Journalism, politics and citizenship: Keys to a new relationship from Spain

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-2022-1547

Keywords:

information media, journalism, politics, citizens, Spain, survey, democracy

Abstract

Introduction: Innovation has not only modified routines and professional profiles, but also raises questions about public legitimacy and the institutional character of journalism as a political actor with the emergence of new actors, such as digital platforms and their algorithms, and the reconfiguration of the communicative space. This article aims to present the foundations of the relationship between journalism and politics today, along with future trends. Methodology: It does so through a study developed in February 2020–February 2021 in Spain based on methodological triangulation that includes, in addition to the literature review, a survey of journalists, a survey of citizens and a panel of experts with researchers in the area. Discussion: The results confirm journalists as a filter between society and politics, although the citizens are critical. Conclusions: Some dangerous trends for democracy are revealed: the choice of media agenda items in political parties, low audience participation, the concealment of the importance of algorithms and digital platforms, and the high automation of information to influence public opinion and generate disinformation.

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Author Biographies

Berta García-Orosa, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

Full Professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). BA in Communication Sciences, BA in Political and Administration Sciences and PhD in Communication Sciences (USC). She has studied communication and politics for more than 20 years. She has collaborated in more than 50 research projects and international research networks, the results of which have been published over 100 times in databases such as Scopus and JCR and publishing houses.

Jorge Vázquez-Herrero, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication Sciences, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC). PhD in Communication and Contemporary Information (USC). He is a member of Novos Medios research group and the Latin American Chair of Transmedia Narratives (ICLA–UNR). He was visiting scholar at Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Universidade do Minho, University of Leeds and Tampere University. His research focuses on the impact of technology and platforms in digital journalism and narratives.

Xosé López-García, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

Professor of Journalism at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), PhD in History (USC). He coordinates the Novos Medios research group. Among his research lines there is the study of digital and printed media, analysis of the impact of technology in mediated communication, analysis of the performance of cultural industries, and the combined strategy of printed and online products in the society of knowledge.

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Published

2022-04-27

How to Cite

García-Orosa, Berta, Jorge Vázquez-Herrero, and Xosé López-García. 2022. “Journalism, politics and citizenship: Keys to a new relationship from Spain”. Revista Latina de Comunicación Social, no. 80 (April):47-68. https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-2022-1547.

Issue

Section

New Media, automation and peripheral actors in Journalism