RT Journal Article
T1 Connecting publics in latency through communicative practices: a pragmatist operationalization from rural Spain
A1 Rueda Córdoba, Francisco Javier
A1 Sáiz Echezarreta, Vanesa
A1 Galletero Campos, Belén
AB This article examines how participatory publics persist in depopulated rural areas during periods of low visibility and mobilization. Drawing on pragmatism and mediatization theory, we analyse communicative figurations in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain) using survey data (N = 529) and develop a Participatory Public Connection Index. Regression models reveal that public connection is driven more by communicative and territorial factors – such as local radio use, civic motivations and municipality size – than by sociodemographics. Our findings suggest that local media help sustain symbolic bonds and latent publics, contributing to democratic engagement and territorial cohesion despite the absence of visible collective action. We conceptualize latency as the communicative and symbolic potential through which publics persist beyond visible mobilization; operationally, the Participatory Public Connection Index captures this latent connection sustained by everyday local media practices.
PB Sage Journals
SN 0267-3231
YR 2026
FD 2026-01-12
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/130506
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/130506
LA eng
NO Saiz-Echezarreta, V., Rueda-Córdoba, F. J., & Galletero-Campos, B. (2026). Connecting publics in latency through communicative practices: A pragmatist operationalization from rural Spain. European Journal of Communication, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/02673231251409702
DS Docta Complutense
RD 19 mar 2026