Social Movements and Communication Strategies. The Case of 15M and Occupy Wall Street

Abstract

The role of mass media is essential to form and express the public opinion in the democratic societies. As the result of the significance of mass media in society is the fact that mass media are receptors of the multiple influences in an effort to achieve its presence in the journalistic content. This paper attempts to research the presence of antisistemic movements in the case of Spain (15M) and United States (Occupy Wall Street). The methodology is based on the content analysis of seven Spanish newspapers and the presence of the movements in the online social networks. As the result of the investigation, it can be concluded that Spanish movement is mainly centered in action, mobilization and political demands, without contributing detailed and indeep analysis of the system, whereas American movement was based on major expertise and qualitative information and on demands for economic reforms.