MEDIA DISCOURSE AND POLITICAL POLARIZATION IN THE COVERAGE OF THE VALENCIA DANA. A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PÚBLICO AND OKDIARIO
MEDIA DISCOURSE AND POLITICAL POLARIZATION IN THE COVERAGE OF THE VALENCIA DANA. A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PÚBLICO AND OKDIARIO

Summary/Abstract: This study examines how ideological bias in digital media contributes to political polarization through comparative analysis of news coverage by comparing the headlines published by Público (left-leaning) and Okdiario (right-leaning), two major Spanish online newspapers, regarding the Valencia DANA disaster that occurred in October 2024. Using content analysis, we analyzed 177 political mentions in the media outlets, examining both manifest content (frequency of political figures and parties mentioned) and latent content (tone and framing). The findings reveal significant differences in how the outlets framed the same crisis event: Público predominantly criticized the Partido Popular and regional government, while Okdiario focused criticism on the PSOE and central government. The results show that media outlets do not merely report events neutrally but actively construct polarized narratives reflecting their editorial stances, amplifying political divisions, particularly during crises, through selective framing and emphasis.

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