Spain

Abstract

The Spanish media landscape is characterized by job precariousness, inadequate professionalization, and the impact of an increasingly polarized political context. Nevertheless, Spain boasts a broad range of established and innovative media accountability instruments (MAIs). Instruments such as codes of ethics, ombudspersons, or press councils are mostly developed and managed by journalists and, increasingly, by audiences and independent organizations. However, journalists rate the effectiveness of most MAIs as being remarkably low, with the highest score given to stylebooks and ethics guides.