Internet Exercises

1. Read several press releases from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, available at the URL listed below. How does MADD frame the drunk driving issue for the public? How does MADD frame the problem of drunk driving? Its solutions? Who is at fault? Who is the victim? Why do you think the organization has been successful framing the issue in this way?

http://www3.madd.org/media

2. Read the article "Computer-linked Social Movements and the Global Threat to Capitalism" by University of Texas economics professor Harry M. Cleaver, Jr. The article describes the use of computer networks by global social movements. Do you agree with Cleaver's argument about the power of computer networks? What other ways do media technologies influence social movements?

http://www.eco.utexas.edu/faculty/Cleaver/polnet.html

3. Read several articles at the New Social Movement Network site listed below. What similarities do you find in the articles? What differences? How do these authors describe New Social Movements?

http://www.interweb-tech.com/nsmnet/docs.htm

4. Visit the site for ACORN, an organization of low- and moderate-income families designed to achieve affordable housing and higher living wages. How does ACORN use visual images and language strategies to achieve its goals? How can the organization's Internet site be effective in building support and gaining members?

http://www.acorn.org/