Almost all of Tuesday’s front pages in the UK cover the Spain and Portugal blackouts – with some right-leaning publications blaming net zero and others looking at the chaos caused by the blackouts. Much of the power has since been restored – although that’s not reflected on the front pages as they had already gone to print.
Spain and Portugal power outage – Net Zero blamed for blackouts
Chaos across Iberia after power cut hits millions
Explainer: The headline uses the word “chaos” to sensationalise the event, implying widespread disorder, and the phrase “hits millions” adds drama without specifying the actual impact, which may be less severe than suggested.
- The Times reports on Monday, that power across a vast region of Western Europe was cut out. In a matter of seconds, the Spanish electricity grid lost 10 gigawatts (GW) of demand — plunging from 26GW to 12GW. It was, by all metrics, a massive blackout and one of the biggest in recent European history.
Spain & Portugal blackouts: No beer in Benidorm
Explainer: This headline uses sensationalism and cultural stereotypes by highlighting “No beer in Benidorm”, trivialising a serious issue and appealing to British holidaymaker clichés for emotional or humorous impact.
- The Sun says the blackout has left British holidaymakers “high and dry” as the power cut affected “rills and taps.” The paper shows images of empty bars as people returned to their hotels during the power cut.
Pain as Spain mainly off the mains
Explainer: This headline uses rhyme and wordplay to grab attention, while trivialising the situation with humour, potentially downplaying the seriousness of the power outage.
- Metro says “pain as Spain mainly off the mains” and a long line of travellers were left “stranded” at Madrid’s Atocha rail station after the power cuts.
Spain and Portugal thrown into chaos after ‘rare weather event‘ leads to mass blackouts
Explainer: The phrase “thrown into chaos” exaggerates the disruption for dramatic effect, and quoting ‘rare weather event’ without context adds intrigue and uncertainty, a common tactic to entice clicks.
- The I Paper says the “chaos” of Spain and Portugal’s “rare weather event” leading to “mass blackouts” were due to an “atmospheric phenomenon,” according to grid operators. Spain’s prime minister says the cause is “still being investigated.”
Trains halt and traffic snarls as huge power cut strikes Spain and Portugal
Explainer: The headline uses dramatic verbs like “halt” and “strikes” to heighten urgency, and the phrase “huge power cut” amplifies the scale without offering precise details.
- The FT reports that the blackouts will “stoke concerns over power networks’ ability to meet the added demand,” noting both countries have moved away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy.
Net zero blamed for blackout chaos
Explainer: This headline employs a blame frame by directly linking net zero to blackout chaos, potentially oversimplifying or politicising the cause to provoke controversy or align with a particular agenda.
- The Daily Telegraph is more blunt in its coverage. “Net zero blamed for blackout coverage”. The paper says 53% of Spain’s energy was being supplied by solar before the power cuts.
Spain declares state of emergency after power blackout causes chaos
Explainer: The headline intensifies the situation with “declares state of emergency” and “causes chaos”, possibly exaggerating the governmental response and public disorder for dramatic effect.
- The Guardian says the giant power cut plunged Spain into a “state of emergency” taking out ATMs, trains and phones.
Huge power blackout plunges Spain and Portugal into chaos
Explainer: The phrase “plunges… into chaos” is hyperbolic, evoking imagery of total collapse, while “huge power blackout” lacks specificity, amplifying drama without clear facts.
- The Independent says flights grounded, trains cancelled and whole cities left with no access to electricity as Portuguese operators blame extreme temperature changes in Spain for ‘atmospheric phenomenon’, sparking an unprecedented blackout that could take up to a week to fix.
Portugal blames Spain: Bad hols vibes
Explainer: This headline uses informal language (“Bad hols vibes”) and a blame frame (“Portugal blames Spain”) to sensationalise and inject humour, potentially trivialising diplomatic or infrastructural issues.
- The Daily Star says “Portugal blames Spain” for the blackouts. Spanish officials claimed the major blackout was due to an ‘induced atmospheric vibration’ which saw millions without access to electricity as thousands were stranded on rail lines, the paper adds.
