Expanding ideologies in the press: feminist and LGBT-related issues in Spanish online-only opinion journalism

ABSTRACT

This paper analyzes the ideological profile of the Spanish online-only press regarding feminist and LGBT issues. We perform a content analysis of opinion columns sampled from the most popular Spanish online-only newspapers. The analysis focuses diachronically in two moments: May 2011 and June 2016. The coding sheet includes feminist and sexual identity-related categories such as the mention of women and women’s rights, abortion, traditional family, LGBT identities, or the role of Catholicism. The Spanish press’ conservatism or progressiveness is measured by computing frequencies of mentions and their positive/neutral/negative valuation. Results indicate a more plural scenario regarding the traditional conservatism of Spanish digital media, with online-only opinion paying more attention to women and non-normative sexualities. Findings are discussed and contextualized pertaining to the current wave of feminist activism in Spain, and the emergence of left-leaning online-only newspapers.

KEYWORDS:

• Women
• feminism
• LGBT
• ideology
• online-only newspapers

Acknowledgments

Research described in this paper was performed at IDECO, Research Group on Political Communication, Ideology, and Propaganda (University of Seville, SEJ-539). We would like to thank Dr Cynthia Carter for her kindness and help throughout the editorial process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Antonio Pineda

Antonio Pineda is Associate Professor at the University of Seville (Spain), Department of Audio-Visual Communication and Advertising. His main research lines are the theoretical and empirical study of propaganda, the semiotics of advertising, and the relationships between ideology and the media. E-mail: [email protected]

Elena Bellido-Pérez

Elena Bellido-Pérez works at the Department of Audio-Visual Communication and Advertising, University of Seville. She has a Master Degree in Communication and Culture, and graduated in Advertising and Public Relations, obtaining the End of Studies Extraordinary Prize. Her PhD project is about art and propaganda, and she belongs to the IDECO research group. E-mail: [email protected]

Bianca Sánchez-Gutiérrez

Bianca Sánchez-Gutiérrez researches at the Department of Journalism II (University of Seville). She graduated in Journalism, and has a Master Degree in Institutional and Political Communication. Her PhD project focuses on the ideological appropriation of feminism by popular culture and advertising. Her main research line is the feminist study of communication. E-mail: [email protected]