Message discipline is the concept that
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, ...
s and other public policy advocates should talk about what is relevant to achieve their aims, and not allow themselves to be sidetracked either by their own thoughts or the questions of
press or audience.
When a politician repeats the same thing ''ad nauseam'', or uses a question on one subject as a launching point to talk about a different subject, he or she is said to be exercising message discipline. Message discipline may involve subordination of irrelevant personal opinions, or subordination of fluctuating desires to say what others want to hear versus maintaining an unwavering devotion to the message as it reaches out to greater numbers of potential audience members.
Message discipline is often practiced around
wedge issues. Devolving to talking points (practicing message discipline) around issues such as same-sex marriage or abortion rights can be a powerful weapon in the politician's arsenal, either clouding a difficult line of questioning from an interviewer, or motivating the candidates' base to vote. Key to defining wedge issues and practicing message discipline are the selection of terms that
low-information voters will rally around.
In a business context, message discipline is the practice of reducing and managing the number of messages
going from headquarters and marketing functions to field organizations as well as front-line employees. This goal-oriented, structured, strategic communication can lead to operational success, as it reduces the clutter and mixed messages that sometimes afflict communications through organizational layers.
Message discipline is criticised by educated voters who see it as a method of obfuscation from what the electorate sees as important. Overly simplistic and repeated communications of the message are seen as dumbing down and can meet with the cynicism of the electorate.
See also
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Party line (politics)
In politics, "the line", "the party line", or "the lines to take" is an idiom for a political party or social movement's canon agenda, as well as ideological elements specific to the organization's partisanship. The common phrase " toeing t ...
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Press conference
A press conference or news conference is a media event in which notable individuals or organizations invite journalists to hear them speak and ask questions. Press conferences are often held by politicians, corporations, non-governmental organ ...
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Hedge (linguistics)
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Wedge issue
References
Political terminology
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