COMPARISON BETWEEN THE SYMBOLS OF THE BULGARIAN PROTESTS IN 2013 AND 2018-2019, REFLECTED IN THE BULGARIAN MEDIA ECOSYSTEM
COMPARISON BETWEEN THE SYMBOLS OF THE BULGARIAN PROTESTS IN 2013 AND 2018-2019, REFLECTED IN THE BULGARIAN MEDIA ECOSYSTEM

Author(s): Neli Velinova
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Media studies, Communication studies, Theory of Communication
Published by: Факултет по журналистика и масова комуникация, Софийски университет „Св. Кл. Охридски”
Summary/Abstract: The study discusses some major political and social implications of the new roles of the audiences viewed through the prism of the media activism in Bulgaria. It is based on comparison of two case-studies, focused on rigorous social events in the country that had significant political effects. The first one, triggered by the raise of electricity bills in 2013, is connected with disapproval of the living standards. Later in the same year the social protests developed towards sustaining the democratic achievements. The second case study is based on the many-sided social discontent in 2018, caused by existential problems and welfare divide. The proposed study aims to trace the messages of the civil protests in Bulgaria, reflected by traditional media, social media and social networks. The subject of the study is the comparison of the major societal demands as well as of the way citizens struggle for their rights in 2013 and at the end of 2018 and early 2019. The main research question is to explore the transformation, which has occurred in the communication process over the years between the maturing Bulgarian civil society and the elites in the context of the Internet based environment.

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