Democracy in the Digital Communication Environment: A Typology Proposal of Political Monitoring Processes

Authors

  • Ramón A. Feenstra Jaume I University, Spain
  • Andreu Casero-Ripollés Jaume I University, Spain

Keywords:

monitoring, democracy, online activism, digital environment, journalism, new media

Abstract

 The digital environment creates new opportunities for citizen political participation. Among these, the monitoring of political and economic power centers stands out. This includes public scrutiny of the management of public funds and the activities of the public and economic systems, thus denouncing dysfunctional features. This article aims to describe, differentiate, and classify the various forms that monitoring can take in current democracies. The results indicate that three major monitoring fields exist: governmental monitoring, shared monitoring, and civic monitoring. This study focuses on the last by specifying its four types: watchdog function, extraction and filtration of secret information, expansion of issues through alternative journalism, and extension of representation beyond parliaments.

Author Biographies

Ramón A. Feenstra, Jaume I University, Spain

Ramón Feenstra is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and Sociology at the Jaume I University, Castellón (Spain). His research interests are monitory democracy, civil society and journalism ethics. Address: Universitat Jaume I de Castellón (España), Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales, Avd/ Sos Baynat s/n, Castellón, (Spain), 12071Phone: (0034) 964729661 

Andreu Casero-Ripollés, Jaume I University, Spain

Andreu Casero-Ripollés is a senior lecturer in the Department of Journalism at the Jaume I University, Castellón (Spain). His research is focused on political communication, new media activism and digital journalism.Address: Universitat Jaume I de Castellón (España), Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales, Avd/ Sos Baynat s/n, Castellón, (Spain), 12071Phone: (0034) 964729917Fax: (0034) 964729260

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Published

2014-09-15

Issue

Vol. 8 (2014)

Section

Articles

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