Bicentenary of Mañé and Flaquer, the 'father' of modern journalism

Joan Mañé i Flaquer (1823-1901) revolutionized journalism in Spain in the second half of the 19th century.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
22 May 2023 Monday 12:06
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Bicentenary of Mañé and Flaquer, the 'father' of modern journalism

Joan Mañé i Flaquer (1823-1901) revolutionized journalism in Spain in the second half of the 19th century. And he did it against the current. When the newspapers were fed mainly by collaborators who saw in the press a political and social springboard, the journalist born in Torredembarra (Tarragonès) wanted to professionalize the editorial staff of Diario de Barcelona, ​​the newspaper of his life. His bet was on professional journalists, many of whom were trained under his watchful eye, as the engine of an influential newspaper, following the example of European newspapers, such as the English ones.

He was able to create the first network of correspondents spread throughout Spain, but also in Europe and even America. As director, he promoted a telegraph line with the aim of having the news before anyone else. The network was established between Perpignan and Barcelona and between the Catalan capital and Madrid with the support of a group of Catalan industrialists. “The prebend of the news that passed through the telegraph line was secured; they had the first fruits”, says Jordi Bou Ros, doctor in Contemporary History, author of the first great biography of Mañé i Flaquer, the recently published La notícia com a estil de vida (Torredembara City Council).

Despite being a pioneer, a journalist ahead of his time, little has come of a key figure in understanding the birth of professional journalism in Spain. “He is an unknown character, despite the importance he has. He lived from and for journalism, he is the first professional journalist in Spain; he should be a reference, but we have forgotten him very quickly, perhaps because he was not a likeable character and lived in a little-known period in the history of Spain ”, he adds.

So far only two biographies had been published. The first, written by Guillem de Graells in 1903, two years after his death, 100 years ago. The second, the work of Joan Maragall, in 1912, and at the request of the Barcelona City Council, just when Mañé's portrait was hung in the gallery of illustrious persons. The poet, also a journalist, had a great relationship with Mañé. Maragall was a man he trusted, and he acted almost as a personal secretary. He was one of the people who carried his coffin on his shoulders in 1901. "The biography that Maragall made is more of an autobiography based on conversations with Mañé."

Very aware of what was happening in Europe with reference newspapers such as The Times, founded the previous century (1785), he sought a way to generate extra profits for sale on the street of newspapers. After taking over as director, commissioned by its owner, Antonio Brusi, Mañé boosted subscribers to ensure monthly income and reformulated advertising. He innovated – more than a century before the internet – with the creation of a double daily edition (1855): the shorter one in the afternoon brought the news to readers and surprised the competition.

The ads became central pages and paid for by advertisers. The obituaries were also relocated to a more attractive space and became a growing source of income. "He transformed the newspaper with a radical turn, he wanted to turn the Diario de Barcelona into a disseminator of the Catalan bourgeoisie in Madrid and in the Cortes", he maintains. With Mañé he lived his golden age.

“But there is almost no space dedicated to his memory, no library. He has a street and a square in Barcelona, ​​a street in Torredembarra, another in Terrassa and one in Hernani (Guipúzcoa) ”, laments the scholar.

This first great biography, in addition to filling a void, also serves as a tribute. It is the starting point for the events celebrating the bicentennial.

The programme, led by the Torredembarra City Council with the collaboration of the Tarragona Provincial Council and the Col·legi de Periodistes de Catalunya, includes a series of conferences in October to analyze his figure from a journalistic and historical perspective. Mañé i Flaquer also gives its name to journalism awards created in Torredembarra in the 1970s, promoted for several years by the Col·legi de Periodistes de Catalunya in Tarragona and which have managed to spread throughout the country.

In addition to leaving 3,500 newspaper articles, one of the riches of Mañé's legacy is his correspondence. Part of the epistolary has been recovered thanks to the enormous work of his biographer and can be consulted through the QR code published in the biography.