Media coverage of social cohesion and minorities during riots in the UK and Spain

Abstract

In Southport (UK) and Torre-Pacheco (Spain), attacks took place, in 2024 and 2025 respectively, against people who are considered part of mainstream society. These crimes were committed by people who are seen as foreigners: a lone murderer whose parents came from Rwanda, although he was born and raised in the UK, and, in Spain, three men from Morocco. A widespread disinformation campaign immediately took place targeting minority groups. The disinformation campaign was followed by violent riots against minority groups, in both countries. Through the media coverage of those events (initial attacks, disinformation campaigns, violent riots, and political responses), what conception of minority groups (their place in society) and social cohesion (who we are, as a society) does the media disseminate to the audience? The aim is to highlight whether or not the media adopt culturally informed communication. The Guardian and The Telegraph, in the UK, and El País and ABC, in Spain, were selected for the agenda-setting analysis of 298 news articles. The main hypothesis is that communication in progressive newspapers is more culturally informed than in conservative newspapers. This is mostly confirmed in the UK, while differences between media are not so clear in Spain. Although some indicators show more culturally informed communication in Spanish and progressive media, all newspapers place immigration at the centre of the debates on social cohesion. By reproducing the arguments of the far right and online misinformation, mainstream newspapers contribute to spreading and legitimising anti-migrant and anti-diversity rhetoric.