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Social media transforms Barcelona local spots into tourist magnets
The search for a unique and authentic experience through social media when traveling is putting pressure on the city’s local spots
social media
Self-determination top topic for Catalans discussing Europe online with 52% of mentions
Trust in European institutions is low in Catalonia, in line with southern European countries, says report
In small towns, closing a bar can also mean shutting down social life
Rural cafés and bars warn of possible closure through social media manifesto
Army to investigate images of armed soldiers drinking beer in Catalan town
Spanish Legion confirms incident in Catalan city that went viral on social media and insists weapons were not loaded
Fact-checking initiatives take on ‘fake news’ in the Spanish election
Expert hopes to dissuade politicians from stating lies but say its impact will be limited on social media
The Internet has strengthened the Catalan independence movement
"Without a doubt the independence movement would never have been so successful without Web 2.0 technologies" says Scottish academic Kathryn Crameri. In the last few years support for independence in Catalonia has grown considerably, with around 50% of the Catalan population supporting the movement in 2014, compared to some 15% 10 years ago. In his new book, 'Sobirania.Cat', prominent Catalan journalist Saül Gordillo explains how this can be intrinsically linked to the steady rise of online activity in Catalonia, saying that the growth in the movement would be "unthinkable" without the Internet. Albert Royo, Secretary General of Catalonia's Public Diplomacy Council, explained why pro-independence activists are so reliant on the Internet. "The diplomatic channels of communication are being controlled by the Spanish Government", he said, and alternative channels had to be found.
'Keep Calm and Speak Catalan', a poster of passive resistance
The poster ‘Keep Calm and Speak Catalan’ was created by Josep Maria Ganyet, expert in digital communication, in order to protest against the draft law proposed by the Spanish Minister of Education which puts at risk the school model of linguistic immersion in use in Catalonia since the end of Franco’s dictatorship. The poster, in its origin a tweet, came from the fields of social media and reached Congress as a symbol of passive resistance directed at those aiming to alter the Catalan school model. It refers to the historical poster ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’, which also became one of the most wide spread pop icons.
A Social media expert is the new director for the governments’ Communication Strategy
Jordi Cuminal will have the task of communicating the government's activities to Catalan citizens. Communications is one of the most challenging departments, and was a serious test for his predecessor