Niche Issues, Interest Groups

Helena Bottemiller Evich -- food/ag policy reporter

Reporting drives other media

• The Hill
• Vox
• Mother Jones

The difficulty of covering fragmented jurisdiction:

Other examples:

• The Intelligence Community
• Law enforcement: federal and state-local
• Consultants for police
• Officer-involved shooting
• Social media 

Some examples of niche-issue media:

• Food Safety News 
• Education Week and its special-ed blog
• Inside Higher Ed
• Disability Scoop
• High Times

Corporate public affairs

• Definers and Facebook
• Facebook did it years ago with another firm
• Definers tactics

Other case studies:

Monsanto's Internet campaign against Carey Gillam

Astroturf

• "Free and Fair Markets"  -- website
• "California Drivers Alliance
• Crowds on Demand
• Fake regulatory comments
• Front groups:  'International Life Sciences Institute"
• Support of think tanks