Prensa escrita e inmigración: Estudio sobre la opinión de los diarios sobre la inmigración procedente de fuera de la Unión Europea y sobre la cobertura informativa de conflictos destacados que tienen relación con ella (Octubre 1999- Junio 2002)

Abstract

This article is a synthesis of much wider research that has studied the discourse on immigration projected by the most significant Catalan newspapers (La Vanguardia, Avui, El País and El Periódico) in a period covering October 1999 to June 2002. The research is framed within the multidisciplinary focus of Critical Discourse Analysis and consists of two levels for approaching the object of study: (1) The study of the editorial lines of the four newspapers of the sample; and (2) in-depth analysis of the discourse in twelve relevant cases of news in which the media situated immigration at the core of the conflict. In general terms we can say that the newspapers under study maintained an attitude of denunciation against any racist or xenophobic act, and that there is a great difference between the discourse displayed in the editorials and in the news items. In spite of the generally positive stance of the newspapers, we still found some problems and excesses that might contribute to legitimising and perpetuating racist, discriminatory and xenophobic ideas, attitudes and opinions underlying in society.