La reputación mediática de la Unión Europea en la prensa española (2000-2018)

Identifier:  TDX:4149

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX4149

Authors:  Sales Piñeiro, Cecilia

Abstract:
This research corresponds to the field of communication relating to public sector institutions. It studies the reputation of the European Union (EU) as presented in the leading Spanish newspapers, ABC, El Mundo, El País, El Periódico de Catalunya and La Vanguardia, within the period of 2000-2018. Based on the precepts of the Agenda-Setting theory and the principles of media reputation, a content analysis is carried out to determine the nature of presence, favourability and media attributes. This makes it possible to assess how the Spanish media present the EU to Spanish citizens, contributing to the formation of public opinion and perception. The results obtained show that, while the media coverage of the EU wasn’t biased, the relevance of the news gave insufficient visibility to the institution. In addition, the news that the Spanish press focussed on during the time period was slightly negative. In terms of media attributes, the institution was presented as being linked to macroeconomic issues and the implementation of internal policies. In short, the Spanish press offered a published image of the European Union that made it difficult to cast it into the public sphere and to form any favourable public opinion to legitimise the institution at a social level.