The New technological Processes in the Coverage of the Elections in Spain

Abstract

Pool, or pool pictures, refers to a particular form of producing the television signal. It means that the images are broadcast, from the location where an event takes place to the production studios of the different TV channels, through a common technical operator. This production system is used when covering events of high social relevance, as in the case of this research: electoral events. Pool pictures represent a great instrument for the political parties in order to avoid the mediation of reporters in the dissemination of their political rallies. Thus, it is a significant instrument when defining and controlling the excerpts and the way in which the leaders’ messages reach their potential voters. Therefore, its value as documentary source needs to be reviewed, since the event is mediatised by the dynamics of its dissemination. We have shown, trough the qualitative analysis conducted, the issuer total control of the planning, composition and edition of the pictures framing, as well as of the construction of the messages.