Observatorio (OBS*)

Politicising Platform, or Another Campaign Tool: Locality-Related Differences in the Perception of Facebook’s Role in Pre-Election Period

In recent years, Facebook has become a regular part of political campaigning and as such a subject of an extensive research. Yet relatively few studies have focused on audience perspective and the perception of Facebook in campaigns. The aim of this explorative study is to contribute to this area; it compares perceptions of Facebooks role in a campaign held before communal elections in two localities in the Czech Republic. Based on qualitative data from diary research and semi-structured interviews, it discusses the role of communication context (especially the character and diversity of local information channels) in the perceived position and influence of Facebook in the pre-election period. The results show that both Facebooks role and influence can be understood quite differently, depending on the character of communication platforms used in the campaign. The study also analyses peoples expectations of the social media site, which in turn may lead to certain disillusionment as to the character (especially interactivity) of the campaign and, consequently, politics in general.

Mapping press ideology. A methodological proposal to systematise the analysis of political ideologies in newspapers

Ideology and political ideologies in general have been addressed both from theoretical and applied perspectives by media and communication scholars in an attempt to reveal whether pluralism is present or absent in the media. However, the complexity of such a task has proven to be high as well as very problematic. The efforts to systematise the study of ideology in the media in order to make it objective and systematic have been scarce. This paper tries to contribute to such systematising by providing a method to analyse political ideologies in the media that aims to be objective and replicable in the political context of Western democracies. Our work was inspired by previous studies that were mostly conducted in the field of political sciences and political communication. The main goal of this paper is to reach a deeper comprehension of ideology, in general, and political ideology in particular, and to conceptualise a method that aims to be instrumental in the analysis of the media from the viewpoint of political ideologies but without being restricted by traditional labels that may reproduce cultural biases. The theoretical-analytical method here suggested addresses ideologies in newspapers to identify worldviews according to four general values: individualism, communitarianism, egalitarianism and elitism.

Not minimal but more difficult to measure: A panel study of media effects

Traditional media effect theories as agenda-setting theory have recently been questioned due to the development of the media environment with media fragmentation and individualized media consumption. Other scholars disagree and suggest that a distinction has to be made between actual media effects and the ease with which they can be measured. Given this scholarly discussion the purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the agenda-setting effects of different media consumption measures on individual issue salience. The study is based on a panel survey that includes different measures of consumption: (1) general news media attention, (2) exposure to different media types such as traditional news media, online news media, and political social media. Overall, the findings suggest that general news media attention might be a more significant measure for consumption in a high-choice media environment. In essence, this study suggests that agenda-setting effects are not becoming non-significant but rather difficult to measure.

Contributions of academic articles to the practice of journalism and data management

The increasing number of open data resources and the arrival of big data have boosted the data available as a source of news. Journalists need new skills for collecting the data and creating the news. In addition, all this data can also be used to provide new media services and to take media business decisions, and journalists need new skills related to data for these tasks. Taking into account these areas of knowledge required by journalists for the use of data, we perform a structured literature review (SLR) followed by a content analysis. The results confirm the relevance of data management in journalistic practice, requiring skills in statistics, data visualization, technology, but also in ethics, marketing or audience monitoring.

The media in communication management of NGO in times of crisis: opportunities for social change

El artículo estudia cómo ha influido la crisis económica en la gestión de la comunicación entre las ONG y los medios. También analiza las oportunidades informativas generadas, que estas entidades podrían utilizar para contribuir al cambio social: visibilizar el aumento producido en las necesidades a cubrir; evidenciar la reducción de ingresos a la que se han visto sometidas, y denunciar las desigualdades sociales para conseguir el apoyo de la opinión pública. El estudio se centra en la Comunidad Valenciana -una de las más castigadas por la crisis- y desarrolla una triple metodología: entrevistas a los responsables de comunicación de una muestra representativa de ONG que atienden a sectores de población vulnerables en Valencia; análisis del tratamiento periodístico que han recibido en 2008 (inicio de la crisis) y 2012 (consolidación de la crisis) en los cinco diarios de referencia de Valencia; y entrevistas a los cinco periodistas responsables de la cobertura de temas sociales y ONG en los diarios analizados. Los resultados obtenidos permitirán comprobar la influencia de la crisis en la gestión de la comunicación de las ONG y en el tratamiento periodístico de estas entidades. Además han facilitado la identificación de buenas prácticas entre ONG y medios de comunicación, encontrando un mayor compromiso en los medios hacia la denuncia de las injusticias potenciadas por la crisis, mientras que las ONG se han centrado más en la divulgación de su labor.

This article explains how the economical crisis has influenced in the communication management between NGOs and the media. It also analyses the informative opportunities that the aforementioned entities could use for contributing to the social transformation and therefore, give greater visibility to the increasing needs to be fulfilled; making evident the reduction of the incomes that they have suffered, and reporting the social inequalities trying get the support of the public opinion. This analysis is focused in the Comunidad Valenciana- one of the regions hardest hit by the crisis- and develops a triple methodology: interviews to communication responsibles from some NGOs who help vulnerable segments of population in Valencia; content analysis of journalist treatment received in 2008 (from the beginning of the crisis) and 2012 (crisis consolidation) in five different relevant newspapers in Valencia and interviews to the five journalists responsible of the social matters and NGOs in those newspapers studied. The results obtained will let test the influence of the crisis in the NGOs communication management and in the journalist treatment of the third sector organizations. It has also facilitated the identification of best practices in NGOs and the media finding a greater commitment in the media denouncing the injustices enhanced by the crisis, while NGOs have focused on the dissemination of its work.

The invisible setting of digital space: the Facebook case

La neutralidad en la red no existe. El espacio digital puede ser adaptado de forma automática al perfil de cada usuario. Sin que este tenga que identificarse, las empresas de gestión de contenidos en Internet disponen de suficientes datos de cualquier individuo para poder filtrar los resultados de su búsqueda y personalizarlos, sin previo aviso, condicionando así su experiencia en la red. Esta investigación, de carácter exploratorio, aborda en primer lugar la descripción del espacio público digital. En segundo lugar, plantea una tipología de espacios digitales que se definen en función del grado de adaptación de los contenidos al usuario. Finalmente, presenta un análisis de caso de espacio social digital personalizado. Concretamente, el estudio se centra en el caso de Facebook y utiliza como referencia el experimento llevado a cabo por la red social Facebook, que implicó la alteración de los contenidos del News Feed de 689.000 personas.

Neutrality does not exist in the Internet. The digital space can be automatically adapted to each user's profile. Internet companies can access even with no permission to our personal data, and can adapt content to it customizing our news feed silently, thus determining our web experience. This exploratory research, firstly addresses the description of the digital public space. Secondly, it proposes a typology of digital spaces that are defined by the degree of adaptation of content to the user. Finally, it presents a case study of personalized digital social space. Specifically, the study focuses on the Facebook case and uses as main reference the experiment conducted by the social network Facebook, which involved altering the contents of the News Feed of 689.000 people

Monarchy and media: from the Spanish transition to democracy to Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein

El fin de este texto es el estudio de la relación entre los medios de comunicación y la monarquía española. Este trabajo se centra en la publicación Vanity Fair España y los reportajes sobre la relación de Juan Carlos I y Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. Los objetivos son identificar la línea editorial de VF sobre la Casa Real e investigar en los conflictos entre periodismo y democracia en España (la censura y la autocensura). La hipótesis principal de este artículo es que la inviolabilidad que rodeaba a la corona desde la Transición ha ido desapareciendo. En ese nuevo escenario mediático, situamos los reportajes sobre el rey y su amiga que publicó VF en los números 46 y 56 (estudiados a través del Análisis Textual), tras el accidente en Botswana en abril de 2012.

The aim of this text is the study of the relationship between the media and the Spanish monarchy. This work focuses on the Spanish publication Vanity Fair and the reports covering the relationship between Juan Carlos I and Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. The objectives are to identify the editorial line of VF about the Royal House and to investigate the conflicts between journalism and democracy in Spain (censorship and self-censorship). The main hypothesis of this article is that the inviolability that surrounded the crown since the Transition has been disappearing. In this new media scenario, we situate the reports about the king and his friend who published VF in numbers 46 and 56 (studied through Textual Analysis), after the accident in Botswana in April 2012.

2029 - o fim dos jornais em papel em Portugal? Um estudo longitudinal sobre os principais indicadores de desempenho no sector da imprensa escrita tradicional portuguesa

Os novos produtos no formato digital e as novas técnicas tendem a assumir uma forte influência no sector da imprensa escrita e na sua vertente mais tradicional, o formato em papel, consubstanciando-se em agentes de mudança (Küng, 2013; Storsul, 2013) incremental e inovação radical e disruptiva (Sádaba, 2016a, b, c), ao interferirem nas lógicas convencionais de utilização e consumo de notícias por parte dos utilizadores. Vários autores (Hjarvard, 2012; Barnhurst, 2010; Brock, 2015; Nossek et al, 2015) abordam os efeitos da mutabilidade tecnológica no sector da imprensa escrita e no seu segmento em papel, apontando de forma genérica para cenários em que as vendas de jornais no formato físico têm vindo a diminuir ao longo dos anos, na Era da híper-informação e do imediatismo online, e em função da forte migração dos públicos de notícias para os formatos online sustentados no multiformato, policentralidade e participação (Queuniet, 2011). A partir da análise longitudinal dos resultados coligidos pela APCT (Associação Portuguesa Para O Controlo De Tiragem E Circulação) sobre o exercício de vendas em papel e tiragens dos principais títulos de imprensa escrita de alcance nacional, durante o período 2008-2017, confirmamos a tendência de agudização do sector da imprensa escrita em papel, a partir da constatação de um cenário de queda continuada do volume de vendas. Criamos também um novo índice de eficiência para cálculo da força das publicações no mercado, e, com base no cálculo da taxa de variação do número médio mensal de vendas para o período 2008-2017, chegamos ao ano de 2029 como data hipotética para o fim das vendas de jornais em papel em Portugal.

New digital products and new techniques tend to have a strong influence in the print media sector and in its traditional formats, as these new products and techniques become agents of incremental change (Küng, 2013; Storsul, 2013) and radical and disruptive innovation (Sádaba, 2016a, b, c), by interfering with users' conventional usage and consumption logics. Several authors (Hjarvard, 2012, Barnhurst, 2010, Brock, 2015, Nossek et al., 2015) discuss the effects of technological mutability in the print media sector and in its traditional formats, pointing out almost unanimously to scenarios in which the sales of newspapers in the traditional format have been decreasing steadily over the years, in an Era of hyper-information and immediacy, and due to the rapid migration of news consumers to the online formats supported in multiformats, polycentrality and participation (Queuniet, 2011). By analysing longitudinal data collected by the Portuguese Association for the Control of Circulation (APCT) on the major portuguese newspapers´ sales and print circulation, during the period from 2008 to 2017, we outline a scenario of continued decline in the sales and circulation of newspapers. We also create a new efficiency index in order to calculate the strength of these newspapers in the market. On the other hand, and considering the calculation of the monthly average rate variation sales for the period from 2008 to 2017, we have established the year 2029 as a predicted date of the end of traditional print newspapers in Portugal.

CityVille: reasons, objectives and priorities for online play and communication

The game CityVille, developed on social networks and focused on virtual city construction, allows players to have fun interacting online and collaborating with others in order to make their cities grow. The survey performed among members of the Fans-Cityville multinational community on Facebook (N=105) 63.0% men and 37.0% women clearly shows that playing and sharing their hobby makes these individuals happy. 47.0% of them play between 3 and 6 hours every day and, although one can play for free, almost half of the players spend 8 USD per month on average to progress faster. Unlike men, whose outstanding competitive profile explains their exclusive goal of reaching the highest level communicating with others only as a way to obtain new resources and win women prioritize collaborative entertainment and thus assign more value to strategy exchange, mutual collaboration, and the opportunity to broaden their network of contacts and friends.

Communicating emotions in the metapolitical discourse of twitter: the case of #MADURO versus @NICOLASMADURO

Redes sociales, como Twitter o Facebook, están permitiendo un espacio esencial para el desarrollo del debate político. En este estudio, investigamos cómo se comunican las emociones en este entorno público prestando una especial atención a qué emociones emergen, qué estimulo las provoca, y con qué objetivo y de qué modo se comunican. Se analiza un corpus de 1353 tuits, que contiene #Maduro (Subcorpus1) o @NicolasMaduro (Subcorpus2). Estos tuits se publicaron el 24 de julio de 2017, fecha equidistante entre el 16 de julio, día en que la oposición a Maduro convoca un referéndum y, el 30 julio, día de la votación oficial para la Asamblea Constituyente. A través de la lectura directa de tuits y combinando el método cuantitativo y cualitativo, demostramos que las emociones son una parte esencial de esta red y, entre ellas, las más frecuentes son ira y temor. Asimismo, el análisis reveló que este corpus, claramente polarizado, reúne más tuits en contra de Maduro que a favor. Respecto a las funciones, cabe destacar cómo Twitter se convierte en una herramienta persuasiva de campaña, con dos funciones clave criticar o apoya a Maduro. Finalmente, el análisis formal arroja un mayor número de expresiones emocionales negativas (léxico emocional, trolling e insultos).

Social networks, such as Twitter or Facebook, are providing an essential space for the development of political debate. In this study, we investigate how the emotions are communicated in this public sphere, paying special attention to emotions, stimulus, purpose and style. We analyse a corpus of 1353 tweets, which contain #Maduro (Subcorpus1) or @NicolasMaduro (Subcorpus2). These tweets were published on July 24, 2017, a date between July 16 -when the opposition to Maduro convened a referendum- and, on July 30 -the day of the official vote for the Constituent Assembly. Through the direct reading of tweets and using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, we demonstrate that the emotions are an essential part of this network and, among them, the most frequent are anger and fear. Additionally, the analysis has revealed that this corpus exhibits a high polarization between the supporters and the opponents of Maduro, yet Maduros opponents tweets prevail. In order to understand the function of these tweets, our findings show that citizens use Twitter as a persuasive campaign tool to criticize Maduro or, alternatively, to support him. Finally, regarding expression, the formal analysis conducted notes how the negative expression (emotional, trolling, insults) prevails.

A imagem da ciência e dos cientistas: retratos de um estudo na Universidade do Minho

A divulgação e disseminação da ciência dá-se em diferentes contextos e através de diversas atividades. Contudo, é na universidade onde a promoção da ciência tem mais potencial de impacto, nomeadamente pela exposição das pessoas aos eventos científicos realizados, às obras de cariz científico publicadas e ao contacto direto com investigadores. As atividades de divulgação criam representações mentais sobre a ciência junto dos públicos, que, no seu conjunto, dão origem a uma imagem mais ou menos estável. E dessa imagem resulta um certo nível de reconhecimento e um consequente apoio às atividades dos investigadores, e à ciência por inerência, pelas comunidades e decisores políticos. Interessa, por isso, conhecer as perceções sobre a ciência, nomeadamente perceber a imagem que os estudantes do Ensino Superior têm da atividade científica isto é, indivíduos jovens a viver num contexto privilegiado de contacto com a ciência. A esse propósito quisemos saber se os alunos de uma universidade têm consciência do permanente contacto com a ciência; o que constitui a ciência para esses estudantes; de que forma se pode levar os estudantes ao contacto positivo com ciência; de que modo podem os investigadores influenciar a imagem projetada da ciência; e como podem as instituições científicas influenciar a imagem percebida da Ciência juntos dos estudantes. Para obter estas respostas, conduzimos um estudo-piloto através da aplicação de um questionário a alunos dos três ciclos de estudos da Universidade do Minho, em vários cursos de áreas científicas distintas. Em suma, procurámos perceber qual era a sua perceção/imagem da ciência e da investigação científica naquele contexto, na busca de orientações para um trabalho de qualidade na comunicação da ciência em Portugal.

The disclosure and dissemination of science occurs in different contexts and through various activities. However, it is at the university where the promotion of science has more potential for impact, namely by the exposition to scientific events, the scientific published works nature and the direct contact with researchers. Dissemination activities create mental representations about science among the public, which, on the whole, give rise to a more or less stable image. And from this image results a certain level of recognition and a consequent support to the activities of researchers, and to science inherently, by communities and policy makers. It is relevant, therefore, to know the perceptions about science, namely to perceive the image that the students of Higher Education have of the scientific activity that is, young individuals to live a privileged context of contact with science. In this regard we wanted to know if the students of a university are aware of permanent contact with science; what is science for these students; how students can be brought into positive contact with science; how researchers can influence the projected image of science; and how can scientific institutions influence the perceived image of science together with students. To obtain these answers, we have conducted a pilot study by applying a questionnaire to students of the three cycles of studies of the University of Minho (Portugal), in various courses of different scientific areas. In short, we sought to understand what their perception / image of science and scientific research was in that context, in search of guidelines for quality work in science communication in Portugal.

A empresa jornalística como ator político: Um estudo quanti-qualitativo sobre o impeachment de Dilma Rousseff nos editoriais de Folha e Estadão

O artigo examina como Folha de S. Paulo e O Estado de S. Paulo se posicionaram politicamente em seus editoriais acerca do impeachment de Dilma Rousseff. O estudo comparativo abrange as dimensões quantitativa e qualitativa de 507 editoriais (FSP=156; OESP=351) publicados entre 2015 e 2016 que mencionam impeachment ou impedimento, analisados por meio de Análise de Conteúdo. Propõem-se três hipóteses: Os editoriais de FSP e OESP: H1) Constroem, de forma sincronizada com o desenvolvimento do processo de impeachment nas esferas institucionais, a ideia de legitimidade do afastamento de Dilma; H2) Apresentam pontos de vista semelhantes em relação ao impeachment; H3) Ancoram a legitimidade do afastamento de Dilma, essencialmente, em argumentos jurídicos. Os resultados apontam que: os editoriais pautam o impeachment antes mesmo de a ação se iniciar institucionalmente; ambos se preocupam em validar o afastamento, mas mobilizam argumentos distintos; OESP defende o impeachment como saída mais adequada, enquanto FSP prefere a renúncia de Dilma e Temer, seguida de novas eleições.

This article examines how Folha de S. Paulo and O Estado de S. Paulo expressed their political position on the impeachment of the former president Dilma Rousseff in editorials. The comparative study encompasses quantitative and qualitative approaches of 507 texts (FSP=156; OESP=351) that mentioned impeachment or impedimento, published between 2015 and 2016. The hypotheses are: 1) Both newspapers build the legitimacy of Rousseffs removal according to the institutional calendar; 2) Both newspapers present similar points of view regarding the process; 3) Both newspapers anchor the legitimacy of Rousseffs impeachment on legal pleas. By using a Content Analysis, we argue that: FSP and OESP mention the impeachment process even before its institutional beginning; both of them are concerned about constructing the impeachments legitimacy but use diverse arguments to justify it; OESP supports the process as the best exit for the crisis; FSP prefers the president and her vice-president to resign, an action that should be followed by new elections.

Social networks of tourist destination marketing organizations as potential sources of eWOM

El turismo es uno de los sectores económicos de mayor crecimiento a nivel mundial; el de sol y playa, el principal de la industria turística española. Las redes sociales juegan un papel clave en el desarrollo de los destinos turísticos al ser uno de los canales principales para su difusión y comercialización, y un espacio para que los turistas reales y potenciales compartan sus experiencias influyendo en las decisiones de otros turistas. La presente investigación analiza la presencia y gestión de los principales destinos de sol y playa españoles en Facebook, así como la interacción de sus usuarios como posible origen de eWOM. Se utiliza para ello una metodología cuantitativa a partir de la monitorización y análisis de contenido de las publicaciones de los perfiles turísticos oficiales, de los responsables y de los usuarios. Los resultados muestran una clara implantación de esta red social en las estrategias de marketing y comunicación de los destinos turísticos, pero con planteamientos y resultados diferentes que no permiten establecer una relación directa entre las variables analizadas y su incidencia en la interacción de los usuarios. En este sentido, se concluye la pertinencia de métricas globales, aunque complementadas con estudios individualizados de los usuarios y de sus intereses.

Tourism is one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world; Sun and beach tourism is the main tourist industry in Spain. Social networks play a key role in the development of tourism destinations as one of the main channels for its dissemination and marketing, and a space for actual and potential tourists to share their experiences, influencing the decisions of other tourists. The present research analyses the presence and management of the main sun and beach destinations of Spain on Facebook, together with user interaction as possible sources of eWOM. To this purpose, a quantitative methodology is used, based on the monitoring and analysis of the content posted by the managers and the users on the official tourism profiles. The results show a clear implementation of this social network in marketing and communication strategies of tourist destinations, but with different approaches and results. Hence, they do not allow to establish a direct relationship between the variables analysed and their impact on user interaction. In this sense, the pertinence of global metrics is concluded, although complemented with individualized studies of users and their interests.

Movimentos Sociais e Redes Sociais Virtuais em perspectiva comparada

As mais recentes tecnologias de produção, transmissão e acesso a informação tornaram possível, na presença das condições adequadas, alterar a visibilidade de algumas preocupações nacionais e internacionais, bem como dos movimentos sociais que muitas ajudaram a espoletar. Países mais ou menos democráticos, mais ou menos autoritários, têm sido colocados perante uma multiplicidade de protestos que, articulados online, ultrapassam as barreiras do mundo virtual e (re)assumem presença nas ruas. Neste artigo, a partir de vários exemplos com diferentes bases de reivindicação, abordar-se-á o papel desempenhado pelas redes sociais virtuais nestas formas de participação política da sociedade civil à luz do seu contexto respectivo, ou seja, considerando igualmente o papel dos Meios Tradicionais de Comunicação e o dos fossos no acesso e utilização de meios digitais.

The latest technologies of production, transmission and access to information have made it possible, in the presence of the appropriate conditions, to change the visibility of some national and international concerns, and the social movements that many have helped to stimulate. More or less democratic countries, more or less authoritarian, have been placed before a multiplicity of protests that, articulated online, surpass the barriers of the virtual world and (re) assume presence in the streets. In this article, drawing from several examples with different claim bases, we address the role played by virtual social networks in these forms of political participation organized by the civil society. However, as it happens in só many initiatives in this field, this is not affirmed from an underestimation of the role of Traditional Means of Communication or that of the trenches in the access and use of digital means.

Digital devices in households: the influence of inequalities and public access policies based on a multivariate analysis

Las políticas de inclusión digital en América Latina buscan reducir la brecha digital para contribuir a la reducción de las desigualdades sociales. En el artículo se analiza la infraestructura digital de los hogares uruguayos y su relación con su condición socioeconómica y variables demográficas. Se realiza un análisis del alcance de las desigualdades de acceso a las tecnologías tanto analógicas como digitales y la incidencia de las políticas públicas con la reducción de la brecha digital. Se describen las características de los hogares beneficiados por las políticas de inclusión digital y qué sectores de la población permanecen fuera de su alcance. A partir de la Encuesta de Usos de Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (EUTIC 2013) del Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas de Uruguay (INE), se realiza un análisis multivariado para establecer cuáles son los conjuntos de variables que determinan factores relevantes así como definir posibles conglomerados y tipología de hogares. Se encuentra que persiste un vínculo estrecho con la desigualdad de ingreso y la brecha de acceso en los hogares y un efecto positivo de las políticas TIC aunque con un techo para alcanzar los hogares más excluidos.

Digital inclusion policies in Latin America seek to reduce the digital divide as a way to contribute with the reduction of social inequalities. In the research, we analyze the information infrastructure of Uruguayan households and its relationship with their socioeconomic status. We analyze the inequalities in access, the process from analogical to digital technologies and the impact of public policies in the reduction of the digital divide. Going through a description and characterization of households benefited of digital inclusion policies and of the people that remain excluded from technologies. Based on the Information and Communication Technologies Usage Survey (EUTIC 2013) of the National Statistics Institute of Uruguay (INE), we carried out a multivariate analysis to establish which sets of variables determine relevant factors and define clusters and typology of households. Overall, we conclude that there is a close link between income inequalities, and that the access gap of some households persists, there is a positive effect of ICT policies but with important limitations to reach the most excluded households.