This article analyzes the ways in which major Portuguese media showed and discussed the economic crisis we are experiencing in Europe to its public during the year 2012.
Methodologically the analysis combines content analysis and discourse analysis. Quantitatively were collected 19,024 news television, press and radio, categorized by: big story, broad story topic, actors, geographic focus and format. The conclusion of the analysis undertaken by the Project Journalism and Society is that the twelve big stories in 2012, show us the picture of a country in constant concern for what will be their future economic and social aware, too, of an intense anxiety about the future of the Portuguese individuals.
Examples of this preoccupation with the individual and national future are: the state budget for 2013, the General Strikes of 22 March and 14 November, the Portuguese Deficit Slippage, the cuts on holidays and Christmas allowance for the civil servants or the Reform of labor legislation.
Particular attention is also given to the dependence from Europe and in particular the Eurozone to solving economic and social problems (Unemployment in the Eurozone, the Greek crisis, Spanish banks to the Rescue, and Elections in Greece).
The discourse analysis is focused on a small number of events selected by its importance in the construction of stereotypes and prejudices about other European countries like Greece, Spain and Germany. News coverage of Merkel's visit to Portugal, Greek elections and the bailout of Spanish banks are analyzed. The various events are representative of the significant role of media in building the image of Portugal compared to other European countries.
