Füricht-Fiegl, Gerda

Official Name

Main Affiliation

Team Europe (Speakers network of the European Commission)

EAPC (The European Association of Political Consultants)

Akademische Titel

PhD

Status

staff

Research Outputs

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1

(Social) Media and their Role in Public Discourse
(Institut für den Donauraum und Mitteleuropa; Böhlau Verlag GmbH & Co.KG, Wien, 2020)
Füricht-Fiegl, Gerda
The role of the mass media in political communication and more specifically agenda setting has changed significantly, not only since Donald Trump’s opposition to traditional mass media and preference for social media. The following article examines the role of the media in the formation of public opinion in liberal democracies. In particular, the paper explores a shift in the power of interpretation in the agenda setting process, for example, when journalists are questioned in their gatekeeper role. From Gatekeeper to Gatewatcher? This perceived threat to journalism is receiving attention in many places. Social media are the main drivers of this role change. Yet how are they changing public discourse and the role of mass media? The paper discusses these two core questions as well as the opportunities and risks for political discourse that the increasing use of social media entails.
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