What the study found
Spanish generalist newspapers mostly cover lobbies in relation to political-economic interests, and the overall tone of this coverage is predominantly negative. The study also found that articles resulting from indirect lobbying strategies make up more than a third of the coverage and are more positive than the rest.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors suggest that media coverage is one of the main factors shaping lobbies’ influence capacity, because it helps them support their position, keep supporters informed, and communicate with decision-makers. The findings indicate that indirect lobbying strategies may be associated with a more favorable media portrayal.
What the researchers tested
The researchers examined online coverage of lobbies in the seven most-read Spanish generalist newspapers from January 2013 to December 2023. They collected 13,431 news articles related to the topic and analyzed what subjects they covered and the sentiment expressed in the articles.
What worked and what didn't
Most articles focused on political-economic interests, and the dominant sentiment in the coverage was negative. However, more than one third of the articles were published because of indirect lobbying strategies, and those articles showed significantly more positive sentiment than the others.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe specific limitations beyond the study’s scope: online coverage in seven Spanish generalist newspapers over the 2013–2023 period.
Key points
- The study analyzed 13,431 online news articles about lobbies in seven major Spanish generalist newspapers.
- Most of the coverage focused on political-economic interests.
- Overall sentiment in the articles was predominantly negative.
- More than a third of the articles were linked to indirect lobbying strategies.
- Articles tied to indirect lobbying were significantly more positive than the rest.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Spanish press coverage of lobbies is mostly negative
- Authors:
- Álvaro Serna-Ortega, Andrea Moreno-Cabanillas, Elizabet Castillero-Ostio
- Institutions:
- Universidad de Málaga
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-10
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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