Networked publics as agents of accountability

Online interactions between citizens, the media and immigration officials during the European refugee crisis

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12656017
AutoresMarkus Ojala (0000-0002-7784-8179, University of Helsinki, autor correspondente), Mervi Pantti (0000-0001-9332-1556, University of Helsinki), Salla-Maaria Laaksonen (0000-0003-3532-2387, University of Helsinki)
Ano2018
Volume21
Fascículo2
Páginas279-297
Data de publicação2018-08-19
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoNew Media & Society (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1461-4448 • E-ISSN: 1461-7315
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1461444818794592
OpenAlexW2888064726
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas26
Referências citadas36

This study examines how citizens made use of online platforms to direct diverging critiques and demands at the Finnish Immigration Service during what has come to be known as the refugee crisis in Europe. Focusing on peak periods of debate, identified using big data, we closely observe how public scrutiny of the immigration service occurred in the interactions between online users, the news media and the agency itself. Our analysis indicates that networked publics can be regarded as influential drivers of accountability for government agencies, which often feel obligated to justify their actions to these publics. However, the operation of networked publics as accountability agents remains heavily dependent on the broader public debate, which is still largely shaped by news media organisations, political elites and the officials themselves

Accountability · Agency (philosophy · Government (linguistics · Immigration · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Public service · Publics · Refugee · Scrutiny · Social media · Social science · Sociology · E-Government and Public Services · Law · Public Administration · Public Policy and Administration Research · Social Media and Politics