Professor Chengli Wang and PhD student Guo Li from the Department of Government and Public Administration (DGPA), University of Macau, have recently published their research titled “Harnessing Star Power: Sequential Political Cooptation of Entertainment Celebrities in China” in International Journal of Press/Politics (IJPP), a flagship journal in political communication.
This study examines how entertainment celebrities in China engage in official activities to enhance policy communication. Analyzing data from 2,898 celebrities, it identifies a step-by-step process: starting with participation in state-led cultural productions, which serves as a long-term evaluation of their competence, image, and social responsibility, followed by appointment of a select few as formal representatives in deliberative bodies. The study contributes to political communication literature and suggests that political awareness, social responsibility, and positive messaging are key to long-term career success.
International Journal of Press/Politics (IJPP) is a premier interdisciplinary academic journal published by SAGE, ranked SSCI Q1 in both political science and communication. It is globally recognized as one of the most influential venues for research on media and politics. This study was supported by the University of Macau Multi-Year Research Grant (MYRG-GRG2024-00226-FSS).
For more details on the research article, please visit: https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612261422514
