IMAGE OF RUSSIA IN THE NEWSPAPER “EL MUNDO”: THEMATIC MAP OF PUBLICATIONS FOR 2015 – 2020

Abstract

The article examines the problem of forming the Russian image in the Spanish media on the example of publications in the center-right newspaper “El Mundo” for the period 2015-2020. The choice of the period under study is due to the fact that during these years there are political events that contribute to the increased interest in Russia in Spanish society. The article presents the results of an empirical study conducted by the author in the period from February 2020 – February 2021. The purpose of the study is to identify the influence of the publications of the newspaper “El Mundo” on the formation of the image of Russia in the minds of the Spanish society. The objectives of the article were to summarize researchers’ opinions on the topic under study; analysis of empirical research results, as well as in the compilation of a news map of publications in the newspaper “El Mundo” about Russia for the period under study. The research methodology is based on a systematic approach and includes the methods of the general scientific group (analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction), as well as a number of special methods of qualitative analysis: meaningful content analysis of the publications in “El Mundo”; the method of retrospective analysis of political events, related to the reflection of Russian foreign policy in newspaper publications; as well as the method of systemic scientific generalization for structuring the texts of publications into a news chronological map. The materials of the empirical research are the publications in “El Mundo”. The general aggregate of the studied materials of the newspaper is 1500 publications. By the method of mechanical sampling, 150 articles are selected on three key topics: relations between Russia and the EU, the problem of Crimea and relations between Russia and Spain. The author of the article comes to the conclusion that the newspaper “El Mundo” seeks to shape the image of Russia as a distant neighbor with a neutral policy towards Spain, taking a balanced position on all problematic issues.