Toward a multi‐ethnic public sphere? Media consumption in highly diverse districts in Spain
| Author | Víctor Arco,Josep Lobera,Carlos Giménez |
| Published date | 01 April 2017 |
| Date | 01 April 2017 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/imig.12278 |
Toward a multi-ethnic public sphere? Media
consumption in highly diverse districts in
Spain
Josep Lobera*, V
ıctor Arco* and Carlos Gim
enez*
ABSTRACT
This article examines media consumption in highly diverse districts in Spain as representative
of recent changes in this field due to new immigration to countries in Southern Europe in
times of crisis. Drawing on findings from two surveys, we observed a decrease in access to
media specifically aimed at audiences of minority cultures between 2010 and 2012. It is sug-
gested that this decline is not due to a modification in media consumption habits by minority
groups, but rather the economic crisis of 2008. Furthermore, we study the consumption of
minority media by natives: we observe that youth and more educated individuals consume
other cultures’minority media to a greater extent, particularly the press, radio, and Internet
news sources. We suggest that elements are present that public administrations could utilize to
further develop a multi-ethnic public sphere. Finally, we explore the emergence of a new
transnational dimension to the multi-ethnic public sphere.
INTRODUCTION
The last two decades saw the emergence of new immigration countries in Southern Europe. In
Spain, the foreign population multiplied by seven during the first decade of the millennium, becom-
ing one of the world’s main receptors of immigration during this period. Today, more than 4.7 mil-
lion foreign nationals live in Spain, comprising about 10.2% of the total population. Their presence
has deeply changed Spanish society, and the diversity of methods of communication has increased
as a result. As numerous studies have shown, the minority media plays a leading role in the daily
life and social integration processes of migrant populations (Cottle, 2000; Mart
ınez Corcuera, 2010;
Arnold and Schneider, 2007; Georgiou, 2003). Generally, minority media as much as general-
interest media influences the process of intercultural co-existence on a local scale, and it can affect
the establishment of social and intercultural relations as well (Huertas et al., 2013, G
omez-
Escalonilla, 2008). It is not merely a message conveyor; it serves as a vehicle for the social produc-
tion of meaning, the central agent of a public space in which conflicts are resolved and visibility is
conferred to actors, themes, agendas and proposals. By opposing certain attitudes and assumptions
concerning the many “others”in our societies, the media can help overcome stereotypes that breed
mistrust and suspicion (G
omez-Escalonilla and San Mart
ın Dur
an, 2012), thus promoting tolerance
and appreciation of diversity as an opportunity. In this context, interculturalism –as complementary
to multiculturalism –wishes to encourage communication with and recognition of dynamic identi-
ties (Meer and Modood, 2012). However, recent years, marked by the crisis, have resulted in an
* Universidad Aut
onoma de Madrid, Spain
doi: 10.1111/imig.12278
©2017 The Authors
International Migration ©2017 IOM
International Migration Vol. 55 (2) 2017
ISSN 0020-7985Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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