Advocacy Journalism in Spain and Western Europe

Advocacy journalism is a genre of journalism that is fact-based, but supports a specific point of view on an issue. Advocacy journalists are likely to report on stories dealing with corporate business practices, government policies, political corruption, and social issues. These journalists are said to serve the public interest in a similar way to “muckrakers or whistle-blowers.”


Advocacy journalists may reject objectivity in their work for several different reasons. First, many believe that there is no such thing as objective reporting, that there will always be some form of “implicit bias, whether political, personal, or metaphysical, whether intentional or subconscious.” This statement serves to acknowledge their belief of inability to report on a matter in a value-free way. Second, they argue that media sources claiming to be free of bias often secretly advance certain disguised political ideas presented in a so-called "objective" viewpoint. Advocacy journalists also frequently assume that their audiences will share their biases or be conscious of them while evaluating what are supposed to be “well-researched and persuasive arguments.” The journalists claim that they can discard objectivity while holding on to the values of fairness and accuracy, and state that corporate journalists often lack both.

In Western Europe, some newspapers have been associated with a political position, even though journalists from these papers are considered professionals that are somewhat engaged in advocacy. However, newspapers in Spain in particular have their share of issues. Like much of the European press, Spanish newspapers tend to be partisan and showcase a tradition of advocacy journalism. In fact, in news and commentary in Spain, it is common for Spanish journalists to frame events through the lens of their personal bias. Some favor the ruling Socialists, the conservative People’s Party, or the regional Separatist movements and these belief’s come out in their pieces making them fall under the category of advocacy journalism.

There are many concerns related to this type of journalism. Many people apprehend that the activity of advocacy journalists will be harmful to the standing of the mainstream press as an “objective, reliable source of information.” Another fear is that uneducated readers will accept the facts and opinions presented in advocacy papers as if they were reliable. This in turn will create many misinformed readers, and contribute to a society full of bias beliefs and opinions.

"Advocacy Journalism : The International Encyclopedia of Communication : International Encyclopedia of Communication Online." International Encyclopedia of Communication Online: Home. Web. 29 June 2010. http://www.communicationencyclopedia.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405131995_chunk_g97814051319956_ss29-1.
 
Peter, Roy. "Refrain in Spain." Poynter Online. Web. 29 June 2010. .