Our intention is to generate knowledge about how some talk show hosts are, by virtue of their location in a social network, especially able to spread information and opinion and exert influence vis à vis ideological messages that target vulnerable groups. If a social network is active in propagating hate speech, the dynamic connections that constitute it may explain or contribute to an individual’s attitudes and behaviors, including the commission of hate crimes. Determining the structure of the social network by finding ties between the shows’ hosts and their guests, and between the guests and other individuals and organizations, enabled us to assess how the ideological alignments expressed by these ties support the cultivation and circulation of hate speech toward vulnerable groups.
SOCIAL NETWORKS FOR HATE SPEECH – COMMERCIAL TALK RADIO AND NEW MEDIA, by CHON A. NORIEGA AND FRANCISCO JAVIER IRIBARREN WITH ROSS LENIHAN, ANDREW YOUNG, AND HÉCTOR PEÑA RAMÍREZ