Spain's media silence on corruption: strategy or coincidence
The Pope's visit, the World Cup and Rosalía have eclipsed any mention of corruption in Spanish news bulletins. An analysis of a recurring pattern.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Spain's media silence on corruption: strategy or coincidence
An analysis of several conversations points to a coincidence that recurs too often: whenever corruption cases implicate the government, the media agenda shifts towards major events. Pope Francis's visit, the football World Cup or a new Rosalía single act as perfect smokescreens. And the figures give food for thought.
The pattern of silence
In recent days, television coverage has avoided any mention of alleged political corruption schemes. Meanwhile, hours of airtime are devoted to the papal visit or Spain's chances at the upcoming World Cup. It is nothing new: cases like La Manada or Luis Rubiales hogged hours of screen time, but when the spotlight should be on the state's dirty tricks, the news bulletins look the other way.
The Pope factor and political timing
Pope Francis's visit to Spain has monopolised attention. It coincides with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez avoiding appearances in Madrid —according to some, to avoid being heckled— although he has shown up in Barcelona. The theory that the visit was arranged to divert attention from uncomfortable matters is gaining ground among those who analyse crisis communication management.
What lies behind agenda setting?
The journalistic maxim that a falling tree only makes a noise if someone hears it applies perfectly: if TV does not talk about corruption, for the general public corruption does not exist. And while major events keep coming —the World Cup, papal visits, music releases—, the suspects and open cases fade into the media fog. Until the storm passes.
Related debates in the forum
An analysis of several conversations points to a coincidence that recurs too often: whenever corruption cases implicate the government, the media agenda shifts towards major events. Pope Francis's visit, the football World Cup or a new Rosalía single act as perfect smokescreens. And the figures give food for thought.
The pattern of silence
In recent days, television coverage has avoided any mention of alleged political corruption schemes. Meanwhile, hours of airtime are devoted to the papal visit or Spain's chances at the upcoming World Cup. It is nothing new: cases like La Manada or Luis Rubiales hogged hours of screen time, but when the spotlight should be on the state's dirty tricks, the news bulletins look the other way.
The Pope factor and political timing
Pope Francis's visit to Spain has monopolised attention. It coincides with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez avoiding appearances in Madrid —according to some, to avoid being heckled— although he has shown up in Barcelona. The theory that the visit was arranged to divert attention from uncomfortable matters is gaining ground among those who analyse crisis communication management.
What lies behind agenda setting?
The journalistic maxim that a falling tree only makes a noise if someone hears it applies perfectly: if TV does not talk about corruption, for the general public corruption does not exist. And while major events keep coming —the World Cup, papal visits, music releases—, the suspects and open cases fade into the media fog. Until the storm passes.
Related debates in the forum
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- Video with 9 min of Tomás Gómez describing PS as a ¿psychopath?... Iker's show · 16 replies
- An operation is being hatched to oust Sánchez through a no-confidence motion with votes from PSOE MPs close to Page · 260 replies
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (13 replies).
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