The discourse on COVID-19: a study in the Italian, Spanish and German press

ABSTRACT

This research analyses the opinion articles about the COVID-19 published in the main newspapers of Italy, Spain and Germany. To this purpose, a qualitative inductive-deductive content analysis methodology has been used along two complementary phases. The first included the detailed analysis of the sample, and the second involved a method of comparative textual analysis using the Sketch Engine software. The results show the existence of some common issues about the virus, although with different approaches depending on the country a certain vision marked by national politics in the Spanish case, an interpretative view in the case of Germany and a more social-humanistic perspective in the Italian dailies. A discourse contrary to generating panic is common in the three countries studied, but with a clear underestimation of the virus' potential consequences in the first couple of months after the outbreak in Wuhan as regards the Spanish and Italian press. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Esta investigación analiza los artículos de opinión referidos a la COVID-19 publicados en los principales periódicos de Italia, España y Alemania. Para ello se ha empleado una metodología de análisis de contenido inductivo-deductivo de corte cualitativo a través de dos fases complementarias. Una primera, mediante el examen pormenorizado de la muestra y una segunda en la que se ha seguido un método de análisis textual comparado mediante el uso del software Sketch Engine. Los resultados muestran que existen unos temas comunes sobre el virus, aunque con enfoques diferentes según los países una visión marcada por la política nacional en el caso español, más interpretativa en el caso alemán y más social-humanística en el italiano. Así, en los tres países estudiados un discurso contrario a generar pánico, pero con una clara subestimación del virus en sus primeros meses de aparición en el caso de la prensa de España e Italia. (Spanish) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Revista de Comunicación is the property of Revista de Comunicacion-Universidad de Piura and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)