Graham, T orcid.org/0000-0002-5634-7623, Broersma, M and Hazelhoff, K (2013) Closing the gap? Twitter as an instrument for connected representation. In: Scullion, R, Gerodimos, D, Jackson, D and Lilleker, D, (eds.) The Media, Political Participation and Empowerment. Routledge Research in Political Communication . Routledge , pp. 71-88. ISBN 9780415633499
Abstract
In this chapter, we present a typology of the tweeting behaviour of candidates as a means of analysing the extent to which politicians are harnessing the potential of social media to actively interact with their constituents. Our research, which included content analysis of tweets (n = 13,637) from all the Conservative and Labour tweeting candidates during the 2010 U.K. General Election, focused on four aspects of tweets: type (normal post, interaction, retweet, retweet with comment); interaction (with, e.g. a politician, journalist, citizen); function (e.g. updating, promoting, advice giving, debating); and topic. Additionally, a qualitative reading on the use of personal tweets was carried out. By examining candidates’ tweeting behaviour, we show that British politicians still mainly use Twitter as a unidirectional form of communication. They are neglecting the possibility this social network offers for, what we call, connected representation.
Metadata
Item Type: | Book Section |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Editors: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2013, the Author(s). This is the accepted manuscript of a book chapter published in The Media, Political Participation and Empowerment, available online: https://www.routledge.com/The-Media-Political-Participation-and-Empowerment/Scullion-Gerodimos-Jackson-Lilleker/p/book/9780415633499. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Personalization; Elections; Election campaign; Twitter; Social Media; Politicians; Political Communication; Internet Research; Content Analysis |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of Media & Communication (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 05 Sep 2017 14:18 |
Last Modified: | 21 Jan 2018 03:35 |
Published Version: | https://www.routledge.com/The-Media-Political-Part... |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Routledge |
Series Name: | Routledge Research in Political Communication |
Identification Number: | 10.4324/9780203381113 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:113485 |