An apolitical sports journalism?: Study of the references to the Catalan ‘procés’ in the Spanish sports digital press

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5209/esmp.72554
Keywords: sports press, politics, football, procés, Catalonia

Abstract

This article analyses 144 sports news regarding six political milestones of the sovereignty process in Catalonia between 2013 and 2019. These pieces were published by six Spanish newspapers in their digital editions: the sports dailies Marca, As, Sport and Mundo Deportivo, and the sports desks of La Vanguardia and El País. Results show a high rate of political terms employed in the body texts and, especially in the headlines and subheadings of the sports news. This occurs in all of the news outlets without exception and regardless of media typology (specialist or general interest) and geographical location (Madrid or Barcelona). The politicization of contents in the sports media outlets, 93% of which is just about football, mainly stems from statements about the Catalan conflict pronounced by sports agents. When these agents are F.C. Barcelona footballers, managers or directors, political messages in sports news are more evident and resonate.

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Author Biographies

José Luis Rojas Torrijos, Universidad de Sevilla

José Luis Rojas Torrijos es periodista y profesor del Departamento de Periodismo II de la Facultad de Comunicación de la Universidad de Sevilla. Doctor en Periodismo y miembro del grupo de investigación ‘Communication & Social Sciences’ (COM&SOC), sus principales líneas de investigación son el periodismo deportivo, los libros de estilo, la ética, la innovación en periodismo y las nuevas narrativas digitales. También es profesor en los másteres de Innovación en Periodismo de la Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, de Periodismo Deportivo de la Universitat Pompeu Fabra de Barcelona, de Comunicación y Periodismo Deportivo organizado por la Universidad Europea de Madrid (UEM), de Periodismo Deportivo Marca-Universidad CEU San Pablo, y de Periodismo Deportivo de la Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM).

Miguel Guerrero Caballero, Universidad de Sevilla

Miguel Guerrero Caballero es periodista e investigador de la Universidad de la Universidad de Sevilla.

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Published
2021-06-28
How to Cite
Rojas Torrijos J. L. y Guerrero Caballero M. (2021). An apolitical sports journalism?: Study of the references to the Catalan ‘procés’ in the Spanish sports digital press. Estudios sobre el Mensaje Periodístico, 27(3), 947-960. https://doi.org/10.5209/esmp.72554
Issue
Vol. 27 No. 3 (2021)
Section
Research and Documents

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In order to support the global exchange of knowledge, the journal Estudios sobre el Mensaje Periodístico is allowing unrestricted access to its content as from its publication in this electronic edition, and as such it is an open-access journal. The originals published in this journal are the property of the Complutense University of Madrid and any reproduction thereof in full or in part must cite the source. All content is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 use and distribution licence (CC BY 4.0). This circumstance must be expressly stated in these terms where necessary. You can view the summary and the complete legal text of the licence.