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Coronavirus in Spain: Fear of ‘Official’ Fake News Boosts WhatsApp and Alternative Sources

Author

Listed:
  • Carlos Elías

    (Department of Communication Studies, Carlos III University of Madrid, Spain)

  • Daniel Catalan-Matamoros

    (Department of Communication Studies, Carlos III University of Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The communication of the Coronavirus crisis in Spain has two unexpected components: the rise of the information on social networks, especially WhatsApp, and the consolidation of TV programs on mystery and esotericism. Both have emerged to “tell the truth” in opposition to official sources and public media. For a country with a long history of treating science and the media as properties of the state, this very radical development has surprised communication scholars.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos Elías & Daniel Catalan-Matamoros, 2020. "Coronavirus in Spain: Fear of ‘Official’ Fake News Boosts WhatsApp and Alternative Sources," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(2), pages 462-466.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:meanco:v:8:y:2020:i:2:p:462-466
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ruixia Han & Jian Xu & David Pan, 2022. "How Media Exposure, Media Trust, and Media Bias Perception Influence Public Evaluation of COVID-19 Pandemic in International Metropolises," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-14, March.
    2. An Nguyen & Daniel Catalan-Matamoros, 2020. "Digital Mis/Disinformation and Public Engagement with Health and Science Controversies: Fresh Perspectives from Covid-19," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(2), pages 323-328.

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