Local news as a tool to understand media communication of historical droughts. A case study in Sevilla, Spain

Droughts are increasingly relevant hydroclimatic risks in southern Spain, exacerbated by climate change. This study analyses two severe drought episodes in 1995 and 2005 at a local level from both a hydrometeorological and media perspective. The methodology includes the SPEI and DEPI indices to assess drought severity and analyse the frequency of media coverage on the topic. Additionally, it examines how key issues such as water restrictions, agricultural impacts, hydrological plans, public awareness, and climate change were reported. A combined quantitative and qualitative approach was used, correlating drought intensity with media coverage volume while analysing the discourse and its bias. This integrated perspective provides insights into the evolution of media coverage and communication of droughts. The SPEI results reveal a strong connection between drought intensity and media attention, with broader coverage during periods of extreme conditions. Meanwhile, the DEPI index effectively captures the onset and conclusion of droughts. The findings indicate a collective learning process regarding hydroclimatic risks over time, since media coverage has progressively included more content related to planning and preparedness, rather than focusing only on extreme events with an alarmist tone. Furthermore, the study highlights a rising trend in framing drought as a climate change-related phenomenon, reflecting growing social awareness of these risks.