Catching Fire in the News: The Necessary Conditions for Media Storms

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Amber E. Boydstun (University of California, Davis) Jill R. Laufer (University of California Center Sacramento)

Catching Fire in the News

Name: Catching Fire in the News
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ISBN: 9781009498449

The Necessary Conditions for Media Storms

Amber E. Boydstun (University of California, Davis), Jill R. Laufer (University of California Center Sacramento), Dallas Card (University of Michigan) , Noah A. Smith (University of Washington)

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English

Cambridge University Press
26 February 2026

Media studies; Political structure & processes; Press & journalism; Digital lifestyle

Series: Elements in Politics and Communication

Why do some events catch fire in the news, producing a media storm, while many similar events go all but unnoticed? This Element uses a fire triangle analogy to explain the necessary conditions of media storms. The “heat” is the spark: a dramatic event or discovery. The “fuel” is the political and cultural landscape, including similar items in recent news, and current debates that allow the event to be framed in a resonant way. The “oxygen” is the available news agenda space, plus attention the event receives beyond the news (by activists, politicians, people on social media, etc.). Media storms are not easily predictable; it takes the right event, at the right time, with the right momentum of attention. But when the political stars align and a media storm erupts, it can be a window of opportunity for change. This Element is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

By: Amber E. Boydstun (University of California Davis), Jill R. Laufer (University of California Center Sacramento), Dallas Card (University of Michigan), Noah A. Smith (University of Washington)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Weight: 159g
ISBN: 9781009498449
ISBN 10: 1009498444
Series: Elements in Politics and Communication
Pages: 100
Publication Date: 26 February 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

1. Introduction; 2. What we know about media storms; 3. Methodology: identifying the correlates of media storms; 4. The fire triangle model of media storms; 5. The role of political actors in the fire triangle model; 6. Necessary elements of media storms: heat, fuel, and oxygen; 7. Effects of media storms; References.