Political communication in the consolidtion of portuguese contemporary democracy

Abstract

THE EVOLUTION OF POLITICAL COMMUNICATION as a field study and as an area of specialization in the field of communication advisement met a significant change in the last decades as a result of substancial political, institutional, economic and social transformations of the country in the transition for democracy and the years ahead concerning its consolidation. The communication landsacape changed dramatically since 1974 with the end of dictatorship and the beginning of a new political era drives the country to major reforms held by politicians that need to communicate them in a more different way implying the fulfilment of a wide range of expectations. This text explores the main developments of political communication in Portugal as an activity and its links to politicians, media groups and media workers in a close connection to driving forces of our recent history, mainly from the 1980’s till the present.