Protest selection

Staging protest is a critical strategy for movements to gain media visibility, which in turn is critical for movement impact. This entry answers the following questions: Why are some protests featured (prominently) in the news, and others not? Can protest independently set the media agenda or does it rather surf waves of increased attention? And, what role can social media play for the visibility of protests? First, we detail why media coverage is a matter of ‘life and death’ for social movements. Subsequently, we discuss the factors that influence media selection of protest. Next, we turn to the more thorny issue of agenda-setting: can protest potently shift attention to the issue it cares about in the media arena, or is it rather at the mercy of broader media dynamics? We wrap up by highlighting the role of social media and audience dynamics in boosting protest visibility.