Engaging and Informing the Masses with Traditional and New Communication Tools

Abstract

Democratic legitimacy rests on the assumption of politically active, engaged, and informed citizens. Yet, past decades have witnessed decreasing voter turnout rates, pointing to increasingly disengaged and apathetic electorate, in most democracies. At the same time, effective political communication should foster citizens’ engagement and participation in politics. Papers in this panel investigate how media use affects mass political engagement and citizens’ trust in politics. The panel will also address issues of how new tools of communication help to mobilise, inform, and engage the public. Moreover, it will also discuss the potential risks of the internet as a communication tool during global crises.

Title	Details
The Impact of the Internet on Protest Participation: A Cross-National Analysis	View Paper Details
The Rise of Information Activism: Moving away from Repertories and Towards New Forms of Engagement	View Paper Details
E-bolanoia: Challenges of the New Media Ecology during the Ebola-crisis	View Paper Details
Building Trust with TV Debates	View Paper Details
Media Malaise or Virtuous Circle? A Meta-Analysis on Media Use and Political Involvement	View Paper Details