Propaganda in Contemporary Spanish Media

Traditionally, the main purpose of propaganda in media is to persuade and influence its intended audience from either a moral, political or ideological standpoint. It proves one of the most effective tools in imposing control over a mass audience and for this usually acquires a negative undertone. This is a fact that holds true in all types of media (newspaper, radio, television, film, posters, newsletters etc) and in all established nations of the world; contemporary Spanish media no less a contributing factor.
Over the last century, the agenda of Spanish media have had many transformations. According to Jose Magone’s book on assessing contemporary Spanish politics there have been five particular phases of political ideologies that play a factor in information distribution adjunct to its suppression. Stemming from the totalitarian days of Francisco Franco, to nationalist democratization of the early 80’s, and socialist reformation of the modern Spanish political landscape, propaganda techniques continue to prove important instruments in agenda setting expressionism.

As previously stated, propaganda managed to shape Spanish ideology through the greater part of Franco’s dictatorship and used as a tool to suppress all other opposing ideologies at the time according to research conducted by Raanan Rein, a renowned professor of Latin American and Spanish History. Rein brings to light the argument that the pro-Franco regime also used their power over media to depict their “neutrality” between the Axis and Allied powers during World War II and accordingly the horrors subjected to the Jewish community during the Holocaust. Modern day scholars question the sincerity of Franco’s position pertaining to the well being of the Jewish community as opposed to “improve(ing) the dictatorship’s image in the eyes of Western democratic public opinion,” but nevertheless, over time it proved effective in defending the welfare of the Jewish community and ameliorating the anti-Semitic sentiments of the time.

In addition, there is the question of the modern political Spanish agenda as well as the agendas of radical extremist groups such as E.T.A. and even Islamic jihadists that currently roam its socio- political landscape. For example, these extremist groups attempt unorthodox approaches towards propaganda, mostly violent or inflammatory such as vandalism, graffiti, and even martyrdom. These approaches towards propaganda, although by no means traditional, still prove effective in, if not instilling fear amongst its rivals and intended audience, then getting a biased, fear-mongering message across. As for the current Socialist regime in Spain like any governing body also contain their own strategies of policy setting, fortunately just as effective and not as damaging to its own public.

Sources:

Magone, Jose. Contemporary Spanish Politics. New York: Routledge, 2008.

Mahan, Sue, and Pamala L. Griset. Terrorism in Perspective. Minneapolis: Sage Publications, Inc, 2007.

Rein, Raanan. "Diplomacy, Propaganda, and Humanitarian Gestures: Francoist Spain and Egyptian Jews, 1956-1968." IberoAmericana (2006). http://www.iai.spk-berlin.de/fileadmin/dokumentenbibliothek/Iberoamericana/23-rein.pdf.

"YouTube - Revolution in Spain." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. 04 Apr. 2009 .

Emphasis on Sex and Violence in Media Presentations

WHY IS SEX AND VIOLENCE TELEVISION PROGRAMS?
By Jennifer Fernandez

In 1993, Spain with its battle over eliminating sex and violence on TV. The government had a tremendous effect. There was so much pressure on state owned and private television companies, agreeing to not air shows with violence, explicit sex to improper language when children were watching. The media outlets had trouble adjusting to this demand because most programs have sex scenes or action violence. The problem with the society is that sex sells and people what to see the drama and the intense action in a program. This usually attracts people to a television show or TV movie. "It is estimated that over 90 percent of the population watches television daily. On average Spaniards watch more than three hours of television per day."


The New York Times states, "The accord forms part of a new ethics code negotiated by the Education Ministry and television companies with the specific aim of protecting minors. Adherence to the code is voluntary." This is the first attempt Spain tried toward liberalization after the end of Franco’s dictatorship in 1975.




In the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Culture it states, "Censorship was exercised and dissent was not tolerated. After the death of Franco, the press gained freedom and with it the ability to take on the role of a modern European democracy. In the early 2000s the press and other forms of the media have complete freedom to comment on all political, cultural, and social issues."

The association for Children’s Rights demanded two stations, that were ran by other governments, Telemadrid and Canal Sur, to take a cartoon called “Dragon Ball” off the air because they reported to the New York Times it was, "excessively violent, offensive to girls and stimulates selfish attitudes."

Many blame emphasis on sex and violence to the government when they allowed private televisions stations to operate in the late 1980's. When they were given the license they believed they could air what would sell and bring the most profit. To several companies, that was pretty women and action scenes. They knew that a man would watch a television show when they show a beautiful women half naked or women would see a sex man with no shirt. Television companies knew people wanted to watch fights and gun shots.

Other media sources , newspaper and radio, believe that several Japanese and American cartoons are unsuitable for children. Recently a study was done on Walt Disney movies and cartoons because they is believed to be sexual innuendo and discrimination. Many Disney movies are tales about violence and conflict. Other cultures believe that Disney tries to sugar coat the people with cute, fuzzy animals. The sex and violence is being played by an animated character, instead of real people. For example, the movie The Little Mermaid raise issues. Disney movies are seen all over the world and are translated in every language. In discussions I have seen and read, Ariel gives up everything she has to be with the prince. She leaves her family, home, and friends for romance. This is not a good example for girls because it is demonstrating to give up all your beliefs to get with the man you want. NOT GOOD! Even tho there is not a direct connect to sex, girls could give up themselves, in belief that someone will accept them, like Ariel was accepted. There is also said to be racial connections with Sebastian, the crab, and violence in the beginning of the movie when the ship explodes.

The problem continues in Spain because TV companies have bought several programs they have to play based on agreements and money.

Since these shows were purchased because the government issued this effect, they next time programs come in they will be examined before purchase. Spain continues to have a problem with Tele 5, in a recent interview with New York Times, Mr. Colom the head of Spanish State Television says, "The most frequent target of protests has been Tele 5, a private channel partly owned and operated by an Italian television entrepreneur, Silvio Berlusconi, which depends largely on imported programs. I think Tele 5 only signed the ethics code because it did not want to be singled out." The director of Tele 5 does not agree with this code because they are a paid private company.

The rules in Spain about sex and violence on television are now being implemented. Mr. Colom, the head of Spanish Television is taking legal action with programs and companies not following the rule. When a TV program is aired that has emphasis on sex and violence it hits the newspapers the next day and causes controversy and low ratings. TV programs with sex and violence are to be played at hours when children are not watching and are in bed.

Sources

Parrondo, Ramón. "Press." In Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Culture. E. Rodgers, ed. New York: Routledge, 1999, pp. 418-419.

RIDING, ALAN. "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; TV in Spain Is Cutting Back on Prime-Time Sex and Violence." Business 10 May 1993 3 Apr 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/10/business/the-media-business-tv-in-spain-is-cutting-back-on-prime-time-sex-and-violence.html.

Obvious Stereotypes of Spain

What Are Stereotypes?

The Sociology of a stereotype is any thought that is cut down or consistent with a common image invested

with a certain type of meaning to it.   Stereotypes are many times held by specific members of groups to categorize a certain set of individuals either from a certain heritage, country, race or religion. For instance, many stereotypes are general assumptions on how people think that certain groups of individuals from Spain live their life, the food they eat, how they act, etc.

 

Spanish Stereotypes Involving Fashion

Like many of the stereotypes that we see or hear about in our society today, Spain’s stereotypes have very little accuracy to them and how individuals may live.  Spain, like most of Europe, is one of the main fashion industry based cities in all of Europe.  When it comes to the media this 

country has one of the highest turn-out rates for fashion based media.  They have Fashion Week and many fashion shows that are constantly happening around the country. These shows are seen by just about every individual in that country and most likely in other countries as well.  People have a tendency of following fashion, designers and most of the time the models specifically.  Teenagers in Spain I am sure many times see these fashion shows and aspire to look like the model that they just saw; beautiful, popular and skinny.

When consumers see these models that weigh absolutely nothing and have these wall like bodies they think of that as the “norm.”  Individuals then seek to want to actually look this, which then leads to eating disorders, and health issues because looking like this in fact is not a healthy way of living.  If this is not what the “norm” of what the Spanish country looks like then why do they have such skinny models on the runway?   Designers use to believe that this was the best way to sell things to the media in order for their clothes to be popular and up-to-date with society’s fashion.  They figured that skinny models would be able to sell their clothes much better and faster.  

Individuals are seeing these models and wanting to look just like them because they are skinny and beautiful so they think that maybe by buying the clothes they can just as skinny and beautiful as the models do.  But of course like everything something gets in the way, their weight.  A teenage girl looks in the mirror and realizes that she does not look like the model because she is not as skinny as the model was in the fashion show.  This then leads to super skinny teenagers with health issues and eating disorders.

 

Spain’s Change In Size?

Spain has taken the initiative to attempt to change the size of their fashion models that show off their clothing.  This all started when Pasarela Cibeles, the countries most famous fashion show, decided that they were going to bane super 

skinny models from walking in their fashion shows.  In doing this Spain was hoping that this would improve women’s thinking that being to skinny was something that needed to be done.  They wanted to show that being a “norm” size was ok and acceptable according to fashion.  By doing this they were hoping to change the perception of the media and how the media portrayed the Spanish Fashion Shows along with their super skinny models. 

The Spanish government has decided that they want to also help improve this bad stereotype to then improve the health of the women in their country who may be dying from bulimia or anorexia because they are attempting to look like these models.  The government is requiring clothes companies to change the sizing system to help women’s health as well as their self-esteem issues that they might be having because of seeing these models.  Although other countries in Europe do not agree with what Spain is doing they do not acknowledge it as something that is happening in the fashion world but instead as something that is happening in Spain. 

Multicultural and Ethnic Media

Media in Spain does not give a very positive outlook on multicultural integration. In fact, most media representations of minorities are made with no interest in social integration. This goes for all of Spain's media sources.

In a recent study done of 20 of the most popular publications in Spain, there is a very poor view of minorities. There were 165 references to minorities in the studied time line. Of those references 45.7% were on migration policies, 14% focused on how to the arrival of migrant population and 20% talked about international agreements on migration control. Of the 165, only 22 references were made of criminality with a minority being the victim or the accused.

Publications rarely ever use minorities as a source and even less often do they provide the participants identity.

In Radio and Television media, the trend continues with subjects of multicultural and ethnic interests being even less frequent. Minorities are considered 'Invisible' in the media and coexistence is virtually nonexistent. One of the least represented topics in media is social reality. Minorities are only shown with topics of crime, poverty and conflicts.

A similar study was done with the six most popular television stations in Spain. The results of those studies showed that the only news involving minorities was on young ethnic bands or in relation to gypsy population that had been expelled. Television does not assist multicultural integration in Spain at all.

Migrants are forced to turn to technologies to help them with news or related ethnic topics. With the addition of the Internet and satellite television, minorities are able to stay current with news from their native countries but these are the only forms of reaching multicultural sources for them. Multicultural news and entertainment is an untapped area for Spain and would be of great income for them. The reason for this is that studies have shown that migrants and minorities in Spain watch more television then the natives do.

Ethnicity in Spain's media is a currently changing topic. Spain's background comes from a very conservative approach and has only become more open as of the last few decades. In the past, Spain's ethnic approach has been to conserve traditional views on family, relations between the sexes and the role of a woman in society. Unfortunately, Spain's social values are changing faster the laws and regulations which has cause a great deal of tension between legalities and realities. Even the Spanish church has moved away from its conservative approach to social values that it held in the past.

Characteristics of Journalism Foundations & Practices by: Germaine Escobar

While the traditions of the press in Spain back dates to the eighteenth century, its roots are to be found as far back as the seventeenth century. During the nineteenth century, newspapers became closely affiliated with specific political groups and also linked to business interests. Three important political events shaped the press of twentieth century Spain: the rise of the Second Republic; the Spanish Civil War and subsequent triumph of General Francisco Franco (Fascist Dictator of Spain); and the death death of Franco which brought a transition to democracy. Full freedom of the press was an ongoing battle in Spain since the 1800's and the death of a dictator brought the European democracy complete freedom to comment on all political, cultural, and social issues. Furthermore, a major development was broadcasting in regional languages and the arrival of commercial national stations.

The press in Spain is almost finally coming out of a period of transition with characteristics that are lower in comparison to presses in modern European countries. Even so, with almost 44.1 million inhabitants, the "free press is reaching great audiences and is gaining remarkable commercial strength" according to media analysts. Media mediums include:

• Television - which includes the transition from the analogue television to the digital system so called “analogical blackout”– will have to conclude by April 2010.
  


• Telefónica, the most powerful and spread telecommunications company been promoting the ADSL technology not only by offering Internet connection, but also interactive television services. It also started to offer a new service of television by ADSL in 2005, called Imagenio. Since the beginning of 2006 other ADSL operators have also begun to offer similar services, such as Jazztelia TV by the Jazztel Telecommunications Company
  


• Radio has been a profound impact on Spanish media. SER is the most popular radio network which is known for its music and news programs. "HORA 25" radio program played an important role in Spain's transition to democracy by broadcasting some of the first uncensored new stories in Spain's history.
  


• Internet continues its slow growth in Spain and, in fact, it was the only mass medium whose consumption grew in 2005.

PRINT MEDIA IN SPAIN

Newspapers have evolved from traditional print media to electronic versions on the internet. The most read newspapersars are 20 minutes with approximately 2,048,000 viewers and El Pais with 2,498,000 viewers. There are 8 other top newspapers not too far behind. Four are regional: La Vanguardia, El Periódico ; El Correo Español ; and La Voz de Galicia; Regional newspapers are papers published in the different regional languages Catalan, Basque and Galician. Regional press stretches as far as the Canary Islands with characteristics that include international and "parochial" local news reporting with a history as far back as 1808. Three distinct papers are dedicated to a Sports Fanatic Spain Marca, As, and Sport. El País, ABC and El Mundo, are national newspapers.

El País set the tone for serious journalism in Spain. It expresses liberal democratic views along with pluralist views towards the recently formed independant communities. It is published in Madrid in a tabloid format of between 80 to 100 pages. It reports aspects of all Spanish life and culture as well as international news.

Kiosk Literature






Newspapers as well as other periodical press form part of what has been called "kiosk literature. It refers to both serous and popular content. It is of mass appeal which includes newspapers, sports press, economic, and travel commonly referred to as "prensa del corazon" (press of the heart).

Framework in Spain


Rapid change characterize modern media in Spain. The most significant problems like in the U.S are those of energy, inflation, growing unemployment and immigration. A study of media framing has been depicted in Spain in regards to immigration in the local newspapers. In a case study done in the region of Castilla y Leon, 586 news articles were examined to detect news framing in the immigration news coverage. Two frame packages - the Issue frame and the Visual frame were actually created to interpret these frames discovered in the news.


There now exists a National Federation of Associations of the Press aswell as regional and local associations whose objectives are to protect the rights and interstes of all journalists and promote and enforce high standards and ethics of the profession. The broadcast media have specific laws for their contents and schedules of emission, inspired by the European regulations. The content providing through Internet is regulated by one specific law since 2002. No specific laws apply to printed media.


Media - The Voice of the People


The other face of the spanish “royal democracy”. Nowadays, our own police is used against disarmed civilians

"The red-yellow-purple is Spanish republican flag. This flag represents the defense of a democratic State, without monarchy, where all the members of the government are chosen by the town. Nowadays, in Spain, a king designated by the Franco dictator is still the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. The man on the floor, is an unarmed civilian,
The man in black is a member of the armed forces of Defense of State who's function should be to serve and protect Citizenship, guarding it's physicial and political integrity."

The foundation of Spain Journalism and Media stands politically aggressive with their views and social status. They embrace the power of media and take pride in being bold whenever the ocassion rises to put out there what's happening on the local streets. But as the media plague spreads it continues to try infecting the principles and traditional values of its community. It's a plague geared from the power of the almighty dollar, the so called "popular culture" seems to be manipulating on a worldwide level.

Jose Couso




" Shooting The Messenger "




"One of the most powerful executives in the cable news business, CNN’s Eason Jordan, was brought down after he spoke out of school during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in January. In a rare moment of candor, Jordan reportedly said that the US military had targeted a dozen journalists who had been killed in Iraq. The comments quickly ignited a firestorm on the Internet, fueled by right-wing bloggers, that led to Jordan’s recanting, apologizing and ultimately resigning after twenty-three years at the network, "in an effort to prevent CNN from being unfairly tarnished by the controversy."
But the real controversy here should not be over Jordan’s comments. The controversy ought to be over the unconscionable silence in the United States about the military’s repeated killing of journalists in Iraq."


Spanish papers and press are saying NO! To the War In Iraq! One camera man Jose Couso was reporting from a Palestinian Hotel when he was shot and killed unarmed by U.S Military.

His family has filed a lawsuit against the US soldiers who killed him, and they plan to travel to the United States for the anniversary of his death this spring. Will any network have the courage to put them on the air?



The people go to the streets and express their sorrow and outrage!






Til present day, spanish media insists on voicing their cry for peace and an end to the War in Iraq. Not only in name of Jose Couso, but in the name of hundreds of journalists innocently killed.






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References:

http://www.elpais.com/global/
http://www.ejc.net/media_landscape/article/spain/
http://www.josecouso.info/
http://www.culturalpolicies.net/web/spain.php?aid=538
www.encyclopedia.com
http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2009/03/spanish_press_asks_for_government_interv.php
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This blog is not dedicated to provide a one sided demonstration of Spanish Media and culture. But to provide information of the different aspects and issues that have existed and exist today. Comments welcome.

Spain: Pop Culture

Spain

Major Pop Culture Influences

As reported by Ashley Doyle

Pop culture, short for "popular culture", is defined by Dictionary.com as "contemporary lifestyle and items that are well known and generally accepted, cultural patterns that are widespread within a population..." Every developed population has a pop culture that is solely theirs. Although populations may have reoccuring themes within their pop cultures, no two will ever be the exact same. Spain has a rich history that has served to color its unique pop culture of today.

Spanish Pop Culture: Sports

Spain has, like many countries, a love for sports. If one were to try and find the perfect combination of Spain's rich history and their intense love for sports, one would stumble across the extreme sport of bullfighting. Found throughout Spain, bullfighting has been synonymous with Spanish culture since the sixteenth century. One of the most popular bullfighting events takes place during the Sanfermines in Pamplona. It is during the Festival of Sanfermines in Pamplona that the extreme sport of bullfighting is taken to the limit with the "Running of the Bulls." Starting promptly at eight o'clock in the morning and ending only two minutes later, the "Running of the Bulls" is a chaotic 800-meter sprint winding through the narrow streets of Pamplona. The mad dash begins at the corral and ends in the bullring of Plaza de Toros. Once they arrive within the plaza, the bulls are again corralled until the following afternoon's bullfights.

Turning to a slightly less extreme sport, futbol, or what American's call soccer, is another popular sport that Spaniards enjoy not only watching but partaking in. The most notable of these Spanish Futbol teams include Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona.

While the United States has the "National Football League" (NFL), Spain has their own "Spanish Football League" and while the two share similar names, they are completely different sports. The Spanish Football League was started in 1928. Due to the Spanish Civil War, the league was suspended from 1936 until 1939. There have been a total of seventy-three seasons since the league first began.

Atletico de Madrid teammate:

Spanish Pop Culture: Music

Traditionally speaking, Flamenco has been the symbol for popular music in Spain since the late 1400's. Flamenco is nothing without the song, a good guitar and an even better dancer. Many people from Spain, as well as other Latin countries, still listen to Flamenco and although it may be considered "pop culture" to them, it would not be considered "pop culture" to the current generation in Spain.

The current generation of music listeners have turned from Flamenco and set their eyes on something completely new and different. From the 1930's until the 1970's, Spanish pop music was very limited. Under Francisco Franco's harsh regime, Spanish pop music floundered without proper outlets for performers to express their creativity. This was a dark time for pop music but even in the darkness there was a small glimmer of light. British and American music, namely rock-n-roll, was able to have some effect on Spanish music despite Franco's regime.

In the 1980's, Spain's popular music scene truly began to develop. But it was not just music that began to develop. Spain's entire culture had taken a dramatic turn. This dramatic facelift of Spanish pop culture was known as "La Movida Madrileña."

Spanish pop is vast and to try and define it with a single word would be impossible. It encompasses everything: blues, rock, reggae, hip-hop, punk, ska, electronia, etc. One popular type of music that encompasses many of these aforementioned styles is called Ye-Yé. Ye-Yé refers to very uptempo pop music consisting of a blend of 60's American rock, hip French and British beat music. It was the movie star and singer, Concha Velasco, who launched the Ye-Yé scene with the 1965 hit, "La Chica Ye-Yé." Even with this American, French and British style of music, Spain's own Flamenco music was sometimes woven into the mix to give it a uniquely Spanish sound.

Some of Spain's singers have even made it big internationally. Some names you may recognize are Enrique Iglesias, Julio Iglesias or Marc Anthony. Although these three names have made it big internationally, they are not the only three.





A few of Spain's most popular singers and bands include:

• Conchita
• Fangoria
• Nacha Pop
• And many, many more.
  
  

Spanish Pop Culture: Cinema and Television

If you are a fan of gossip and scandal, you would love television in Spain! Celebrity gossip and scandal are a guilty pleasure for most countries but Spain has a wide variety of television shows dedicated to this.


Gossip and scandal not your thing? Are you more a fan of reality shows? Try the reality hit show Big Brother, translated simply to "Gran Hermoso." UK television has shaped many television programs in Spain as reality hit shows have begun to be translated from English to Spanish and broadcasted on numerous stations.


Just like music, television and cinema in Spain is certainly not lacking.


Cinema in Spanish is a prosperous industry whose prospering can easily be seen every year as more films are nominated and sometimes even awarded a Golden Globe from Hollywood's Golden Globes ceremony or an Oscar from the Academy Awards.





A few famous figures from the world of Spanish Cinema:

• Pedro Almódovar


• Antonio Banderas


• Penelope Cruz


• Benicio del Toro
  
  
  
  
  
  

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References:

• http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/07/running_with_the_bulls_in_pamp.html
  
• http://www.soccer-spain.com/ssdocs/history/leaguerecord.html


• http://www.red2000.com/spain/primer/fest.html


• "Culture and customs of Spain" by Edward F. Stanton