Journalism, Media and Mind-Altering Drugs

Dear Colleagues,

Mind-altering drugs have fascinated generations of journalists, media makers, and propagandists. This Special Issue will explore mass media coverage of “recreational” drug use and drug users; drug experiences; and consequent ripples through politics, public opinion, policy, and culture.

In this Special Issue, we will explore how mind-altering drug use is constructed in social discourses, or perceived and acted on by media audiences; the role of public relations and journalism in the political and cultural debate surrounding the use of cannabis, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), LSD, ayahuasca, or other substances; as well as how the media have been harnessed in regard to this issue, by whom, and to what effect?

Potential topics, considered from a contemporary or historical perspective, with a range of methods and theoretical approaches, may include:

• Mass communication campaigns around drug legalization initiatives.
• Interactions between media and the experience of non-ordinary realities.
• News coverage related to drug policy, drug law enforcement, and related issues.
• The politics, efficacy, and significance of anti-drug communication campaigns.
• Anti-drug, pro-drug, and pro-reform public influence organizations.
• Commercial advertising for drugs, drug paraphernalia, and druglike products.
• Regulation of speech and mass communication related to illicit drugs.
• Coverage of emerging interests in psychedelic drugs and experience.

Dr. Stephen Siff
Guest Editor

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journalism and Media is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access Special Issue will be waived. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• journalism
• media
• psychedelic
• drugs
• cannabis
• marijuana
• propaganda
• advertising
• anti-drug