The Imaginary of an Invisible EnemyThe SARS-CoV-2 Virion on the Spanish TV News

  1. Isidro Jiménez-Gómez 1
  2. Jaime López-Díez 1
  3. Gema Bonales-Daimiel 1
  1. 1 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Complutense de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR 02p0gd045

Revista:
Trípodos

ISSN: 1138-3305,  2340-5007

Año de publicación: 2020

Título del ejemplar: Communication in COVID-19 Crisis

Número: 47

Páginas: 127-144

Tipo: Artículo

DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso abierto editor

Otras publicaciones en: Trípodos

Resumen

During epidemiological crises, traditional media have played an essential informational role. In this paper we analyze the imaginary of COVID-19 and, specifically, of the representation of the virion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus through news reports from the main Spanish TV channels. This virion, represented as an “invisible enemy” that has confined half of the world population, is presented in the news using 3D illustrations that highlight its roughened surface and elongated spikes ending in tentacles, an image that does not cor-respond to scientific illustrations. These and other attributes suggest that the imaginary of COVID-19 has inherited the imaginary of other previous episodes of coronaviruses being not scientifically accurate but motivated by the journalistic objective of representing the main characteristics of the virus and the severity of the danger.

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