The Media Representation of the Anti-Austerity Movement

Abstract

In this chapter, the moment of representation in the Circuit of Protest is addressed in more detail. Representation, unlike self-mediation, is practised by political actors outside of the movement. While undoubtedly the self-mediation practices of activists and movements play an important role, and arguably have become easier and more widespread thanks to the internet, mobile technologies and social media, it would be wrong to downplay the importance of representation by others. More than two decades ago, Gamson and Wolfsfeld (1993) described social movements and mainstream media as ‘interacting systems’, and, more recently, Rucht (2013: 262) argued that, despite the emergence and increased importance of the internet, ‘[t]o reach the public at large, the key channel was and is getting access to and coverage by the established media’. Their importance is also acknowledged, by activists themselves through their various attempts to manage journalists and influence their own media representations positively.