The world is watching Catalonia

The horrific terror attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils have naturally been a major focus for the world’s media. With Barcelona being one of the most popular cities in the world, and as there were 30 different nationalities among the victims, this international interest is to be expected. Yet, it is not the first time in recent years that Catalonia has been a subject of interest for the foreign press. In fact, since the first huge independence march in 2012, coverage of Catalonia abroad has grown, with increasingly more foreign journalists following the sovereignty process, particularly since the Catalan executive announced its intention to call a referendum on independence on October 1. At the beginning, the coverage of Catalonia was mostly background and context, as foreign audiences were not familiar with the political situation in the country. Yet, as the coverage has increased, the Catalan case has become a valid news story in its own right, keenly followed around the world. Ever since the Olympic Games 25 years ago presented a new Barcelona to the world, the Catalan capital has not stopped growing in popularity. Today, Catalonia, too, is now on the radar of many people abroad. Catalonia is no longer an unknown backwater, but has a growing popular brand recognised by millions of people from all walks of life. This change in how Catalonia has been seen by the international media is the topic of our main feature (pages 22-27). We hope you enjoy the read and we’ll be back with more in October.