Gurri emphasizes the enduring power of broadcast-style media to create shared public information-moments that everyone knows everyone else knows-which is essential for effective opposition. Contrasting this with the fragmented, asynchronous nature of modern digital platforms, he notes that while the internet allows for both real-time (live streaming, chats) and delayed communication, the sheer volume of content fragments audience attention across countless creators. Yet, this fragmentation coexists with extreme concentration: a tiny fraction of creators command most engagement, demonstrating both fragmentation and amplification in the network era.
Nonetheless, Gurri believes that opposition movements can still leverage the digital environment by crafting their own “mini-broadcasts” to form cohesive media blocs. Using examples like Peru’s 1990s videotape scandal and Venezuela’s media control, he illustrates that even small, trusted channels can shape political outcomes when they penetrate the broader public sphere. He concludes that although modern digital media is messy and decentralized, strategically cultivated media units-combining synchronous events, stored content, and networked amplification-can still foster public information and combat authoritarian or dominant narratives.