Estrategias de Comunicación divergentes: entre el rigor y la manipulación. Análisis comparativo de la Comunicación Política de Estados Unidos y España frente a la etapa inicial de la crisis del COVID-19

Blanca Nicasio Varea; Marta Pérez Gabaldón; Manuel Chávez

doi:10.4185/RLCS-2023-1899

Authors

Blanca Nicasio Varea UCH CEU https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6210-242X
Marta Pérez Gabaldón Universidad Cardenal Herrera CEU https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5734-0207
Manuel Chávez Michigan State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-2023-1899

Keywords:

covid-19, political communication 2.0, crisis communication, USA, Spain, Twitter, Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO, hereafter) reported the first case of a new respiratory infection, in the city of Wuhan.This study focuses on how political communication 2.0 has contributed to prevent and protect citizens, during early stages the covid-19 crisis, in a comparative perspective between USA and Spain. Specifically, the paper focuses during the first 90 days of 2020 (from January 1 to March 31), in the latency phases - oriented to preparedness and prevention- and of crisis outbreak. Methodology: The paper analyzes the content of the messages through the Twitter accounts of Donald Trump -@realdonaldtrump-, the White House -@WhiteHouse-, and the CDC - @cdcgov; and Pedro Sánchez -@sanchezcastejon-, the Ministry of Health -@sanidadgob-, and the account of the Moncloa -@desdelamoncloa-. By conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis. Results: the findings show a divergent communication strategy. While the Spanish actors followed adequately the guidelines of health crisis communication; in the US case, specifically in Trump´s account, it is observed a politicized communication strategy rejecting the messages from public health sources. Conclusions: Political communication is an essential element not only for good governance and management but also for the preparation and awareness of a citizenry lacking knowledge or previous experience in a major crisis. In this case of study the institutional communication strategy was appropriate in both countries and helped to face an unprecedented major health crisis.

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Author Biographies

Blanca Nicasio Varea, UCH CEU

Blanca Nicasio Varea is graduated in Political and Public Administration Sciences (2010), and in Journalism (2009). Moreover, she holds a PhD (2017) cum laude, in Political Science, from the University CEU-Cardenal Herrera. She has received for her PhD the mention of European Doctor. Currently, she is a professor of Electoral Systems and Political and Electoral Behaviour at the Cardenal Herrera University - CEU. She has published several book chapters and articles on these topics. Previously, she has worked as a parliamentary advisor at Les Corts Valencianes and as an accredited parliamentary assistant in the European Parliament.

Marta Pérez Gabaldón, Universidad Cardenal Herrera CEU

Marta Pérez-Gabaldón holds a BA in Political Science and Public Administration (CEU-UCH, 2008), with Extraordinary Prize of Degree, and a PhD in Political Science (CEU-UCH, 2012), with Extraordinary Prize of Doctorate. She also holds a BA in Law (UNED, 2018). Up to now, her main research areas have been: intergovernmental relations, climate change policies, transparency and political  communication. Since 2008, she has participated in several public and private research projects and she has published two monographs and a significative number of book chapters and papers in specialized journals on those topics. She is University Lecturer, since 2011, and Academic Secretary of the Faculty of Law, Business and Political Science at  CEU-UCH.

Manuel Chávez, Michigan State University

Manuel Chavez is a Professor of international and crisis journalism at the School of Journalism in Michigan State University. His recent research has concentrated on media reporting on issues related to the North American borders, environmental issues and journalism response to natural disasters and crisis.  Chavez has published several books and articles on these topics in addition to themes related to the Americas development and trade, cross-cultural communication, international communication, public diplomacy and migration and cross-border issues. He directs the International Collaboratory on Crisis Communication that includes 12 international universities. He serves as President of the Association for Latino Media and Markets Research Scholars.

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