A Theoretical Framework to Compare Media Systems in the Digital Era

• In Event: ICA Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Interactive Paper Session: Political Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This paper revises the Hallin and Mancini’s (HM) theoretical framework to compare media systems across countries. It does this taking into account the role of ICTs in media systems. We first present the main points of concerns related to the HM theoretical framework and discuss the work of some authors that already attempted to revise it. Then, we consider the changes that ICTS brought in the relationship between media and politics and explain why such transformations require a revision of the HM theoretical framework. The third section discusses our revised version of the HM theoretical framework: we updated their four original variables including ICTs-related dimensions transversely and we added two new variables so as to account for citizens’ role in shaping media systems. Conclusions point out the main strengths and limitations of our theoretical model and propose some steps further in the study of media systems.

Authors

• Alice Mattoni, Scuola Normale Superiore

• Diego Ceccobelli, Scuola Normale Superiore