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Digital-native news organizations have grown steadily in Spain since the mid-1990s and they have become established as a major force in the media market. Paradoxically, their biggest expansion coincided with the Great Recession (2008–2014). In fact, their numbers increased most during 2012–2013, when traditional media were cutting staff in response to the economic crisis, and unemployment rates in the media sector as a whole hit their peak. However, these digital-native news startups have yet to prove their sustainability and stability. This study uses our own database of 3,862 native and non-native digital news outlets in Spain and the Reuters Institute Digital News Report to analyze a number of characteristics of these media, such as the percentage that have gone inactive, the relative popularity of legacy brands vs. digital natives, multi-platform synergies, content subject matter, geographical location, ownership, and funding sources. Based on these quantitative parameters, this study reviews the structural strengths and weaknesses of digital-native media in the Spanish news market. Taking into account these findings, we conclude that the surge in digital-native news media observed in Spain during the Great Recession followed the pattern of creative destruction described by several economists.

A punto de cumplir su primer cuarto de siglo, los medios periodísticos digitales de España continúan con su crecimiento constante. La presente investigación presenta un mapa actualizado, a marzo de 2018, de los cibermedios periodísticos en España. Metodología: En concreto, identifica y analiza una muestra compuesta por 3.431 medios digitales, localizados gracias a una revisión de directorios especializados y al empleo de diversas estrategias de búsqueda avanzada. Se trata de la mayor muestra de publicaciones digitales de España hasta el momento. Resultados: Sobre el conjunto de medios identificado, se estudian aspectos como el estado actual de las publicaciones (activas o inactivas), número y tipo de plataformas donde se publican, tema, alcance, distribución territorial, lenguas de publicación, titularidad y modelo de financiación. Discusión y Conclusiones: El resultado es un mapa actualizado y minucioso, aunque no exhaustivo, de los cibermedios en España, que retrata estas publicaciones como un medio altamente consolidado y en expansión.[EN] Introduction: On the verge of reaching their first quarter of a century, the digital news media in Spain continue with their unstoppable growth. This research presents an updated map, as of March 2018, of digital news media in Spain. Methodology: It identifies and analyses a sample made up of 3,431 digital media, located thanks to a thorough review of directories of the media industry, as well as the use of several advanced search strategies. This dataset provides the largest sample of Spanish digital publications so far. Results: Among the media studied, aspects such as the current status of these publications (either active or inactive), number and type of platforms where they are published, news topic, scope, territorial distribution, publishing languages, ownership and business model are studied. Discussion and Conclusions: The result is the most updated and comprehensive, although not exhaustive, map of digital news media in Spain, which portrays these publications as a highly consolidated and expanding medium.

Cumplido el primer cuarto de siglo de los medios periodísticos digitales, o cibermedios, no es posible dar cuenta del periodismo español sin reconocer su consolidación. La exploración cuantitativa, como medios nativos digitales o como publicaciones derivadas de otros medios, permiten delimitar una cartografía geográficamente heterogénea, en la que predomina la distribución multiplataforma y los cibermedios locales, generalistas y privados, que buscan adaptarse a las condiciones de un nuevo mercado. Palabras clave: Periodismo digital, ciberperiodismo, distribución de medios multiplataforma, mercado digital de medios

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