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This article tells the story forged from a research partnership among the authors and their respective organizations over two decades of partnership, of research practiced in a different key than many who engage in research have chosen. Building on Michael Burawoy's (Burawoy 2005) articulation of public sociology, we present a protocol about a "way" of practicing public sociology, about human qualities by which and through which community-based research can be practiced, and what the authors have come to understand as the "heart and soul" of practicing sociological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2016, Trump's presidential campaign and the Leave campaigns in the U.K. "Brexit" referendum used racist messaging strategies. This article considers how these messaging strategies exploited the politics of unfinished conflict in both the U.S. and U.K. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in Springfield, Missouri and Belfast, Northern Ireland, the article considers how history shaped reception of this rhetoric in my fieldsites. It concludes that cynical messaging strategies weaken democracy, renew violence, and reproduce systemic inequalities, utilizing C. Wright Mills' and Zora Neale Hurston's work as models for public sociology to analyze and address the politics of unfinished conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hartmann’s response to the commentaries on his 2016 MSS presidential address from Adia Harvey Wingfield, Annette Lareau, and Vanessa Muñoz. The emphasis is on conflict, different audiences, and the unique role that sociologists in organizations like MSS can play in public engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As Hartmann illuminates, it is important for sociologists to engage in public sociology. Yet, public audiences do not always receive research results in a passive and positive manner. Instead, as we discuss in this brief essay, research results can contested by multiple publics. At times, particularly in social media, the attacks can be swift. Research that is not intended to be a form of public sociology can inadvertently be brought into the public discourse. We discuss how interest groups, such as patient groups, can contest research results. Researchers can be personally attacked as well. These conflicts can create a turbulent environment where sociologists can lose control of their message. While most studies are released without incident, it is helpful to build the capacity of sociologists to participate in public sociology and manage challenges of their research results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In his presidential address, Douglas Hartmann refines existing theoretical approaches to provide a more precise framework of public sociology. In this response piece, I consider several of his key points and elaborate on their implications for contemporary society. Specifically, I address whether distinctions between types of sociology remain essential and consider the challenges associated with doing public sociology in an increasingly fractured public sphere. I conclude with a call for sociologists to think through these issues in more detail to heighten our influence on the social spheres we research and discuss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article outlines how sociologists can and do engage a range of general, nonacademic public audiences, organizations, and interests. It begins with a discussion and critique of the notion of public sociology that emerged from Michael Burawoy’s 2004 American Sociological Association (ASA) presidency and draws upon recent commentaries and classical theories to formulate a more pluralist vision of sociology’s publics. The article concludes by arguing that embracing a multidimensional vision of the relationships between sociology and its publics not only provides a foundation for better public engagement, but also can help renew and revitalize of sociology. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses topics within the issue which includes public sociology, personal reflexivity and women's movements.