Abstract
Using Spain as a case study, this book synthesises theoretical and empirical research to evaluate the transformations in the country where digitalisation, political polarisation, and crisis affecting journalism take effect within the field of media. The information presented is based upon the ‘Informational Bewilderment: Precarious quality, over(dis)information and polarisation (CIAICO2021/125)’ project funded by the Generalitat Valenciana, combining quantitative surveys of 1200 respondents across Spain and qualitative focus groups with junior and senior journalists. The surveys used explore the consumption of information, perceptions regarding quality of media, and disinformation whilst the focus groups investigate the professional challenges and working conditions of journalistic work.
The eight chapters in the book analyse how the media sphere changed and the new principles existing in the ‘post-media public sphere’. Following the introduction, “The New Communication Ecosystem” explores media as an extension of human activity, using Marshall McLuhan’s concepts and the hybridisation of old media models. The following chapter, “Fragmentation and Dissolution of the Public Sphere,” explores the transformation of the public sphere into a ‘mediasphere’ causing a fragmentation within public discourse and influencing the post-media public sphere. Challenges in a Hostile Scenario: Polarization, Populism, and Disinformation explores polarisation, populism, and disinformation in socio-economic contexts within Spain using both theoretical approaches and empirical data. Information Consumption and Trust evaluates the ways that Spaniards access information, and the influencing factors regarding this. Quality of Information and Democracy evaluates the perceptions of declining standards of journalism in Spain and an evaluation of journalistic work by the public, whilst also providing theoretical frameworks for improvement in journalism, which is established as a central factor to democratic freedom. Disruption in the Information Industry: Precariousness and Professional ‘Decapitalisation’ explores the dimensions of crisis in the information industry and uses focus group findings to examine professional outlooks, working conditions, and business models of journalists working in Spain. The concluding chapter outlines how digitalisation has impacted communication and addresses future directions and the need for qualitative research on audience behaviours and media consumption and the examination of digital literacy as a potential mitigator of democratic challenges.
Overall, the study presented is a focused approach to identifying patterns and transformations in the ecosystem of media and communication. Using specific socio-political contexts, it centralises the discussion on Spanish contexts and would be of interest to researchers specialising in political sciences, media and communication, and sociology.