Images of the victims of the attacks in Paris, Nice and Catalonia on the covers of ten Spanish newspapers

Abstract

Terrorist attacks are a clear example of ethical conflict and the right to information in the publication of photography in the media. In this context, the focus is placed on the graphic treatment of three recent terrorist attacks (Paris, Nice and Catalonia), conducting an exploratory-descriptive investigation of how the victims of these events were presented on the cover of ten newspapers in Spain: El País, El Mundo, La Vanguardia, La Voz de Galicia, ABC, El Periódico, El Correo, La Nueva España, Heraldo de Aragón and La Razón. A photographic, technical and interpretive reading of these images is offered, attending to the type of headline and to the caption. In general, respectful treatment is given to the victims, halfway between 9/11, in which there were hardly any images, and March 11th (Madrid), in which ethical boundaries were crossed. Agency images are used: there is a connection among the selected photographs, and brief headlines with few words are preferred, as well as captions with different modalities. They are images with informative value in which, although pain is appreciated, as is natural from the fact to be presented, it is not used sensationally.