The current political situation in Spain, two unexpected wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the emergence of Artificial Intelligence, the climate crisis... “The role of any media has become very complicated in recent years and not only because of the digital transformation. . We live in a very turbulent and fragile world,” noted the director of La Vanguardia, Jordi Juan, in an exclusive meeting with subscribers of the newspaper held yesterday at Casa Seat in Barcelona and which was moderated by the deputy director Enric Sierra.
“In times as complex as these, I think what a newspaper should do is provide serenity and explain what is happening, without hiding anything, but without adding more tension,” continued Jordi Juan, who regretted the aggressiveness he found in some headlines. “especially in the Madrid newspapers.” And he added: “I defend constructive and positive journalism,” to which he has contrasted the media that “are in a trench and in a permanent war.” As an example, he has given the atmosphere that has been created around President Pedro Sánchez, “who is hated on a level like I have never seen in Spain.”
Regarding how this legislature will evolve, he has recognized that it will be very difficult for the block of parties that have supported Pedro Sánchez to reach an agreement. “On the one hand, I am concerned about the continuous struggle that the Catalan independence parties have to be purer; the electoral competition in which PNV and Bildú are going to enter, and the problems within Sumar con Podemos.”
Asked about the coverage of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the director highlighted the importance of a newspaper being able to have special envoys in these conflict zones and a wide network of correspondents. “There is nothing like being on site and offering direct information. That has a price”, and hence the importance of subscriptions in the digital age. La Vanguardia has already exceeded 100,000 digital subscribers and maintains 39,000 in the paper edition.
Regarding the health of the newspaper, which he described as “very good”, he noted the paradox that “we have never been read as much as now thanks to digitalization” but he lamented that the monetization of the product is more complex. “We increasingly depend on subscribers and this is good,” she added. And, furthermore, he has highlighted the value of the brand “not only in Catalonia but also in Spain. I would dare say that we are much more influential now."
