Product details
- ISBN 9781041311560
- Dimensions: 138 x 216mm
- Publication Date: 14 Jul 2026
- Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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Weaponized Communication provides the first systematic empirical study of how liberal mainstream news media are targeted through coordinated social media advertising campaigns. Drawing on original materials, Ahmed Al-Rawi examines the weaponization of misinformation discourses, such as “fake news,” disinformation, and misinformation, across Facebook and Google ads. The analysis demonstrates how these campaigns undermine trust in journalism and democratic institutions.
Employing a mixed-method approach, Al-Rawi combines qualitative and interpretive analysis with a range of digital methods to offer a holistic understanding of this evolving phenomenon. By mapping advertisers’ strategies, audience targeting, and spending patterns, the book reveals the systematic nature of these campaigns and their implications for political communication.
This book will be of interest to students and scholars in journalism, media and communication studies, political science, and related fields. It will also serve as a valuable resource for libraries and academic institutions seeking timely research on disinformation and the challenges facing democratic discourse.
Ahmed Al-Rawi is Associate Professor of News, Social Media, and Public Communication at the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University. He is also the founder of the Disinformation Project, and his research interests are related to news, global communication, misinformation, and social media with emphasis on Canada and the Middle East. Al-Rawi is also a founding member of the Media & Digital Literacy Academy in Beirut.
