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Diversity of Journalisms. Proceedings of ECREA/CICOM Conference, Pamplona, 4-5 July 2011
adjectives associated to this project (sovereignist, independentist, irredentist 83 , and
secessionist) partially distort reality. Even if it is mentioned twice, the similarities
between the Quebecer model and the Basque proposal are not explained. Therefore,
we find superficial information that is focused on the confrontation between the Spanish
and Basque governments, hence not showing the actual complexity of this topic.
This pro-Spanish government stance is stressed in Le Monde. One idea underlies the
three articles published about the Ibarretxe plan: the Spanish government has to face
the “serious problem” of PNV’s separatist aspiration. According to correspondent
Martine Silber, the plan aims at driving the Basque Country towards an “almost
independence of a region which already has a very large autonomy”. Thus, “the
structure of the Spanish State is attacked”.
Le Monde ascribes this proposal to PNV’s willingness for attracting Batasuna voters in
the regional elections to be held in May 2005. But the second party is not prepared to
be left out of the political game, which explains its last-minute support of the plan.
According to the journalist, this statutory reform project is not legitimate as it does not
have the support of the Basque and Spanish political forces. The Catalan case is
presented as the reference model: “Catalan parties are working on a common project
at the moment. This is not the case of the Basque Country”.
Three other actors appear in the analysed news stories: José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero,
María Teresa Fernández de la Vega and Mariano Rajoy. The Government’s Vicepresident,
in an interview granted to Martine Silber, explains that the Ibarretxe plan
entails a modification of the Constitution, something which is opposed by the
Government. However, she states that Zapatero is in favour of a “pluralist Spain” and
does not rule out certain measures which could improve self-government in the Basque
Country. Le Monde greets this attitude towards “dialogue”, which together with Aznar
being substituted by Rajoy, ended with “extreme political tension” in Spain.
Newspapers in the British Isles
Two newspapers have been analysed in the case of the British Isles: The Guardian
and The Irish Times. Their intended audience could be described as middle class, left
wing (Reath 2003: 35). The Guardian is a newspaper which is associated to the UK,
and Southern England, in particular, whereas The Irish Times is published in Ireland.
This different geographical location has determined their choice, mainly in order to see
whether historical perceptions about the Irish conflict mediate, or not, portrayals about
the Ibarretxe plan.
The first difference in treatment can be seen in the number of articles published: two
short news stories in The Guardian and four in the Irish Times. The time span also
83 Irredentism is an Italian political doctrine born at the end of the 19th century. It argues in favour of annexing
certain territories to a state on the grounds of cultural, ethnic or historical reasons. The incorrect use of the
adjective “irredentist” in an article published on 15.01.2005 shall be noted.
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