Portraying Immigration in Spanish Prime-Time TV Fiction

The following text presents the results of a content analysis study focusing on the image of immigration in Spanish prime-time television fiction with Cultivation theory as a reference. Two representative samples were recorded in 2011, out of the six main national channels. The analysis derived from the analysis of these fiction programs (series and films) derived provided results showing that: (1) Immigrant/foreign characters were underrepresented when taking into account real [14] data; (2) Immigrant/foreign characters were usually presented in nonprotagonist (mainly antagonist or villain) narrative roles; and (3) Socio-demographic features of immigrant/foreign characters such as their education, socio-economic status, or occupation tended to entail lower levels than those in natives. The results are discussed considering the importance of the reduction of prejudice in television fiction.