Podcast Summary: Acontece que no es poco | Promulgada la Ley de Prensa franquista, añorada por MAR

Podcast: Todo Concostrina – SER Podcast
Host: Nieves Concostrina
Date: April 25, 2024
Main Theme:
An incisive look at the history and legacy of press censorship in Spain, centered on the 1938 Ley de Prensa franquista and its echoes in recent political discourse and actions, all delivered with Nieves Concostrina's signature critical and irreverent style.

1. Episode Overview

Nieves Concostrina explores the origins, implementation, and repercussions of Spain’s 1938 Francoist Press Law, drawing sharp parallels between historical censorship and modern attitudes towards the press by certain political figures and parties. The conversation covers the tools of control used by fascist regimes, the role of Manuel Fraga in the evolution of media law, and the creative resistance of journalists under censorship.

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

Historical Context & Backdrop

• [00:26 - 01:09] Introduction to the day’s topic: the control and suppression of press freedom, both historic and contemporary.

  • Nieves stresses the need for journalistic self-critique:

    “Ya basta. No se puede estar echando permanentemente balones fuera a los políticos, a los jueces… Los periodistas han tenido mucho que hacer y han hecho mucha dejación de funciones.” (Nieves, 01:09)

• [01:34 - 04:10] The Franco Regime’s 1938 Press Law:

  • Implemented before the Civil War was even won.
  • Made retroactive to 1934.
  • Created a totalitarian system for media control: incautation of newspapers/radio, imposed directors, and defined journalists as "apóstoles del pensamiento y de la fe de la nación".
  • Allowed not just censorship but imprisonment and even execution of journalists.

Parallels to Modern Threats and Political Discourse

• [01:43 - 03:55] Allusion to current issues:
  • Miguel Ángel Rodríguez (MAR) from the Partido Popular, who threatened journalists ("os vamos a triturar, vais a tener que cerrar. Que os den, idiotas"), is cited as longing for this authoritarian style.
  • Quote:

    “Este señor con bandera de España en la muñeca es un matón y un embustero... Miguel Ángel Rodríguez se nota que echa de menos la normativa nazi y franquista contra la prensa.” (Nieves, 02:43)

  • Nieves draws a clear line from past fascist legal frameworks to current-day political language and threats against journalists.

Details of the 1938 Press Law

• [04:10 - 07:44]

  • Censorship was immediate and total.
  • The law was explicit:

    “El primero decía corresponde al Estado la organización, vigilancia y control de la prensa periódica. Punto. Se acabó.” (Nieves, 06:07)

  • Article 18 empowered the government to punish any publication that damaged the prestige of the nation or sowed 'pernicious ideas'.
  • Many journalists faced harsh penalties, including the death sentence (examples: Luis Medina, Miguel Hernández).

• [07:44 - 08:53]

  • Establishment of a special press tribunal in Madrid (Plaza del Callao), which prosecuted not just journalists but caricaturists, writers, and others.
  • Special mention of the death sentence for Miguel Hernández solely for his writing.

The 1966 "Ley Fraga" and Its Legacy

• [08:53 - 11:57]

  • Transition from overt totalitarian censorship to subtler but still repressive regulatory structures.

  • Manuel Fraga Iribarne's law replaced overt censorship with administrative control and heavy use of “autocensura” (self-censorship).

  • Quote:

    “Fraga... consiguió acabar con la censura en prensa e impuso la autocensura, que esto es lo más bajo a lo que ya puedes llegar. Autocensurarse por miedo.” (Nieves, 10:39)

  • Fraga’s methods: administrative sanctions, financial penalties, and closure of outlets fostered a repressive climate where journalists pre-emptively censored themselves.

Mechanisms of Control Under Fraga

• [11:57 - 13:30]
  • “Consulta voluntaria”: Journalists could voluntarily check with the ministry if content was acceptable—a euphemism, as defiance could mean having an entire print run seized without prior warning.

    “Consulta voluntaria es una cosa maravillosa... Era como preguntar al gobierno: '¿Le gusta lo que voy a contar?'” (Nieves, 11:58)

  • Newspapers required to submit six copies of each issue to the Ministry an hour before distribution for review.

Resistance and Ingenuity Among Journalists

• [13:30 - 14:38]

  • Journalists developed creative strategies to navigate restrictions, especially in radio.

    • Example: Turning an international news (the Kennedy assassination) into a “local” story by referencing what attendees at a local event discussed.

      “Toda noticia podía ser local” – Manuel Martín Ferrán (first director of Hora 25)

  • Despite the restrictions, some journalists remained defiant and found ways to share real news with the public.

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Threats From Modern Politicians:

  “Miguel Ángel Rodríguez se nota que echa de menos la normativa nazi y franquista contra la prensa.”
  (Nieves, 02:43)

• On Fraga and the End of Overt Censorship:

  “Fraga... consiguió acabar con la censura en prensa e impuso la autocensura, que esto es lo más bajo a lo que ya puedes llegar. Autocensurarse por miedo.”
  (Nieves, 10:39)

• Definition of Journalists (1938 Law):

  “...apóstoles del pensamiento y de la fe de la nación y dignos trabajadores al servicio de España.”
  (Nieves, 04:37)

• On Creative Resistance:

  “Con astucia toda noticia podía ser local.”
  (Nieves, 13:57, citando a Manuel Martín Ferrán)

4. Timestamps of Key Segments

• 01:09: Nieves calls for media self-critique.
• 01:43 – 03:55: Modern threats to journalists and the 1938 law.
• 04:10 – 07:44: Dissection of the Francoist press law and its enforcement.
• 07:50 – 08:53: The special press tribunal and examples of repression.
• 08:53 – 11:57: The Ley Fraga, how it changed censorship and introduced self-censorship.
• 13:30 – 14:38: Journalistic tricks to bypass censorship.
• 14:38 – end: Closing and brief musical interlude.

5. Summary Tone and Style

Nieves delivers a biting critique of both historical and contemporary threats to press freedom, using a mix of sharp humor, irony, and clear examples. She’s unsparing in her language, directly connecting past and present repressive attitudes and spotlighting the cyclical nature of attempts to control information in Spain.

6. Takeaways for Listeners

• The history of Spanish press law is one of repression, both overt and disguised, with legacies that linger politically and culturally.
• Modern attacks on journalists echo mechanisms and attitudes rooted in the dictatorship.
• Autocensorship, born of fear, can be as effective as overt censorship.
• Journalists have always had to be both courageous and inventive to serve the public’s right to know.

Recommended for those interested in:
Spanish political history, press freedom, media studies, and the long shadows cast by authoritarianism on public discourse.