CARP 2019: Character Assassination and Populism: Challenges and Responses

Presented by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University

March 16, 2019 - 9:00 am to 5:15 pm

Founders Hall, George Mason University Arlington Campus

Registration

 

Dear Colleague, 

 

On behalf of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University, I am pleased to invite you to attend this weekend's Character Assassination and Reputation Politics (CARP) Research Lab's 2019 international conference, Character Assassination and Populism: Challenges and Responses.

 

What opportunities does growing public distrust in traditional authorities provide for populists and charismatic opinion leaders? Scholars from 20 countries will gather to discuss character assassination, political communication, and its implications for influencing public opinion. 

 

Schedule

 

1:30 – 2:30 pm

Keynote Address: Shawn Turner, President of MPACT Communication, Professor of Strategic Communication at Michigan State University

 

2:30 - 3:45 pm

Professional Panel: Political Character, Populism, and the Future of Media 

Moderator: Richard Sheehe, Mason Senior Research Fellow and Senior Strategist, The Merritt Group

  • Salena Zito, CNN Contributor and National Political Reporter, Washington Examiner
  • Jeremy Mayer (George Mason U), Associate Professor, The Schar School of Policy and Government
  • Stephen J. Farnsworth (U of Mary Washington), Director, Center for Leadership and Media Studies

 

4:00 - 5:15 pm
Professional Panel: Strategic Communication Campaigns in the Age of Social Media

Moderator: Nancy Snow (Kyoto U of Foreign Studies, Japan), Professor Emeritus, California State U, Fullerton; Pax Mundi Professor of Public Diplomacy

  • Maj. Gen. Mari K. Eder, US Army (Ret.), President & CEO, Benson’s ReView, LLC and Commander (Fmr.), Joint and Special Troops Support Command
  • Monica Enqvist, Head of Press, Communication and Culture Department at Embassy of Sweden
  • John Rendon, President & CEO, The Rendon Group

 

As a scholar of history, you may also be interested in our academic research presenters, including: 

  • Martijn Icks (U of Amsterdam, Netherlands), Populist bashing in ancient Athens: Aristophanes versus Cleon
  • Mikayla Knutson (Rice U), Thomas Jefferson: A Case Study in Evolving Character Assassination
  • Emily L. Blout (U of Virginia), CA and the 'Unite the Right' Rally in Charlottesville

 

 

The above panels are part of a three-day conference with over 40 presentations on C.A. theory and research by scholars and professionals from 20 countries. The full schedule is available online and is attached in PDF format to this email. 

 

You may register for the conference here.

 

Background: The CARP Research Lab includes scholars with disciplinary homes in psychology, history, communication and public relations. With investigators from both George Mason University and the University of Amsterdam, the CARP team focuses efforts along 3 main dimensions: research on historical and contemporary examples of character assassination; education for academic and public audiences about character assassination causes, impacts and prevention; and risk assessment to determine vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies for public figures concerned about their reputations.

 

Location: Founders Hall at Mason’s Arlington, Virginia Campus

3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201

Metro: Virginia Square-GMU (orange/blue/silver lines)

 

For questions contact Alexander Naumov, CARP Outreach Coordinator, at [log in to unmask]. 

 

Sincerely, 

 

Alexander Naumov

Outreach Coordinator, CARP Research Lab

George Mason University