need to focus on the margins of the public sphere as well. By studying social groups th at find it difficult to garner attention from the major networks and n ewspapers, we discover a variety of interesting innovations in human c ommunication. This article discusses a few cases, historical and conte mporary, of marginal political communication in order to highlight for ms and possibilities of mediated communication that are overlooked in typical discussions of media and American politics.