CARP 2017 Conference
Character Assassination in Theory and Practice
March 3–5, 2017 · George Mason University, Arlington Campus
Executive Summary
The CARP I International Conference brought scholars and practitioners to Mason’s Arlington Campus
to examine how character assassination operates in modern politics, media, and international affairs.
Main Points
- The contemporary media environment is highly conducive to incivility in political communication.
- Character-centered competition dominates political discourse and normalizes character assassination.
- Impression-management skills remain crucial for political actors amid widespread distrust in institutions.
- Conflict between President Donald Trump and the press deepens public mistrust of media and politics.
- Pre-emptive inoculation and “image prepare” strategies emerge as promising defenses against character attacks.
Conference Conclusions
- New media realities reward speed over accuracy, fueling negativity and uncivil communication.
- Charismatic political leaders, often using unconventional channels like Twitter, thrive in low-trust environments.
- Authoritarian regimes employ character assassination as an ideological tool against dissenting voices.
- Labels attached to “populists” and the personification of states through their leaders shape foreign-policy attitudes.
- Research on character assassination is fragmented; a unified, multidisciplinary framework is needed.
- There is growing demand for constructive ways to restore ethical standards and reduce incivility in public discourse.
Key Sessions & Speakers
The three-day conference featured scholars in communication, history, psychology, and political science,
along with practitioners in crisis management, journalism, and public relations.
Keynote Address
Eric Dezenhall, Chairman and co-founder of Dezenhall Resources, delivered a keynote on strategic
communication, crisis response, and the politics of reputation.
Character Assassination and Journalism
Panelists:
Bob Cusack (The Hill),
Hugo Gurdon (Washington Examiner),
Alan Rosenblatt (Lake Research Partners), and
Daniel Lippman (POLITICO)
discussed the challenges of covering scandal, framing political figures, and maintaining credibility in a polarized media ecosystem.
Character Assassination and the U.S. Presidential Election
A dedicated session examined how character attacks shaped the 2016 U.S. presidential election, focusing on
campaign rhetoric, social media dynamics, and voter perceptions of authenticity and trust.
Conference Materials & Resources
Access comprehensive documentation from the CARP 2017 Conference, including the official report,
academic proceedings, presentation materials, and press coverage.
Primary Documents
Photo Gallery
Moments from sessions, keynote addresses, and informal conversations at the conference.
Video Highlights
Selected video content from the CARP YouTube channel that connects to the conference themes.
Intro to Character Assassination
A short overview of character assassination research and the work of the CARP Lab.
The CARP Lab maintains an active YouTube channel with conference talks, interviews, and webinars
that expand on the topics discussed at the 2017 meeting.
Watch additional sessions on character attacks in elections, media coverage of scandal, and
crisis communication strategies by visiting the channel.