Informative coverage of the Spanish press about COVID-19 before the state of alarm

Abstract

Introduction: Before this health crisis, health and medicine journalism was already a subject of study in journalism schools. At the University of Extremadura, while COVID-19 began to take over the media sphere, in January and February, a teaching innovation practice was carried out. Objective: To measure the degree of excellence of the information from the Spanish digital press while motivating class work. Methodology: Through a “case study”, students were structured through working groups to analyze the news about the pandemic in the main print media in their digital editions of El País, El Mundo, La Vanguardia, El Abc and La Razón. Results: 43 analysis units have been analyzed in 226 news items that constitute the first information on COVID-19 in the Spanish press, which the students have perceived as informative (67,6%), far from sensationalism but lacking originality. Conclusions: It is clear that for journalism students the press has given priority to the news without a great deal of interpretation, and on the other hand, that these types of proactive initiatives in the classroom encourage practice, awaken motivation and facilitate learning.