The sources as a journalism quality indicator. Archaeology and public understanding of science

Abstract

Determining how the journalist uses their sources —quantity, solvency and typology— is a significative principle and quality indicator of the message excellence. The Spanish archaeologists demands a best quality for the archaeology news in the press. Give voice to them —to whom, where, when, how, and why— is directly related to their status as a primary source condition. We analysed using 16 variables all news of archaeological topics published (2016, n=107) by great daily general newspapers in Spain (20Minutos, El Mundo y La Vanguardia). The predominance of news and chronicle reduces the number of sources, less than two in 54.2% of sample. The archaeologists, like main actors (26.0%), are demystified as mere adventurers, while Archaeology is shown as a rigorous scientific knowledge based on team research.