Abstract
This chapter studies coverage of the Catalan crisis in the editorial columns of two of the most widely read British broadsheets, The Guardian/The Observer and The Telegraph, between September and December 2017. The analysis reveals consistent use of narrative structures as interpretative frames and, despite the differences in their general political stances, key agreements: on the illegality of the 1 October 2017 referendum; on the representation of the issue as a clash between two blocs; on the characterization of pro-independence parties and their claims as unrealistic and empty; on the portrayal of the Spanish Central Government and its reaction as inept and counterproductive; on their painstaking attempt not to take sides; and, following a dynamics of “domestication of the news”, on the use of the crisis to discuss internal British issues, more specifically Brexit and Scottish Nationalism.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abbot, H. P. (2002). The Cambridge introduction to narrative. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Barthes, R. (1987). Image, music, text. Glasgow: Fontana Press.
D’Amato, S., & Lucarelli, S. (2019). Talking migration: Narratives of migration and justice claims in the European migration System of governance. The International Spectator, 54(3), 1–17.
Greimas, A. J. (1987). On meaning: Selected writings in semiotic theory. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Gurevitch, M., Levy, M., & Roeh, I. (1991). The global newsroom convergences and diversities in the globalization of television news. In P. Dahlgren & C. Sparks (Eds.), Communication and citizenship: Journalism and the public sphere in the new media age (pp. 195–216). London: Routledge.
Hussain, S. M. A. (2018). Media narratives from the margins: A framing analysis of press coverage of conflict-induced violence in Indian state Assam. Media Watch, 9(1), 37–51.
Iser, W. (1976). The act of reading: A theory of aesthetic response. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Jameson, F. (1972). The prison-house of language: A critical account of structuralism and Russian formalism. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Morris, J. (1978). Farewell the trumpets: An imperial retreat. London: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Ricoeur, P. (1991). Life in quest of narrative. In D. Wood, D. (Ed.), On Paul Ricoeur: Narrative and interpretation (pp. 20–33). London: Routledge.
Media Sources
Authoritarian EU is facing deep divisions. (2017, October 21). The Telegraph. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2017/10/21/authoritarian-eu-facing-deep-divisions/.
The Catalonia crisis shows Brexit was the right choice. (2017, October 28). The Telegraph. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2017/10/28/catalonia-crisis-shows-brexit-right-choice/.
The crisis in Catalonia can be ended, but not by trampling on people’s legitimate concerns. (2017, September 21). The Telegraph. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2017/09/21/crisis-catalonia-can-ended-not-trampling-peoples-legitimate/.
The EU was supposed to end nationalism. Catalonia proves it has failed. (2017, October 27). The Telegraph. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2017/10/27/eu-supposed-end-nationalism-catalonia-proves-has-failed/.
The Guardian view on Catalonia: step back from the brink. (2017, September 21). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/21/the-guardian-view-on-catalonia-step-back-from-the-brink.
The Guardian view on Catalonia’s election: a mandate for compromise. (2017, December 22). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/22/the-guardian-view-on-catalonias-election-a-mandate-for-compromise.
The Guardian view on Catalonia’s referendum: the Spanish state has lost. (2017, October 1). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/01/the-guardian-view-on-catalonias-referendum-the-spanish-state-has-lost.
The Guardian view on Spain’s crisis: damage to Catalonia. (2019, October 27). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/27/the-guardian-view-on-spains-crisis-damage-to-catalonia.
The Guardian view on the Catalan crisis: wanted: an honest broker. (2017, October 23). Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/23/the-guardian-view-on-the-catalan-crisis-wanted-an-honest-broker.
The Observer view on Catalan independence. (2017, September 24). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/23/observer-view-catalan-referendum-spain.
The Observer view on independence for Catalonia. (2017, October 29). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/29/observer-view-independence-catalonia.
The Observer view on the crisis in Catalonia. (2017, October 8). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/07/observer-view-on-crisis-in-catalonia.
The Observer view on the crisis in Europe. (2017, October 22). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/21/observer-view-catalonia-crisis-spain-europe-right-wing-elections-britain-role.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
León-Solís, F., O’Donnell, H. (2021). Someone Else’s Crisis? UK Press Coverage of the Failed 2017 Catalan Declaration of Independence. In: Agustín, Ó.G. (eds) Catalan Independence and the Crisis of Sovereignty. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54867-4_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54867-4_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-54866-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-54867-4
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)