10 days ago counter demonstrations amnesty In the Ferraz district of Madrid. All networks experienced a spectacular increase in viewership. Not just informative ones. Also magazines.
‘Everything is a lie’ (Cuatro) reached a record figure: 7.5% audience share. La Sexta in particular stood out on this climb. ‘Más Vale Tarde’ reached a season record: 9.1% audience share. ‘Red hot’, same: 14.1%. ‘El intermedia’ closed its best week of the year with 7.8%. Perhaps the most important was ‘La SextaXplica’: this Saturday it rose from its usual 5% to 9.4%, also a record figure. Evaluating exactly what constitutes audience interest is more complicated. There will be those who follow the live broadcasts regretting the attitude of the ultras, and there will be those who watch the paving stones fly with pleasure. Within this framework of thought, journalists gain superior attention. A ‘malgré nous’ relevance. We become heroes – even if unintentionally – because of the attacks they inflict on us.
In the Ferraz war, I saw violent people shaking and scolding the teams of TVE, Antena 3, La Sexta, Cuatro, CNN… A month ago in Barcelona at the anti-amnesty demonstration, I saw a TV3 team being scolded, called by some hotheads. to them “‘Nazis!’”. Now in Madrid the cries were: ““Piece of faggot / Disgraces / Get out of here / Liars / Manipulative Spanish press.” Even a “Freemasons!” But I can’t tell you which TV team he’s against.
The other day I went for a drink at a bar near my house. It was almost empty. A couple in their thirties walked in and said to the bartender: ““Turn on the TV, pliis”. And his friend added: “Remove it because they must already be attacking journalists in Madrid right now.” I didn’t notice what he said with joy. It wasn’t a tone to be prepared to enjoy. I think it was just a curiosity to see the paving stones, the police attack and, above all, the colorful swearing and gestures towards journalists wearing helmets and protective vests as if they were in Ukraine, but were in Madrid. Ah! With the event, the information service, which was only a message to the public, was transformed. They place us as part of the event, not as part of it. Everything on television is a show.