New Communication Forms and Political Framing: Twitter in Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign

Abstract

Technological development has made it possible for the modern individual to understand the world around them using a computer and screen as their fundamental means of accessing information. With analysis of certain features of modern communication and new media, and of communication forms determined by new ‘agents’ such as the Internet, the mobile phone, social media – and most of all Twitter – it can be concluded that new media channels are no longer merely an asset, but also a place of social interaction. The ways in which social media are used influence the creation of an altered image of the world around us. The custom-made environment of information which reaches the user serves to diminish the chances for a more comprehensive perception. The era of Donald Trump is a striking example of the use of new media, primarily Twitter, as a powerful means of reaching a significant number of future voters. The way in which information is framed on Twitter is rooted in the theoretical basics of framing, and as such has played a significant role in establishing Trump’s political superiority. Article received: March 25, 2018; Article accepted: April 10, 2018; Published online: September 15, 2018; Preliminary report – Short CommunicationsHow to cite this article: Vlatković, Sandra. "New Communication Forms and Political Framing: Twitter in Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign." AM Journal of Art And Media Studies 16 (2018): 123−134. doi: 10.25038/am.v0i16.259

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