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Diversity of Journalisms. Proceedings of ECREA/CICOM Conference, Pamplona, 4-5 July 2011
articles), mainly in articles with a political focus (26.6%) and -very especially- articles
with a scientific focus (72.7%).
In articles with a political focus, El Mundo uses the balance norm simply to express
relevant opinions. For example, the speech by the Spanish Prime Minister, José L.
Rodríguez Zapatero, is reported with some quotes from the actual speech and also
some reactions by representatives of NGOs, who considered that the speech had no
concretion 42 . Other similar examples include opinions on the number of people
demonstrating in the streets of Copenhaguen 43 and the negotiation at the summit, with
opinions of representatives of the US, Europe and China 44 .
The use of balance in articles with a scientific focus is related to two topics: the
existence of anthropogenic CC and the “Climategate affair”. The editorial article
published at the beginning of the summit portrays the position of this newspaper.
Balance is used to present, on the same level, scientific consensus and minority
positions. On the one hand, this article emphasizes scientific evidence on CC:
Innumerable measures on CC made with total rigour show that the average
temperature of our planet is raising in an abnormal way, and this is linked to the
increase of CO2 in the atmosphere 45 .
Nevertheless, the same editorial article suggests that the Climategate affair is very
relevant:
The summit starts with a strong background noise provoked by the scandal of the e-
mails robbed in one of the main centres for climate studies, at the British University of
East Anglia. The e-mails reproduce conversations among researcher about how to
“handle” data and use “shortcuts” so that data tally with results. Those who deny or are
sceptics with global warming are taking profit of this to reaffirm that CC is a big lie 46 .
This use of the balance norm can also be found in other articles. For example, the
debate on the US Congress on this affair is reported following clearly the norm of
42 “Falta de concreción”. El Mundo, 18-12-2009, p. 40.
43 “Marcha por el ‘hielo’ en pleno invierno”. El Mundo, 13-12-2009, p. 38.
44 “China se enfrenta a EEUU y la UE por el CO2”. El Mundo, 9-12-2009, p. 30.
45 “Innumerables mediciones realizadas con todo rigor demuestran que se está acelerando anormalmente la
temperatura media del Planeta, y que va unido al aumento de CO2 en la atmósfera” El Mundo, 7-12-2009, p. 3.
46 “La Cumbre arranca con el fuerte ruido de fondo que ha provocado el escándalo de los e-mails robados a uno de
los principales centros de estudios del clima, el de la Universidad británica de East Anglia. Los correos electrónicos
contienen conversaciones entre investigadores sobre cómo «manejar» los datos y usar «atajos» para que los
resultados cuadren. Quienes niegan o son escépticos con el calentamiento global –que han bautizado al caso como
Climategate– ya lo están aprovechando para reafirmar que el cambio climático es una gran mentira”. El Mundo, 7-
12-2009, p. 3.
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