Public Communication Activities Research Articles

STRATEGI KOMUNIKASI HUMAS DALAM MENINGKATKAN PUBLIC TRUST DI PERGURUAN TINGGI (Studi Kasus di Universitas Nurul Jadid, Paiton, Probolinggo)

This study aims to analyze and understand the public relations communication strategy in increasing public trust in Nurul Jadid University, Paiton, Probolinggo, East Java. Public trust as the end of public relations communication activities, is very interesting to study, considering the trust will be built if universities have appropriate and effective strategies in carrying out public relations communication activities. This research uses a qualitative approach with case study. Informants in this study consisted of leaders, lecturers, and employees. Data collection techniques are done through interviews, observation and documentation. Data analysis was conducted circularly through stages of data display, data reduction, drawing conclusions. The results showed that; public relations communication strategy in increasing public trust at Nurul Jadid University is done through; Persuasive communication, assertive communication, paradigmatic communication. The implication of this research shows that communication built with the principle of mutual relationship and Islamic values will be able to minimize the miscommunication and misunderstanding between the institution and its people.

VIRTUAL EXPOSURE AS AN INSTRUMENT TO OVERCOME STUDENTS’ FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING AND SOCIAL INTERACTIONS

The article provides an overview of research on social anxiety and fear of public speaking among students. It focuses on the possibility of psychological assistance with the methods using virtual reality. The anxiety of public speaking, communication, or other public activities can be described as early signs of some anxiety and affective disorders, in particular, a social anxiety disorder. Anxiety of social interactions, which manifests as significant discomfort and can be qualified as a mental health disorder, is characteristic for 7-13% of population. People who are afraid of public actions face challenges in achieving career goals and can be described as less ambitious and purposeful. Based on the worked-out materials, the article author indicates that discomfort felt by students because of their social anxiety causes their financial losses, low economic stability, and the avoidance of possible career prospects. According to the current scientific resources, the main problems associated with fear of public speaking are based on negative perceptions of themselves and ineffective strategies, which people use to resolve social situations. The searches for the best plan to feel “in safety” and fixed attention on minor discomforts during joint activities leads to student’s increased criticism concerning their own results and dissatisfaction with their achievements. It provokes problems with learning, their frequent absence at lessons, and social deprivation, which usually manifested by signs of burnout or depression. Therefore, creating and implementation of appropriate, effective, and empirical evidence-based psychological support is an essential area of research and practice for mental health professionals. The author notes that the recommended psychological therapy for specific and social phobias based on the cognitive-behavioural therapy can be supplemented by the virtual environment, which allows systematic and step-by-step overcoming and desensibilization of negative (traumatic) experiences of situations that anxious students try to avoid. The materials discussed in the article points to the achievement of psycho-emotional stability and the reduction of social anxiety during virtual exposure. The results of virtual exposure techniques used with students indicate decrease of their anxiety, reduction of negative automatic thoughts and improvement of their self-esteem, which contributes to restoring of their psychosocial functioning. &nbsp

Public Relations and Communication Strategies in Construction of Large-Scale Cohorts and Biobank: Practice in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project.

The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project was designed as part of the national reconstruction project for addressing the damage from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. It is an integrated project involving the genome cohort study of 150,000 participants, integrated biobank construction, and multi-omics analyses. Public relations and communication activities emerged to be extremely important in the successful development of this project. To gain insights into the contributions of these activities, we divided the public relations and communication activities for the project into three phases based on the situations surrounding the project. Prior to the start of the cohort study (Phase I), a cooperative relationship was established with a focus on concluding cooperation agreements with local governments. Until the participants reached the target number (Phase II), we actively communicated with the media to publicize the project. During the phase in which use of the constructed biobank is promoted (Phase III), for ensuring the industrial utilization of the biobank, visits from the industry are promoted. Throughout the execution of these activities, we explored the best strategies for building relationships with multiple stakeholders like local government, media and industry. By paying attention to these phases that have been changing according to the project's progress, we were able to adapt the strategies and methods of public relations and communication. The success of these activities has enabled the overall project to progress smoothly. We hope that the process of designing our project's public relations and communication activities will be useful for other similar initiatives.

Why Do Politicians Tweet? Extremists, Underdogs, and Opposing Parties as Political Tweeters

Why do some politicians actively use social media, while others lag behind? To answer this question, we propose that opposing party politicians, underdogs, and extremists are more likely to become active political tweeters. Research has shown that media attention is generally concentrated on politicians with power; that is, ruling parties and party leaders. We thus hypothesize that politicians marginalized from media attention, namely backbenchers and those from opposing parties, may perceive greater potential benefits from social media. Further, politicians whose ideological positions do not match well with those of major news media (i.e., extremists) may perceive risks in facing tough questions from journalists, as well as the media's gatekeeping process. We thus hypothesize that extremists may perceive greater benefits from using social media, because they can control their message. We tested these hypotheses using data on U.S. Senators’ public communication activities on Twitter and in press releases in 2009–2011 and found strong support.

ВИЗНАЧЕННЯ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ КОМУНІКАТИВНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ В ПУБЛІЧНОМУ УПРАВЛІННІ

The theoretical issues of the formation and evaluation of effective communication technologies in public administration are investigated. Based on the international experience of effective communicative activities in the field of public administration, the directions for increasing the efficiency of communicative activities of civil servants, involving citizens in public administration processes, and reducing public expenditure have been determined. The proposed approach to determining the effectiveness of communicative activities in public administration, unlike the existing ones, provides for the determination of an integral performance indicator based on the use of taxonomic analysis methods. Taking into account the need for timely balanced communicative influences on the public administration process, a comprehensive assessment of the indicators of the effectiveness of public communication activities is proposed with a view to creating civic responsibility and monitoring its impact on management interaction processes.

Basic Principle of Public Understanding Guideline Concerning CCS

CCS는 온실가스를 대규모로 감축할 수 있는 유용한 기술로서 미국이나 캐나다 등 세계 주요 선진 국가들은 CCS의 상용화를 위한 전략을 수립하고 실행하고 있는 상황이며, CCS를 위한 관련 법령을 제 개정하여 제도적 기반을 이미 마련해 놓은 상태이다. 이를 고려할때 우리나라의 경우 우리의 실정에 맞는 CCS 법제도적 기반의 마련이 필요하고, CCS에 대한 일반국민의 이해도가 상당히 낮다는 점을 고려할 때 원활한 CCS 기술개발과 그 실행을 위해서는 관련 법적 기반마련과 함께, 다음과 같은 파급효과를 위해서 대국민 홍보 활동 등 대중소통이 적극적으로 진행되어야 할 것이다. 기후변화 및 환경적 측면에서 CCS 사업의 원활한 추진을 위해서는 일반국민의 인식 제고가 필요하고 CCS에 대한 적극적인 대국민 소통활동을 통해 환경과 기후변화 대응 방법에 대한 대국민 이해를 증진시킬 수 있다. 경제사회적 측면에서 차질 없는 원활한 CCS 프로젝트 추진을 통한 CCS 프로젝트 기간의 최적화로 프로젝트의 경제성을 증대시킬 수 있다. 과학기술적 측면에서 기후변화 대응을 위한 과학기술에 대한 국민의 올바른 이해는 CCS 기술개발을 촉진할 수 있는 여론기반이 될 수 있다. 이러한 점을 염두에 두고 본 논문에서는 제2장에서 대중소통 가이드라인의 개요와 제정원칙, 제3장에서 대중소통을 위한 기본원칙, 제4장에서 대중소통을 위한 주요 고려 사항 및 CCS에 대한 대국민 인식도 조사를 살펴본 후 결론을 도출하였다.Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage(CCS) is a large-scale reducing technique of Greenhouse Gas and major advanced countries such as USA and Canada etc. have made a strategy for commercialization of CCS and practiced it, into the bargain, prepared for legal framework for CCS by making new law or revising existing law on ccs. Considering the fact that Korea needs to prepare a proper legal basis for our situation and that the public understanding of CCS is very low, along with the relevant legal basis for the development of CCS technology and its implementation, In order to promote the CCS project smoothly in terms of climate change and environment, it is necessary to raise awareness among the general public and promote understanding of the environment and how to respond to climate change through active public communication activities. Optimizing the duration of the CCS project through the smooth implementation of the CCS project in terms of economic and social aspects can increase the economics of the project. From a scientific standpoint, a good public understanding of science and technology for responding to climate change could be the basis for public opinion to promote CCS technology development. With this in mind, we also looked at the outline of public understanding toward CCS and the principles of making public understanding in Chapter 2, the basic principles for public understanding in Chapter 3, the major considerations for public understanding and survey on public perception toward CCS in Chapter 4, and drew a conclusion in Chapter 5.

Responsibility and science communication: scientists’ experiences of and perspectives on public communication activities

ABSTRACTPublic communication of science and technology is central to ideas about responsible research and innovation (RRI). This paper presents findings from a focus group study, carried out with natural scientists based in the Basque Country, which explored researchers’ ideas about public communication. We identify three key themes from this data: these scientists framed successful science communication as producing emotionally ‘good experiences’ for audiences; they depicted such communication as a responsibility that they had to society and that was thus carried out for the good of the public; and they described themselves as responsible for the success of science communication. Scientists thus emphasised their own responsibility for ensuring a successful science communication process. In closing we reflect on what these findings mean for the promotion and practice of RRI, suggesting that a greater focus should be placed on the character of responsibility as well as its presence.

Responsible research and innovation (RRI) in quantum technology

We are currently witnessing the emergence of a discourse on responsible research and innovation (RRI) in the field of quantum technology. Working on the assumption that the initial stage of discourse is of particular importance with regard to the ascription of meaning to an emerging field, our point of departure is a small corpus of prominent policy-oriented reports on quantum technology recently published in Europe. With a view to these publications, the article analyses various approaches to RRI and discusses lessons learned in nanotechnology discourse as these may impact on emerging discourse on quantum technology and its stance towards RRI. On the basis of our analyses, we outline a strategy for fostering RRI in this promising field of science and technology. We propose implementing a “strong” RRI approach which entails linking parliamentary or other core policy processes to stakeholder dialogues, decision-supporting public engagement and a wide variety of other public communication activities. At the same time, taking our cue from lessons learned in nanotechnology discourse, we argue that a strong RRI approach to quantum technology should be modest and focused in terms of thematic and societal scope.

MANAJEMEN PUBLIC RELATIONS DALAM MEMBANGUN CITRA DAN KONTESTASI PERGURUAN TINGGI KEAGAMAAN ISLAM SWASTA (Studi Pada Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Syaikhona Moh. Kholil Bangkalan)

The existence of public relation management has a specific purpose. From some objectives of public relation, there are three points that are prioritized by the Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan in the management of public relation: first, public relation purposes to improve the quality of education. Second, the purpose of public relation is to improve the image of the college. Third, it aims for communication which is an information management and strategy in college contestation especially in Bangkalan. So the problem in this study are: the first, how are the existence, purpose and function of public relation at Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan concerning the planning of movement, organizing, and supervision? Second, How the public relation strategy in Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan to improve the quality of education? Third, how does public relation strategy improve the image of Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan? Fourth, how is the contestation strategy run using public relation Management at the College of Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan? This research uses a qualitative-descriptive research methodology, which attempts to describe and interpret objects according to their nature. While the research findings are first, the existence of public relation in Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan is integrated in each organizations of student organizations, study program, the institutes on the campus and the vice chief that are responsible to the Chief of Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan. While its objectives and functions are: first, to improve the education quality of Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan, second, to improve the positive image of Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan. Third, to increase the power of contestation in the competition colleges in Bangkalan. Fourth, to deliver information and communication to stakeholders of Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan. First, to identify and analyze the opinions of Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan. Second, the public relation strategy that is done to increase the quality of education was twofold: first internal education quality improvement of Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan. Secondly, the improvement of the quality of external education of Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan. Third, the role of public relation is done in Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan to improve the image, namely, first, through the development of educational programs, to make more instensive Arabic and yellow bible study curriculum that is integrated in the campus. Second, by working with third-part of campus, such as formal and informal institutions, mosques, prosecutors, courts, Bangkalan district government, news media, the school, and so on. Fourth, the strategy of contestation using Public Relation Management at Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan are, first, modal social of Islamic College of Syaichona Moh. Cholil Bangkalan, it is a college which is based Islamic boarding school with a big name of Syaichona Moh. Cholil. Second, the strategy of improving the quality of educational services for students. Third, the cooperation strategy with some organizations of the government or non-government. Fourth, doing public communication activities through the press, media, posters, leflets, and means of digital communication.

Scientists and journalists, Glyptodontidae, and new dating of archaeological material from northeastern Brazil

The present issue of the Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (AABC) has an interesting contribution about the interaction of journalists and scientists in Brazil. Communicating science to the public is quite a demanding task, but in recent years this activity has been worldwide regarded as an essential tool to establish stronger connections between the scientifi c community and the society (e.g., The Royal Society 1985). Efforts in that direction have been put forward in several countries with overall positive results (e.g., Peters et al. 2008), although not without criticisms (Dunwoody and Ryan 1985). There is no question that Brazilian scientists should take this task very seriously, particularly in the troubled waters that researchers will have to face in the years to come. The good news is that in the country there is a growing trend of collaboration between scientists and media. Since 2012, for example, the National Council for Scientifi c and Technological Development (CNPq), which is the main funding agency of the country, has started to encourage researchers to list their public communication activities in the open access platform (Plataforma Lattes), where all curricula of those who apply for grants are mandatorily made public. However, the effectiveness of this and other such initiatives regarding science communication remains to be evaluated. Luisa Massarani and Hans Peters conducted a survey of about 1000 scientists working in Brazil, covering a great variety of fi elds, in order to get the perspective of researchers about their interaction with the media. As a general result of this study, it has become clear that the perception of scientists regarding this interaction is positive, despite the fact that not always their expectations are met (Massarani and Peters 2016). Such studies are welcome, and allied with others that tackle the general confi guration of scientifi c areas (e.g., Barata et al. 2014) and that deal with hot topics such as research integrity (e.g., Vasconcelos et al. 2015), might come in aid for policymakers to plan more effective ways to foster scienti fi c development.Paleontology is one of the border areas of Biological and Earth Sciences that has grown quite fast in recent years, with great contributions on several subjects, some based on amazing discoveries (e.g., Wang et al. 2015). In the last years, the AABC has published several papers on fossils, particularly of what is known as the megafauna, that includes some very large extinct mammals (Simpson 1983). There are still several

Finding strategic communication & diverse leadership in the ancient world: The case of Queen Cleopatra VII, the last pharaoh of Egypt

AbstractThe reign of Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt offers a rare historical glimpse into ancient communication activities and how communication was used by the world’s last pharaoh. This historical research reveals how Cleopatra used public relations and strategic communication activities to advance both her reign as a lone woman sovereign and the interests of the Egyptian empire. Cleopatra was perhaps the first woman sovereign in history to rule alone for a period of over a decade. Her leadership showed skilled use of public communication and diplomacy with which she forestalled the fall of Egypt to Rome. A grounded theory approach allowed data to emerge naturally, surrounding communication activities, and then for a theoretical framework to be imposed that could explain the common themes in that data. This research compares Cleopatra’s activities with public relations theory using the classic four models of public relations to classify public communication. Findings show that Cleopatra used research in a...

The Infotainment Watching Patterns among Housewives

Television, as one of the mass media, has a considerable influence on the behavior of society since it is widely consumed by the public. One of the television programs is infotainment, which now mostly presents the celebrity lifestyle, or the rumor that has not been axiomatic. This study aims to identify and explain the pattern of watching infotainment among housewives. The subject of this study is three housewives in RT 04 Housing Mekarsari Sumedang city, who are divided into groups of audiences that have a low awareness (Illiterate), medium awareness (pragmatist), and high awareness (intellectual). The method used is the ethnography of communication that describes the communication situation, the communication events, the acts of communication and the meaning of communication as a public communication activities. The results show that there are differences in each communication event that occurs in the housewives when watching infotainment. On the intellectual type, the meaning of watching infotainment is to fill their spare time. On the type of audience pragmatic, the meaning is to seek the latest information and to make a mean of recreation. On the illiterate type, the watching activity occurs during the lunch break and afternoon, where they tend to watch the show alone and only to meet their needs or interests. This differences of watching patterns have led to differences in public attitudes towards the infotainment programs they watch.

Bismarck, propaganda and public relations

Otto von Bismarck (1815–1898), the “Iron Chancellor” and master-statesman of Victorian Europe, has been viewed as one who took an appropriately rigid view of public communication activities and most especially media management. Does he have a partial claim to the title deeds of what later became public relations? This paper examines Bismarck's approach to managed public communication and the extent of its application as propaganda. We conclude that Bismarck's techniques are a part of the legacy of modern public relations as practiced by Governments.

Ethics of Clinician Communication in a Changing Communication Landscape: Guidance From Professional Societies

Cancer experts engage in public communication whenever they promote their research or practice, respond to media inquiries, or use social media. In a changing communication landscape characterized by new technologies and heightened attention to cancer controversies, these activities may pose ethical challenges. This study was designed to evaluate existing resources to help clinicians navigate their public communication activities. We conducted a systematic, qualitative content analysis of codes of ethics, policy statements, and similar documents disseminated by professional medical and nursing societies for their members. We examined these documents for four types of content related to public communication: communication via traditional media; communication via social media; other communication to the public, policy, and legal spheres; and nonspecific language regarding public communication. We identified 46 documents from 23 professional societies for analysis. Five societies had language about traditional news media communication, five had guidance about social media, 11 had guidance about other communication domains, and 15 societies offered general language about public communication. The limited existing guidance focused on ethical issues related to patients (such as privacy violations) or clinicians (such as accuracy and professional boundaries), with less attention to population or policy impact of communication. Cancer-related professional societies might consider establishing more specific guidance for clinicians concerning their communication activities in light of changes to the communication landscape. Additional research is warranted to understand the extent to which clinicians face ethical challenges in public communication.

A Hybrid Strategy for Surveillance of Individuals Potentially Exposed to Contaminated Methylprednisolone Acetate—Virginia, 2012

In September 2012, a multistate outbreak of fungal infections associated with the use of contaminated steroid products resulted in 675 exposed persons in Virginia and 53 cases of fungal infections, including 2 deaths. This article describes the design and implementation of a "hybrid" active public health surveillance system and related communication activities in partnership with key clinical stakeholders in Virginia. Strong collaboration with clinical partners is critical in establishing and implementing a surveillance system for an evolving outbreak. While clinicians focused on diagnosis, treatment, and routine follow-up of patients who presented with symptoms consistent with the outbreak case definition, public health took on the responsibility of weekly surveillance phone calls to all exposed persons who did not enter clinical care. Communication between clinical partners and public health was essential and included the somewhat atypical role of public health actively performing assessment and referral to care functions during an outbreak.

A fresh perspective on food safety in Canada: risk communication, public involvement, and the impact of the 2008 listeriosis outbreak

While the listeriosis outbreak of 2008 brought attention to food safety decision making in Canada, little of that attention was placed on public involvement and risk communication. With a primary focus on Health Canada (HC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), this article describes the state of microbial-related public involvement and risk communication undertakings and suggests ways in which improvements can be made. The findings show that public involvement and risk communication activities have been strengthened since the outbreak, but they have become neither dialogical nor highly participatory. HC engages with experts to a far greater extent than with the lay public and it has fallen short in fulfilling its stated commitment to openness and transparency. Furthermore, both HC's and the CFIA's approach to risk communication has been overly general, has failed to provide opportunities for dialogue with vulnerable and more general groups with whom it is communicating and is not rooted in foodborne surveillance data. Public involvement in food safety governance would be improved if HC provided the lay public with a seat on advisory committees and improved its public involvement reporting methods. HC and the CFIA could also make risk communication improvements by creating opportunities for dialogue between officials and the general public, and by exploring alternative risk communication vehicles, such as food labels.

Good Intentions, Stubborn Practice: A critical appraisal of a public event on cancer genomics

Science communication has shifted considerably in Europe over the last decades. In the theoretical realm, one-way information has been replaced by models of science communication that stress public engagement and public participation in science and technology. Dialogue seems to have become a communication target on its own, beside such things as public understanding or awareness of science. This article articulates different notions of science communication and explores to what extent they can coexist in practice by presenting an empirical analysis of a public event on cancer genomics. The event brought together cancer patients, scientists and (para)medical professionals. Data on the intended and actual communication at the event were collected by document-based research, interviews, observation of communication processes and a written questionnaire. The results show that the event proved to be successful in terms of creating awareness and understanding of cancer genomics research and its implications for diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The results also illustrate that despite the intentions of those organising public communication activities, achieving the ideal of a two-way public dialogue in practice is not self-evident. This is partly due to a lack of commitment to societal issues at the institutional as well as the (inter)personal level. Drawing from our experiences and literature, we suggest that in science communication literature the role of dialogue moderators is underexposed. We argue that in doing and evaluating science communication, analytical attention should be focused on the interaction among the public(s) and invited experts and the opportunities for empowering both for decision-making in their everyday lives.

National surveillance for radiological exposures and intentional potassium iodide and iodine product ingestions in the United States associated with the 2011 Japan radiological incident

Background. In March of 2011, an earthquake struck Japan causing a tsunami that resulted in a radiological release from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Surveillance for potential radiological and any iodine/iodide product exposures was initiated on the National Poison Data System (NPDS) to target public health messaging needs within the United States (US). Our objectives are to describe self-reported exposures to radiation, potassium iodide (KI) and other iodine/iodide products which occurred during the US federal response and discuss its public health impact. Methods. All calls to poison centers associated with the Japan incident were identified from March 11, 2011 to April 18, 2011 in NPDS. Exposure, demographic and health outcome information were collected. Calls about reported radiation exposures and KI or other iodine/iodide product ingestions were then categorized with regard to exposure likelihood based on follow-up information obtained from the PC where each call originated. Reported exposures were subsequently classified as probable exposures (high likelihood of exposure), probable non-exposures (low likelihood of exposure), and suspect exposure (unknown likelihood of exposure). Results. We identified 400 calls to PCs associated with the incident, with 340 information requests (no exposure reported) and 60 reported exposures. The majority (n = 194; 57%) of the information requests mentioned one or more substances. Radiation was inquired about most frequently (n = 88; 45%), followed by KI (n = 86; 44%) and other iodine/iodide products (n = 47; 24%). Of the 60 reported exposures, KI was reported most frequently (n = 25; 42%), followed by radiation (n = 22; 37%) and other iodine/iodide products (n = 13; 22%). Among reported KI exposures, most were classified as probable exposures (n = 24; 96%); one was a probable non-exposure. Among reported other iodine/iodide product exposures, most were probable exposures (n = 10, 77%) and the rest were suspect exposures (n = 3; 23%). The reported radiation exposures were classified as suspect exposures (n = 16, 73%) or probable non-exposures (n = 6; 27%). No radiation exposures were classified as probable exposures. A small number of the probable exposures to KI and other iodide/iodine products reported adverse signs or symptoms (n = 9; 26%). The majority of probable exposures had no adverse outcomes (n = 28; 82%). These data identified a potential public health information gap regarding KI and other iodine/iodide products which was then addressed through public health messaging activities. Conclusion. During the Japan incident response, surveillance activities using NPDS identified KI and other iodine/iodide products as potential public health concerns within the US, which guided CDC's public health messaging and communication activities. Regional PCs can provide timely and additional information during a public health emergency to enhance data collected from surveillance activities, which in turn can be used to inform public health decision-making.

Second-Order Elections, but also ‘Low-Cost’ Campaigns? National Parties and Campaign Spending in European Elections: A Comparative Analysis

This article provides an innovative empirical contribution to the understudied question of party spending in EU election campaigns through a comparison between the cases of France and Spain between 1994 and 2009 (and, to a lesser extent, Great Britain and Ireland). It shows that mainstream parties have become increasingly more reliant on state funding in EU elections as compared with national campaigns. It also illustrates that mainstream parties have restricted or even limited the resources that they have been willing to mobilise in EU election campaigns, a trend that contrasts with minor parties and with the ever-increasing expenditure that characterises national elections. National parties have also limited the expenditure related to public communication activities in EU elections, while most spending has been devoted to routine administration costs. Overall, the weak and even sometimes declining financial mobilisations of the relevant party organisations in European campaigns can throw new light on the persistent ‘second-order’ national character of EU elections.

“What Dr Venter did on his holidays”: exploration, hacking, entrepreneurship in the narratives of the Sorcerer II expedition

The Sorcerer II is the highly mediatized and spectacular Venter Institute's ship that circumnavigated the planet between 2003 and 2006 to collect and classify marine microbial genomes. We analyze Craig Venter's public communication activities and strategies especially focusing on the images of science and scientist he proposes: that of an eighteenth-century “savant” and nineteenth-century naturalist devoted to the exploration of new worlds, and that of the hacker, hero of informational capitalism. Emphasizing his independence from both academy and industry, but building strong alliances with both spheres and with the media, Craig Venter sails the oceans of the contemporary biotechnologies' market, interpreting a specific typology of the relationship between science and society, enterprises, universities.