Qualidade Jornalística e Estabilidade Democrática em Tempos de Crise: Reflexões Empíricas de Jornais Espanhóis

Silvia Felizardo dos Santos; Rut Martínez Borda

doi:10.17231/comsoc.45(2024).4754

Authors

Silvia Felizardo dos Santos Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5712-2549
Rut Martínez Borda Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3841-6402

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17231/comsoc.45(2024).4754

Keywords:

journalistic quality, citizenship, democracy, post-democracy Spanish newspapers

Abstract

In today’s social and political landscape, marked by the rise of neopopulist social players and heightened democratic uncertainty, it becomes imperative to understand the quality of journalism in post-democratic frameworks. The infodemic witnessed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the pitfalls of relying on social media as a primary information source able to facilitate the development of fundamental skills necessary for active citizenship within liberal democracies. Given these circumstances, it is essential to analyse the pivotal role of mainstream journalism in countering disinformation and fostering critical thinking among citizens, thereby elevating public interest concerns onto the societal agenda.
The primary objective of this research is to assess the quality of the content produced by prominent Spanish newspapers and disseminated to the public via social media. Employing both qualitative and quantitative paradigms as a methodology within the epistemological framework that guides them, we analyse the content’s tendencies and political biases concerning rumours about the coronavirus published by leading national and regional newspapers on their Facebook profiles.
The findings of this investigation indicate minimal audience engagement with the posts, prompting further discussions on the kinds of stories that capture public interest while also nurturing critical thinking skills among citizens.

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Author Biographies

Silvia Felizardo dos Santos, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain

Silvia Felizardo dos Santos, a journalist with over two decades of experience, has been a PhD candidate since 2019. Her academic pursuits focus on the role of quality journalism in cultivating critical thinking and advancing the consolidation of democratic Governance.

Rut Martínez Borda, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain

Rut Martínez Borda serves as a professor of Audiovisual Communication and the vice-dean of Communication at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the University of Alcalá. Her primary research focus revolves around the study of video games as integral components of childhood and youth popular culture. She explores how these games wield influence in shaping new modes of thought, expression, and communication, leveraging multimodal codes across various environments. Additionally, Martínez Borda examines the societal beliefs and practices emerging in response to these technological resources.

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