The Media Construction of the Andalusian Legacy in the Spanish Press: A Content Analysis of the Newspaper El País (1999-2021)

Abstract

This study analyzes the journalistic representation of Al-Andalus in the Spanish newspaper El País during the period between 1999 and 2021. Its central aim is to understand how this influential media outlet contributes to shaping the collective imaginary surrounding this historical period. The research is based on a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative content analysis—to map the frequency and periodicity of publications—with qualitative content analysis—aimed at unraveling the narrative frameworks, discourses, and deeper meanings transmitted. The main results indicate that the representation of Al-Andalus in El País does not follow a continuous editorial line but is instead governed by a "logic of contemporaneity." This logic means coverage is predominantly triggered by contemporary events acting as catalysts, such as archaeological discoveries, academic commemorations, or, most significantly, current political debates and controversies. The analysis concludes that the newspaper transcends mere historical chronicle to adopt a critical and multidisciplinary perspective. This approach allows it to question and nuance both the idyllic view of Al-Andalus as a paradise of coexistence and the simplifying narratives that undervalue its legacy. Ultimately, the media discourse configures Al-Andalus with a dual symbolic function: on the one hand, as a cultural "hidden treasure" that enriches cultural identity; and on the other, as a "critical mirror" in which contemporary Spanish society projects and debates its own tensions regarding identity, diversity, and models of social cohesion. Thus, in the newspaper, the Andalusian past becomes an interpretive tool for reflecting on the complexities of the present.