This article examines the public communication activities of quasi-autonomous non-governmental organizations (`quangos') in Britain, paying particular attention to their media relations. The analysis shows that the popular image of these public bodies as highly introverted organizations needs revision, as many place considerable emphasis on public communication issues. However, this recognition contextualizes rather than invalidates concerns about accountability within this tier of government, as publicity activities in the sector are geared towards facilitating the external promotion of organizations' roles rather than scrutiny of their conduct.
Blumler, J.
and M. Gurevitch (1995) The Crisis of Public Communication. London: Routledge.
2.
Blumler, J.
and M. Gurevitch (1996) `Media Change and Social Change: Linkages and Junctures', pp. 120-140 in J. Curran and M. Gurevitch (eds) Mass Media and Society, 2nd edn.London: Arnold.
3.
Brants, K.
(1998) `Who's Afraid of Infotainment', European Journal of Communication13(3): 315-336.
4.
Cabinet Office
(1998) Quangos: Opening the Doors. London: HMSO.
5.
Cabinet Office
(1999) Statistical Summary: Non Departmental Public Bodies 1979-1998. London: HMSO.
6.
Cook, J.
(1995) The Sleaze File... and How to Clean up British Politics. London: Bloomsbury.
7.
Curran, J.
(1990) `Culturalist Perspectives of News Organisations: A Reappraisal and a Case Study', pp. 289-305 in M. Ferguson (ed.) Public Communication: The New Imperatives. London: Sage.
8.
Davis, H.
(1996) `Quangos and Local Government: A Changing World', pp. 1-7 in H. Davis (ed.) Quangos and Local Government: A Changing World. London: Frank Cass.
9.
Deacon, D.
and P. Golding (1994) Taxation and Representation: The Media, Political Communication and the Poll Tax. London: John Libbey.
10.
Deacon, D.
and W. Monk (2000) `Executive Stressed? News Reporting of Quangos in Britain', Press and Politics53: 45-66.
11.
Downing, J.
(1986) `Government Secrecy and the Media in the United States and Britain', pp. 153-170 in P. Golding, G. Murdoch and P. Schlesinger (eds) Communicating Politics: Mass Communication and the Political Process. Leicester: Leicester University Press.
12.
Ericson, R.
, P. Baranek and J. Chan (1989) Negotiating Control: A Study of News Sources. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.
13.
Flinders, M.
(1999) `Setting the Scene: Quangos in Context', pp. 3-16 in M. Flinders and M. Smith (eds) Quangos, Accountability and Reform: The Politics of Accountability. London: Macmillan.
14.
Franklin, B.
(1997) Newszak and News Media. London: Arnold.
15.
Franklin, B.
(ed.) (1999) Social Policy, the Media and Misrepresentation. London: Routledge.
16.
Harrop, M.
(1990) `Political Marketing', Parliamentary Affairs43: 277-291.
17.
Hunt, D.
(1995) `Worthwhile Bodies', Parliamentary Affairs48(2): 192-207.
18.
Jones, N.
(1995) Soundbites and Spin Doctors: How Politicians Manipulate the Media and Vice Versa. London: Cassell.
19.
Kavanagh, D.
(1995) Election Campaigning: The New Marketing of Politics. London: Blackwell.
20.
McNair, B.
(1999) Journalism and Democracy. London: Routledge.
21.
Marr, A
(1995) Ruling Britannia: The Failure of British Democracy. London: Penguin
22.
Mayhew, L.
(1997) The New Public. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
23.
Mazzolena, G.
and W. Schultz (1999) ` “Mediatization” of Politics: A Challenge for Democracy?', Political Communication16: 247-261.
24.
Miller, D.
(1998) The Circuit of Mass Communication. London: Sage.
25.
Negrine, R.
(1996) The Communication of Politics. London: Sage.
26.
Newman, B.
(1999) The Mass Marketing of Politics: Democracy in an Age of Manufactured Images. London: Sage.
27.
Nolan Report (1995) First Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Cmnd 3702-I. London: HMSO.
28.
Peck, J.
(1993) `The Trouble with TECs... A Critique of the Training and Enterprise Councils Initiatives', Policy and Politics21(4): 289-305.
29.
PERC (Political Economy Research Council)
(1996) Quangos: Why Do Governments Love Them?Sheffield: PERC, University of Sheffield.
30.
Prior, D.
(1996) ` “Working the Network”: Local Authority Strategies in the Reticulated Local State', pp. 92-104 in H. Davis (ed.) Quangos and Local Government: A Changing World. London: Frank Cass.
31.
Skelcher, C.
(1998) The Appointed State: Quasi-Governmental Organizations and Democracy. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.
32.
Stewart, J.
, A. Greer and P. Hogget (1995) The Quango State: An Alternative Approach. London: Commission for London Democracy.
33.
Stoker, G.
(1999) `Quangos and Local Democracy', pp. 41-53 in M. Flinders and M. Smith (eds) Quangos, Accountability and Reform: The Politics of Accountability. London: Macmillan.
34.
Street, J.
(1996) `In Praise of Packaging? Political Coverage as Popular Culture', Press/Politics1(2): 126-133.
35.
Ward, L.
(1999) `Ministers Spending Millions on Secret Polls', The Guardian 3 September: 1.
36.
Weir, S.
and D. Beetham (1999) Political Power and Democratic Control in Britain. London: Routledge.
37.
Weir, S.
and W. Hall (1995) Behind Closed Doors, Democratic Audit Paper No. 4. Essex: Human Rights Centre, University of Essex.
38.
Weir, S.
and W. Hall (1996) The Untouchables. London: Democratic Audit/Scarman Trust.
39.
Wernick, A.
(1991) Promotional Culture: Advertising, Ideology and Symbolic Expression. London: Sage.
