This article very loosely relates to my focus on Anonymous. Although not particularly relevant to my focus, it does provide a decent contextual setting for explaining why Anonymous receives so much media attention from time to time. In particular, the point raised concerning tactical actions of disruption and confrontation in order to draw attention to the larger movement (Andrews & Caren, 2010), is very relevant to some campaigns within the Anonymous movement.

For the Anonymous movement, the tactic of drawing media attention by confrontational actions is probably most notably exemplified by Project Chanology. Underwood (2009) discusses at length the way in which online mobilisation was conducted in order to stage worldwide protests against the Church of Scientology. Although such protests would gain the attention of passers-by and other individuals situated around protest sites, global media exposure was more likely to further the cause of Project Chanology in raising awareness of the issues surrounding Scientology. The same principle would apply to large-scale online activities involving similar Anonymous movements. The use of DDoS attacks and the like to disrupt the operations of websites often raises the attention of major media organisations, which could in turn raise awareness for the movement driving the confrontational actions.

Although not strictly relevant to online based organisation, this article does provide relevant context for explaining the attention-seeking behaviours of online activism movements such as Anonymous.

Andrews, K., & N. Caren. (2010) Making the News: Movement Organisations, Media Attention, and the Public Agenda. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/pqdweb?did=2527572391&sid=1&Fmt=6&clientId=22212&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Underwood, P. (2009). New Directions in Networked Activism and Online Social Movement Mobilization: The Case of Anonymous and Project Chanology. OhioLINK ETD Center. Retrieved from http://etd.ohiolink.edu/view.cgi/Underwood%20Patrick%20C.pdf?ohiou1244228183