Exploring the dynamics of the legitimacy judgment about the public sector: the case of the Spanish Ministry of Education and its media legitimacy (2011-2015)

Abstract

This paper is part of a research project that looks at how management of intangible assets can play a role to rebuild trust in the public sector. More specifically, it looks at legitimacy conceptualized as an intangible asset. The aim is to explore the logic of legitimacy judgments about public organizations and to assess whether there is congruence between a ministry (and the minister)’s actions and how the media perceive and assess them. Four types of legitimacy are examined: ‘Procedural’, based on evaluations of the soundness of the ministry’s procedures and processes; ‘Consequential’, which regards outcomes, results and achievements of the ministry’s public policies; ‘Structural’ refers to buildings, working policies, budgets and resources; and finally, ‘Personal legitimacy’ regards judgments which refer to the minister. It is also analyzed whether these dynamics of the legitimacy judgment followed a hybridization logic between online and offline organizational communication and between online and offline media. The analysed organization is the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, 2011-2015. Based on findings, the paper discusses practical implications for government communication legitimacy strategies.