Media Coverage of Vicarious Violence in Spain: Analysis of Best Practices and Ethical Proposals

Abstract

This article presents an in-depth analysis of media coverage of so-called vicarious violence—violence exercised against an intermediary, usually children, with the purpose of inflicting emotional and psychological harm on the partner—in the three most widely read media outlets in Spain during the period between 2020 and 2024. Through a mixed-method approach that combines quantitative and qualitative tools, the study examines in detail the narratives and discursive frameworks employed in news reports addressing this phenomenon. The aim is to identify not only good journalistic practices that contribute to a rigorous understanding of the problem, but also the recurrent errors that reveal ethical shortcomings in the treatment of such cases. Vicarious violence, a concept that has progressively gained prominence since its popularization in public and political debate, is sometimes approached from inadequate or sensationalist perspectives. Such approaches tend to trivialize the magnitude of the problem or, in more extreme cases, to re-victimize those affected, thereby reinforcing stigmas and perpetuating silence. The study also puts forward a set of ethical recommendations designed to foster more responsible and respectful journalism, capable of making visible the seriousness of this form of violence without resorting to sensationalism. Finally, it identifies gaps in the current ethical regulation and suggests new lines of action aimed at strengthening the specific training of communication professionals in this sensitive field.