THE RISE OF THE GOSSIP PRESS IN SPAIN

The gossip—or celebrity—press has a long history in Spain but in recent years the sector has enjoyed a rapid rise in popularity. This largely reflects the emergence of a raft of new titles which appeal to more populist tastes and which do not conform to traditional journalistic ethical values. As a consequence there has been both popular debate about the legitimacy of these techniquesand legislation aimed at curbing their excesses. This paper explores the rise of these magazines and their social effects.