Capturing the recent history of public affairs occupational culture: A comparative case study on the image of lobbying in the early 21st century

• Wiseman and Soderbergh have proceeded as ethnographic researchers.
• State Legislature is a main source of ethnographic analysis of lobbying as PR occupational culture.
• K Street also offers an accurate picture of lobbying practices.

This article analyzes the narrative structures of two audiovisual products from the point of view of public relations cinematic discourse: the documentary State Legislature, directed by Frederick Wiseman, and the TV series K Street, created and directed by Steven Soderbergh. Both productions capture the activity of lobbyists in the state and federal governmental arenas, are remarkable ethnographic exercises in analyzing the practice of lobbying in the United States and major examples of the media representation of corporate public affairs. Accordingly, State Legislature and K Street are key sources of the recent history of public relations occupational culture.