This paper was commissioned by the Frameworks Institute, as part of its Global Interdependence Initiative (GII). Together with another paper written for this initiative, by George Lakoff, it provides a detailed perspective on what Chris called "the cultural gap between wonks and hacks, between insiders and outsiders, and between professionals and the grassroots."
Aubrun and Grady begin by situating their paper within the project it is part of:
If a chief goal of the Global Interdependence Initiative is to move American public opinion in the direction of increased support for cooperative global engagement, then it is essential to take into account both public understandings and expert models of the issues. As this report will show, there are striking differences between the two.
Communications strategies aimed at the public must recognize the gap between the cultural models held by average Americans and the expert models presented in the media - some of which probably correspond more closely to the default understandings among advocates for the Initiative.
It's an important project, but the purpose I'm pursuing is somewhat different, as noted above. Nonetheless, the elite/public divide is extremely salient for the concerns Chris raised, as will be seen below.
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