Lobbying: the Art of Indirect Persuasion

I introduce a model of indirect persuasion. An information intermediary (lobbyist) enters into the information transmission path between Senders and the Receiver. The intermediary garbles the signal sent by Senders to release it to the Receiver for its own interest. I summarize two features that give rise to indirect persuasion: persuading expertise and coordination in persuasion. I characterize the equilibrium signal in both cases. The misalignment of preference distorts Senders' equilibrium sending strategy when there exists complementary or substitutional effect for different signal realizations in intermediary's preference.