prensa del corazón

   This phrase, which means literally "press of the heart" is the generic description of the magazines which fill the gap created by the absence of society or gossip columns in newspapers. They are represented most characteristically by ¡HOLA!, which gave rise in 1988 to an English-language edition, Hello!. A product initially of the escapist attitude fostered by Francoist culture, publications of this type, which include Pronto, Lecturas, Semana and Diez Minutos, continue long after the demise of the regime to minister to the seemingly insatiable fascination of the Spanish public with the rich and famous, particularly if they are women: Isabel Preysler, the princesses Stephanie and Caroline of Monaco, and film personalities like Ana Belén have received ample coverage. Sales figures fluctuate greatly, owing to the Spanish preference for buying from newsstands rather than taking out subscriptions, but these publications are among the best-selling items in the periodical market, with sales of several hundred thousand copies per week.

   See also: kiosk literature; press; readership

   EAMONN RODGERS