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The social sciences have coined a number of concepts and theories often elaborated from a critical perspective, that give account for the close relationships in contemporary societies between power and the media. However, studies that reveal these relations within the socialist countries are less frequent that, as any other society, they have certain groups that hold political and economic power, and act as symbolic elites. The difference often lies in the way in which these countries justify the use of the media, with strict ideological purposes, attributing the guidance of their communication system to the Communist Party, "the working class vanguard". This study provides a review of the Cuban case, from the description of its communicative structure and the analysis of the normative discourse that sustains it, from 1959 to 2018. Adopting a structural methodological approach, and from the research paradigm proposed by the critical analysis of discourse, it is noted that the symbolic elites that control public discourse in Cuba have instituted an effective mechanism of legitimation for almost six decades, supported by a media organization according to their interests, and in the development of a regulatory framework that conditions the access and content of the media to the recognition of their ideology. It is also observed that their forms of communicative production coexist and dialogue with a public communication model where a logic of sociocultural profitability prevails that marks a notable difference with other communication systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of Twitter appears to be changing information practices. Hence, a great deal of recent research is based on its popularity among communicators, reaching the conclusion that it serves to increase interactivity with readers. But to what degree is it true that it contributes to a type of journalism which is more open to the public? This research aims especially to clarify two main questions: what specific uses do journalists make of Twitter and to what extent does two-way interaction with the public take place through this medium? It is based on the quantitative analysis of a sample comprising almost 5 million tweets posted by 1,504 Spanish media communicators, perhaps the largest sample studied so far. The analysis shows the existence of a two-speed Twitter (with a minority of influential communicators and a majority who have little impact), which has negligible interaction with followers. With few exceptions, the communicators establish endogamous relationships on Twitter. They respond to, mention and retweet colleagues, failing to take advantage of the multidirectional potential offered by the platform. This research expands the empirical basis which can be used to consider and discuss the scope and limits of user participation in information events. Many authors have theorized on this subject, perhaps too enthusiastically and arguably from a somewhat utopian perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]