Television Political Information and Spectacularization: A Comparative Analysis of Newscasts and Infotainment Programs

Abstract

This paper focuses on the trend toward spectacularization in political information that is broadcast on Spanish television. We perform a study of newscasts, and we compare the newscasts with the content of infotainment programs. The analysis of television newscasts centers on two Spanish regional channels: Canal Sur and Canal 9RTVV. The infotainment sample comprises ten programs collected from both private and public TV channels. A thematic content analysis provides data that indicate similarities between newscasts and infotainment programs with regard to spectacularization, being personalization the key indicator in this respect. At the same time, there are differences regarding the way regional channels dramatize political information, as well as differences pertaining to spectacularization in infotainment programs.