The congruence between the legitimacy judgments of the public institution, the media and citizens

Abstract

This research explores the dynamics of legitimacy in a public leader and his organization with executive responsibilities in a central government. The aim of this study is to rebuild the trust of citizens in public institutions by means of the intangible asset legitimacy. Thus, our purpose is to analyse the congruence between the legitimacy judgements which the own organization, the media and citizens make about a ministry of education –Ministry of Education of the Government of Spain, with José Ignacio Wert and Iñigo Méndez de Vigo as ministers (2011-2015)–. The empirical observation follows a triangular methodological design and consists in a quantitative content analysis of the legitimacy judgements, contrasting three points of observation. Specifically, an analysis of the following has been carried out: as far as the organization is concerned, the communication on Twitter by the ministers and the Ministry, as well as press releases and announcements; regarding the media, print media and newspapers profiles on Twitter and, as for citizens, their tweets. The results show the communicative characteristics of the interaction between a public institution and the different actors, as well as how this interaction may affect its legitimacy, and ultimately, citizens.