Activists use digital as well as mainstream media tools to attract supporters, advertise their campaigns, and raise awareness of issues in the broader community.Activism and Digital Culture in Australiaexamines the use of digital tools and culture by Australian and international activist organisations to facilitate public engagement, participation and deliberation in issues and advance social change. In particular the book engages media studies, cultural studies, social theory and various ethical and political philosophical perspectives to examine the use of digital multi-platform tools by activist organisations and advocates for social change to a) disseminate information and raise public awareness; b) invoke, inform and shape public debate through the provision of information and invocation of affect; and c) garner public support (including funding) for issues and for associated social change. Engaging both qualitative and quantitative approaches, these case studies will demonstrate the richness of digital culture for activism and advocacy, examining the use by activist organisations of such digital media tools as apps, blogging, Facebook, RSS, Twitter, and YouTube. The shows that digital culture offers productive mechanisms and spaces for the reshaping of society itself to take more of a participatory role in progressing social change.

Debbie Rodan isan associate professorin Media& Cultural Studies at Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.Jane Mummery is a senior lecturer in Philosophy at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat), Ballarat, Australia.

1.Digital Culture, Activism and Social Movements in Australia/ 2. Political Blogging: Can Public Deliberation Realize Activist Aims?/ 3. Animals Australia, Multi-Platform Campaigning and the Mobilisation of Affect/ 4.Social Networking and Direct Action in the Digital Age/ 5. GetUP! and Participatory Activism/ 6. Crowdfunding Initiatives for Social Movements/ 7. Future Possibilities/ Index