Governmental communication, legitimacy, and governability in crisis contexts
Correlational content analysis of the “Ciudadanos de 100” campaign during the water shortage in Nuevo León
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29105/gmjmx23.45-575Keywords:
government communication, legitimacy, governability, water crisis, audiovisual communicationAbstract
Government communication is key during crises that affect citizens’ daily lives. The water crisis in Nuevo León, Mexico, between 2021 and 2022 constitutes a relevant case due to the severity of the shortage and the communication strategy deployed by the state government. The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between the discursive elements of the “Ciudadanos de 100” campaign spots and citizens’ perceptions of legitimacy and governability during the crisis. Using a quantitative design, a content analysis was conducted, coding visual, textual, and narrative variables related to actors, responsibility, causes, and types of spots. The results show significant correlations between the presence of the Government of Nuevo León and the dimensions of legitimacy: trust, capacity, and certainty. It was also found that the discourse is positively associated with legitimacy and governability. In contrast, messages that attribute blame to citizens show negative associations. In terms of governability, shared responsibility and discursive clarity strengthen its perception, while the use of the color orange and the blaming of citizens weaken it. The findings provide evidence on how the formal elements of audiovisual messages influence the social acceptance of government action during public crises.
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Global Media Journal México, publicación semestral, editada por el Departamento de Psicología y Comunicación de Texas A&M International University, Laredo, Texas, Estados Unidos; y la Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, México. Editores responsables: Dr. José Carlos Lozano y Dr. Francisco Javier Martínez Garza. Datos de contactos: jose.lozano@tamiu.edu, tel. (956) 326-3117 y francisco.martinezgz@uanl.edu.mx, teléfono (81) 83294000, Ext. 7710 y 7711. Reserva de derechos al uso exclusivo número 04 – 2017- 080814012900- 203, expedido por la Dirección de Reservas de Derechos del Instituto Nacional del Derecho de Autor. ISSN: 2007-2031. El editor no necesariamente comparte el contenido de los artículos, ya que son responsabilidad exclusiva de los autores. Se prohíbe la reproducción total o parcial del contenido, ilustraciones y textos publicados en este número sin la previa autorización que por escrito emita el editor.
