REV - Communication & Society - Volumen 36, N. 1 (2023)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10171/65322
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Results
- Narrative representation of depression, ASD, and ASPD in «Atypical», «My Mad Fat Diary» and «The End of The F***ing World»(Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Navarra, 2023) Jiménez-Morales, M. (Manel); Jiménez-Morales, M. (Mónika); Lopera-Mármol, M. (Marta)Television series act as one of the primary sources of information on mental and neurological disorders. However, research on the accurate representation of mental disorders and clinical reality still lacks, especially since it requires an interdisciplinary approach with higher complexity. This article analyses the narrative depiction of depression, autism without intellectual disability, and antisocial personality disorder in three case studies: Atypical (Netflix, 2017-present), My Mad Fat Diary (E4, 2013-2015), and The End of The F***ing World (E4 & Netflix, 2017-2019). The aim is to identify which stereotypes are still predominant on-screen and determine whether they are reliable with their clinical reality. Hence, the authors propose a narrative content analysis based on the medication, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and Stahl’s Essential Pharmacology Guide. The authors applied a methodology based on the standard analysis measurement of different case studies under a unified pattern for mental disorders’ intrinsic socio-economic and gender aspects. The results showed that TV series try to opt for better representations, but many still perpetuate misconceptions and misrepresentations due to a tension between showing realistic, educational values (edutainment) and opting for a gripping audio-visual and narrative drama. In conclusion, diverse realities are hardly achieved. Moreover, TV series criticise how the anger is placed on oneself instead of the system.
- Health Misinformation on Social Media and its Impact on COVID-19 Vaccine Inoculation in Jordan(Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Navarra, 2023) AL-Jalabneh, A.A. (Abd Allah)It is vital to understand the nature of misinformation disseminated online regarding the COVID-19 vaccination. This understanding will enhance governments’ efforts and strategies to combat the factors which hinder vaccine uptake. Vaccine hesitancy has always been a challenge which has accompanied vaccine rollouts. Misinformation regarding the COVID-19 vaccination, along with the ambiguous narratives around the origin of the virus, has played a role in vaccine hesitancy among Jordanians. The online activity generated by social media during the pandemic, due to people’s fear of the virus, their general anxiety and curiosity, and their desire for updates, made social media an even more fertile environment for misinformation than ever before. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan, misinformation on social media platforms amplified the scale of fears around the safety of the vaccination programme. Therefore, this study offers an exploration of, and insight into, the thoughts and experiences of a sample of 30 Jordanian citizens who are hesitant about COVID-19 vaccination. This study uses a qualitative approach in order to further understand vaccine hesitancy and the nature of misinformation surrounding it, using semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with participants. It found that low levels of information about health, misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine, and the spread of misinformation on social media were all causes of vaccine hesitancy in Jordan. Facebook and WhatsApp were the principal social media networks identified in this study as spreading misinformation about the vaccine. The study sample reported that they believed in the conspiracy theories discussed on these two platforms. Furthermore, videos of influencers and anti-vaccination medical doctors from overseas played a part in misleading individuals regarding inoculation against COVID-19. Additionally, other factors were also identified and are discussed in this study.
- A Multilevel Analysis of the representations of Technology in «Years and Years»(Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Navarra, 2023) Cornelio-Marí, E.M. (Elia Margarita); Zermeño-Flores, A.I. (Ana Isabel)The analysis of science fiction narratives is valuable to explore possible futures. This article analyzes the representation of technology in the television series Years and Years (2019), a co-production by the BBC and HBO created by Russell T Davies. This audiovisual narrative depicts key problems of the present in a representation of the near future, enabling the identification of new socio-technological paradigms. We applied the method of Causal Layered Analysis (CLA), a prospective analytical tool used both for the study of diverse current phenomena and for the design of possible futures, which includes the levels of the litany, systemic causes, discourse/world vision, and myth/metaphor. The analysis showed that Years and Years offers a vision of a world in chaos, based on a global capitalist and technological project that threatens fundamental rights, and the existence of the human species. In the series, technologies are imbibed in all the fundamental systems of Western societies, pushing common people into obsolescence. Three narratives uphold the myth of the dominion of science and technology: the technological transcendence of human beings, the irrelevance of humans before technology, and the ubiquitous panopticon of digitized power. Through its bleak version of the future Y&Y puts into focus aspects of technological development that make us reflect critically and urgently about the present.
- Training data journalists. An analysis of postgraduate programs in Spanish universities and the degrees of professionals(Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Navarra, 2023) Abellán-Mancheño, A. (Andrea); Arias-Robles, F. (Félix); López-López, P.J. (Pilar José)This article takes a closer look at the training of data journalists by examining in detail the postgraduate courses offered in Spanish universities. The starting point is a systematic compilation of the official degrees in this field that can be found in the databases of the Spanish Ministry of Universities, as well as a comparative analysis of the existing degrees for two academic years (2020/2021 and 2022/2023). This quantitative study is complemented by a survey of Spanish-speaking data journalism professionals about their training. The goal of this research is to shed light on current training in this discipline, which is one of the most promising for the future of journalism. The findings reflect an emerging but still evolving educational landscape consisting of fourteen specialised data journalism degree programmes, all of which will be offered as postgraduate programmes in the 2022/2023 academic year. These postgraduate programmes are primarily internal and offered by private universities. However, our survey of professionals showed that only 7% of communication specialists have training in this journalistic field. Consequently, Spain is one of the countries where data journalism has not yet fully taken hold in newsrooms due to a lack of adequate training and appropriately trained professionals.
- Production and distribution of media news on Telegram(Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Navarra, 2023) Martos-Moreno, J. (Javier); Sánchez-Gonzales, H.M. (Hada M.)Against the backdrop of the new attention economy (Giraldo-Luque & Fernández Rovira, 2020), which is based on attracting audience interest, this research analyses the production and distribution of media content through the emerging Telegram platform. Attracting the attention of the audience has become the main objective of the media in the digital environment. To achieve this aim, more personalised content is now being produced, and attempts are being made to reach the user in a more direct and personal way through instant messaging platforms, especially Telegram. Through a methodology based on data triangulation, documentary analysis, interviews, registration techniques, analysis sheets, as well as direct and indirect observation (Fernández-Ballesteros, 2004), this study addresses the rise of Telegram in journalism, in addition to the way in which the Spanish media distribute, produce, and use the information, as well as interaction with the audience. To this end, a strategic sample has been used, the results of which are applicable to the media analysed. The results of this research show that nearly half of the media analysed produce content and inform the user without considering interaction, while others try to approach the user with language that is informal and friendly, or through multimedia content such as videos, emoticons, and others. The media have suddenly appeared on Telegram in search of new market niches where they can produce content for new users, thereby pursuing the rationale of the attention economy.
- All I do is win, no matter what? What matters in gaining electoral support from televised debates(Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Navarra, 2023) Wagschal, U. (Uwe); Waldvogel, T. (Thomas); König, P.D. (Pascal D.)How much do the performances of top candidates in televised debates affect vote intentions in parliamentary democracies? The article addresses this question and disentangles the effects of predisposition and performance in televised debate reception. Drawing on a large-N field study of the 2017 chancellor duel in Germany, which contains survey and real-time response data for 5660 participants, we identify debate-induced determinants of shifts in voting intention and assess their relative effect sizes on such changes. Our analysis shows, first, that out-party identification is an effective barrier against shifts in voting intentions. However, we find that viewers’ real-time performance perceptions of the candidates show strong effects. Third, we demonstrate that these real-time evaluations can breach the predisposition’s barrier particularly when the intensity of out-party identification is less than very strong. Fourth, we find verdicts on the debate winner as an additional short-term factor that can foster shifts in voting intentions in the course of debate reception. Overall, our results indicate that pre-dispositions may hinder rational updating of electoral behaviour but that debate performance can actually make a difference by altering the formation of voting intentions.
- Nurtured and sorrowful: Positive and negative emotional appeals in early COVID-19 themed brand communications(Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Navarra, 2023) Vargas-Bianchi, L. (Lizardo); Mensa, M. (Marta)This study examines the prevalence of emotional appeals in COVID-19-themed brand advertisements from around the world in the months immediately following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic. The study analyses the frequencies of use of positive and negative emotional appeals in the content of the ads, and concurrent combinations of such appeals. A content analysis was conducted on a sample of 376 ads from the “Ads of The World” digital archive. The results reveal a preference for positive emotions, with nurturance and affiliation being the most frequent. Sorrow was the third most preferred emotional appeal, and the most used negative emotion. Some brands have compared the virus to a hurricane (Brazil), an assassin with a chainsaw (US) or the death personified (Peru). Advertisers should be careful when using negative emotional appeal content during COVID-19. According to the law of apparent reality, during times of stress the recommendation is to be cautious with negative emotions, as they may be felt more intensely by consumers. Advertising has a social responsibility, which can be directed at promoting consumer behaviours that leave a positive or negative impact on their communities. In a situation such as the pandemic, brand communication professionals must use emotions rigorously, employing this resource to contribute to society, avoiding giving rise to harmful attitudes or behaviours. The research findings are consistent with the literature and lead to future examination of emotional appeals in advertising in stressful and uncertain circumstances.
- News website users in Mexico: factors influencing their loyalty(Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Navarra, 2023) Dávila-Garza, H. (Horacio); Alarcón-Martínez, G.J. (Gustavo Juan); López-Pérez, J.F. (Jesús-Fabián)Recent technological advances have significantly impacted news media in the way they provide news to the public, evolving into a digital environment. Therefore, digital media today focuses on generating readers’ loyalty to their news websites. In this sense, a multiple linear regression analysis was carried out on a sample of 344 surveys of adult residents in the cities of Mexico and Monterrey. The results show that factors such as familiarity, satisfaction and reputation are positively related to the loyalty of news website users. However, they also show that the importance of the impact of these factors is different when the analysis is carried out in a stratified manner, such as residence, gender or education, which allows us to conclude that digital media can guide their loyalty efforts depending on the profile of their readers and the market they seek to target. To illustrate focusing on stratification by place of residence, the most significant factors for the Mexico City group corresponded to familiarity and satisfaction, wile for the Monterrey group the most significant factors were reputation and familiarity in that order. Results with this type of differences between groups were also obtained when comparing by gender and schooling. It is recommended for future research on the subject, to include other cities within the country, with the purpose of contrasting these paper’s findings.
- The dissemination of science news in social media platforms during the COVID-19 crisis: Characteristics and selection criteria(Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Navarra, 2023) Papa, V. (Venetia); Maniou, T.A. (Theodora A.)This study explores the specific characteristics of science news stories posted on social media platforms during the first phase of the global pandemic crisis (the first semester of 2020). The focus of the study is to enhance our understanding of the selection criteria for science-related news content posted on social media platforms. Our approach takes into consideration the evolving technological environment of these platforms and the new relationships between media professionals and social media users. Our findings indicate that, under specific circumstances, scientific discoveries may be prioritized in the selection of news stories. We also suggest specific additions to the framework proposed by Harcup and O’Neil (2017), indicating that news stories during crisis situations are more internationally oriented, where audience proximity is created not around “nearby” events but those occurring in other countries around the world. In times of crisis, the main target of news stories is not simply to attract the audience’s interest with classic clickbait tactics but to respond to the immediate socio-political context in a meaningful way.
- The impact of new European policies on the regulation of Spanish public service media: a decisive influence?(Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Navarra, 2023) Muñoz-Saldaña, M. (Mercedes); Llorens, C. (Carles)This study analyses the extent to which European legislation and, in particular, the latest regulatory initiatives for audiovisual media and for digital markets and services affect the regulation of public service media (PSM) in Spain. A three-fold analysis is performed using a document review methodology. Firstly, the influence of European competition policies on the origin, development and adaptation of PSM to the digital market is studied. Secondly, the transposition into Spanish law of the 2018 Audiovisual Media Services Directive (EU, 2018) is evaluated. Third and lastly, the impact of the draft European Acts referring to digital platforms on PSM in Spain and the European Union (European Commission, 2020a; 2020b) is analysed, as is that of the European Media Freedom Act (European Commission, 2022). The concept of Europeanisation (Harcourt, 2002) is taken as the basis for the assessment of such impact. The conclusions show that while the European regulatory umbrella is a necessary and influential framework, it is insufficient when it comes to understanding the regulatory and political development of PSM in Spain. The path dependence and circumstances of each country are crucial to understanding the why and how of specific regulation. There is European convergence on economic and competition policy protection issues, but not on political and cultural issues, such as the definition of PSM governance or structure, where the European Union’s influence is much weaker.