Terrorism and Politics Predominate on the Front Pages of the Basque Press. Content and Area Analysis of the Front Pages of the Regional Newspapers

This article examines the front pages of five major Basque regional newspapers over the years 1996, 2001, and 2006, highlighting how topics such as terrorism and political discourse dominate the press landscape. Based on a dataset of 2,448 front pages and over 19,000 news items, the study employs both quantitative and qualitative content analysis to assess thematic distribution and surface area coverage. The findings indicate a marked predominance of political and terrorism-related news, often overshadowing topics of high public interest, such as health or social issues. A colour-coding methodology was developed to visualise thematic occupation of space, enabling precise measurement of news distribution. This research reveals a disconnect between the media agenda and audience interests, suggesting a persistent overrepresentation of political content. The article offers critical insights into the structure and editorial priorities of regional press in a politically complex territory, contributing to broader discussions on media representation and public opinion.