New book advances the study of sociopolitical advocacy

Page Center research director Holly Overton always knew she wanted to write a book, but the timing and topic never felt right, until she began immersing herself into research on corporate social advocacy (CSA) and related areas.

“I noticed there was room for a more solid theoretical foundation for these constructs,” she said. “It seemed like there was an appetite in the field to disentangle them to properly measure and study them, so I knew there was a perfect opportunity for a book like this to advance the field.”

Published in February, Overton co-edited “Sociopolitical advocacy and the role of public relations: Theoretical developments and emerging perspectives on corporate social advocacy and related constructs” with Nicholas Browning, associate professor at Indiana University and associate editor of the Journal of Public Relations Research.

The book covers many CSA topics including corporate social advocacy (CSA), corporate political advocacy (CPA), corporate racial responsibility (CRR), corporate social responsibility (CSR), and CEO activism, all through the lens of strategic communication and marketing theory. Through this lens, the authors examine how advocacy on sociopolitical issues is being engaged within both research and organizational contexts.

Once she reached out to Browning with the idea, he was on board immediately. He also noticed that scholars had different definitions of these concepts and tested them differently, and thus saw a need for clarity in the research.

What happened next was a true representation of collaboration and mentorship. At an Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) conference in 2024, Browning and Overton met to discuss the book's direction: what concepts would be included, what structure the book would take and how would they begin on this endeavor.

At that brainstorming session, they invited Yanan Wu, Browning’s previous master’s advisee and Overton’s current doctoral advisee, to be an editorial assistant for the book and coauthor for the first chapter. Both Overton and Browning talked about how rewarding that experience was for them, and how the conceptualization of the first chapter of their book was etched in a notepad that day.

After knowing where they wanted the book to go, Overton and Browning began selecting authors for the chapters.

“We were so happy that we had scholars eager to participate with such a wide range of perspectives and expertise,” Browning said. “They are some of the most prolific, well-respected scholars in the field, and we are happy that they are all a part of it.”

The research in the book is peer‑reviewed, and the editors said that process helped make the collection something to be proud of for everyone involved in the publication.

“Having the chapters be peer reviewed is a testament to the quality of the contributions we wanted to offer in the book,” Overton said. “Knowing we did that makes us and the authors that much more confident in the final product.”

The editors agreed that now is a particularly important moment for a book like this. As there are now more challenges and conversations about sociopolitical advocacy than ever, a collection of research like this can help scholars and practitioners keep the conversation moving forward in a compelling, thoughtful way.

“There are a ton of conversations about these topics, and the landscape is getting more and more complex,” Browning said. “That is why it is critical for us to take a close look at how we can provide guidance,”

Overton added, “We are also excited that this project was done with Page Center support and features many of our Page Center scholars. The book’s focus is aligned with the Center’s mission and priority areas of ethics and integrity in all forms of communication.”

Overton and Browning hope this book can provide holistic theoretical guidance on sociopolitical advocacy and related topics. They say it’s a starting point for future CSA research for scholars.

“This book is a comprehensive look at the past and where we are now,” Browning said. “And it anticipates where the field will go in the future.”