Celebrity Advocacy and International Development

Description

Celebrity advocacy is a curious phenomenon. It occupies a significant proportion of the public domain, but does so without engaging particularly well with much of the public. Yet this may not matter very much. Many people at the core of advocacy, and in political and business elites, simply do not notice any lack of engagement. In these circles celebrity advocacy can be remarkably effective. Celebrity Advocacy and International Development examines the work of celebrity advocacy and lobbying in international development. Its purpose is to understand the alliances resulting, their history, consequences, wider contexts and implications. It argues that celebrity advocacy signals a new aspect of elite rule. For populist celebrity advocacy can mark, ironically, a disengagement between the public and politics, and particularly the public and civil society. Recognising this poses new challenges, but also presents new opportunities, for the development movement. This book gives students and researchers in development studies and media studies a wealth of original empirical data, including interviews across the NGO sector, media and celebrity industries, newspaper analysis, large surveys of public opinion, and focus group research. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Illustrations List of figures List of tables List of boxes Abbreviations Preface Acknowledgements Definitions of key terms Fame and celebrity Celebrity advocacy Development and humanitarianism 1 Introduction The context and purpose of this book The argument Unpopular celebrity? Authentic advocacy? Methods An outline of the chapters 2 The terrain of development advocacy Seeing suffering, seeking justice Public awareness of, and giving to, development causes Conclusion 3 Celebrity advocacy and post-democracy Post-democracy Celebrity, the media and democracy Studies of celebrity advocacy Conclusion 4 A brief history of celebrity advocacy for development and humanitarian causes Celebrity Development and humanitarianism The rise and fall of celebrity and international development Overseas development returns to fame Make Poverty History and the Save Darfur Coalition Conclusion 5 The current state of celebrity advocacy Systematic celebrity–NGO relations Mapping celebrity advocacy Evaluating celebrity advocacy Conclusion 6 ‘Getting it’: Producing authentic celebrity advocacy Developing authentic relationships Coping with constraints Working with the celebrity industries Representing celebrity advocacy Performing authentic advocacy Conclusion 7 Elites and celebrity advocacy The corporate interest in celebrity advocates Celebrity and elites Belief in celebrity power Conclusion 8 The witches’ pond The limited consumption of celebrity media Consumption of celebrity media: a reality check Engagement with celebrity advocacy Popular belief in celebrity power and approval of celebrity advocates The charitable frame Talking about celebrity advocates Conclusion 9 Changing the world through celebrity advocacy Development representations Inequity and accountability Working with celebrity elites in post-democracies Conclusion Afterword Appendix one: Methods Interviews Surveys Focus groups Newspaper and magazine surveys Limitations Appendix two: Research on celebrity endorsers Appendix three: Trends in reporting on celebrity advocacy References Index