An Overview of Media Pluralism
A recent report has highlighted that Catalan media, including TV3, TVE Catalunya and RAC1, have prioritized the representation of political parties rather than focusing on the actions of governments, a common trend in election years.
Balance in Media Coverage
According to Enric Casas, the CAC councillor in charge of supervising pluralism, the main channels in Catalonia show a good balance in the coverage of political parties. Surprisingly, the PP, despite being the main opposition party at the state level, has occupied the first position in media coverage in Catalonia.
Analysis of the Semi-Annual Report
The report, which covers the second half of 2024, analyzes historical data from 2020 and includes a list of participants in political debates. This data allows for a better understanding of the dynamics of media coverage in relation to Catalan politics.
Time Distribution in News
In terms of time dedicated to news, TV3 has stood out in the joint coverage of the PP and PP Catalunya, with 11.2% of the total time. ERC, PSC+PSOE and Junts have followed closely, with minimal differences between them.
Comparison between Media
TVE Catalunya has shown a similar pattern, with PP+PPC at the top with 11.6%, while RAC1 has registered 10.8%. Catalunya Ràdio, on the other hand, has given top priority to ERC, with 9.7% of the time.
Government vs. Parties: A Contradictory Dynamic
The report also highlights how most media have prioritized party coverage in election years, while during the pandemic, the presence of governments was notable. In the second half of 2024, TV3 allocated 53.6% of its time to parties and 46.4% to governments.
The Patron of Beethoven
Unlike other media, betevé opted for an approach that prioritized coverage of governments, with 64.9% of the time dedicated to them, leaving 35.1% for parties.
The Presence of Women in Media Politics
Another important aspect of the report is the stagnation of female representation in media politics, which remains at around 35%. TV3 stood out with 35.7%, while TVE Catalunya registered the lowest percentage with 34.3%.
Gatherings and the Improvement of Representation
Despite this decrease, female presence has increased in political debates, with TV3 showing 46.1% of female politicians, and Catalunya Ràdio reaching an impressive 47.8%.
Finally, the report reveals that female representation on TVE Catalunya is the least favorable, with a percentage of 37.3% in talk shows. This underlines the need to continue working to achieve greater gender equity in media coverage.