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the observed phenomena to be identified, grouping the data together as in
factorial analysis.
In order to interpret the modalities correctly, it is necessary to analyse the
relationship in terms of relative contributions, as each modality plays a part in
structuring the phenomenon. The relationship among modalities is actually repre-
sented as a distance between points in three-dimensional space. The sum of the
contributions is equal to one. The points making the greatest contribution are thus
selected. In other words, the modalities with the highest contribution are thus
more significant as regards comprehension of the aspects characterizing the phe-
nomenon. The ‘weight’ of the modalities is thus a significant synthetic indicator.
Another advantage of adopting this method is that of being able to use a
graphic representation of the data on an X-Y axis and in this way to be able to
see straight away the typical aspects of the phenomena being studied.

Sample and hypotheses

The sample of 10 daily newspapers used in this project included those consid-
ered quality papers and with the biggest circulations. Two newspapers from
each country (France, the UK, Italy, Spain and Germany) were selected, one
known as being conservative and the other as being liberal. The conservative
papers we chose were Le Figaro, The Times, Il Corriere della Sera, ABC and Die Welt.
As examples of the liberal press, we chose: Le Monde, The Guardian, La Repubblica,
El Pais and Frankfurter Rundschau.
All articles published between 17 and 29 March were selected (897 articles).
The schedule used to analyse these articles contained 150 multiple choice
answers.
In spite of the differences between each individual newspaper, the European
press studied had many points in common – typical of what has been called the
‘media logic’ (Altheide and Snow, 1979). Indicators of this logic include the
coverage of the news and the way in which it is presented. Articles dedicated to
a particular event follow a characteristic course which depends on the impor-
tance of the event and that of the people involved. By carefully choosing the
words, images and type faces, the European press uses various dramatic forms
in its presentation of events. The news media also use narrative structures,
which are typical in fiction, to relate facts.
Moreover, the press expresses a position either for or against the event, both
directly or by quoting the opinions of others. Sometimes the use of both more
traditional and more recent persuasive techniques conceals these opinions. In
this way the press, inasmuch as it declares itself to be objective, influences the
formation of what Lippmann (1922) termed as the ‘pseudo-environment’ of the
reader and therefore acts on his or her opinions.
Therefore the research was performed with a view to verifying the following
hypotheses, starting from the consideration that the perspective of the article can
be deduced by looking both at the words written by the author and the quotes
included in the text: