• Conference: Francisco Rosell warns that governments can be "complicit" in fake news

Francisco Rosell, director of EL MUNDO, this morning made a fiery defense of quality journalism as a remedy for the double challenge faced by modern societies : the misinformation that intoxicates the era of post-truth and the essential reinvention of the business model of informative companies in internet times. In his presentation at the New Communication Forum, he has reviewed the 30-year history of this newspaper and, above all, has raised his future projects, such as the recent implementation of EL MUNDO Premium, which values ​​journalism with a series of exclusive content for subscribers in their digital edition.

"We are leaders of the Internet, not just based on rapid clicks, but of delayed reading , " said Rosell, to highlight the quality of the information that differentiate EL MUNDO from its competitors. "That is why we are the first great generalist medium that confronts in Spain the unavoidable subject of content collection through a freemium model that allows us to be competitive in open and paid content."

Presented by the journalist Marta Robles and before an audience among which were politicians such as Teodoro García Egea , general secretary of the PP, and Ana Pastor , former president of the Congress, the director of EL MUNDO has recognized the errors of the sector in its transition to the digital age that, according to him, "have had a high cost." Among them, one in particular has stressed, "to make believe that journalism is free" , so the "contest of the moment" is to design "a business pattern that takes advantage of the new technologies."

If something is presented as free, it is at the expense of the devaluation of the rigor and quality of the contents

Francisco Rosell

"Nobody escapes that nothing is free and, if presented as such, it is at the expense of the devaluation of the rigor and quality of the contents, which must be preserved by solvent professionals that guarantee the right of citizens to be well informed, "he said. "The best way to undertake tomorrow is not only knowing how to adapt to the new times, but also helping to configure and prepare it." And a final warning: "The future of journalism is in the hands of journalists if they know how to play their tricks with talent, if they don't, they will only enjoy a small privilege: to attend their own burial in the front row . "

Already in question time, the launch of EL MUNDO Premium has been one of the most discussed issues, given the enormous expectations it has generated in the media sector. Rosell has assured that the first results have been "satisfactory" since since it started a week ago there has been "a constant river" of subscriptions.

Of course, Rosell has avoided singing victory ahead of time: "I do not want to tempt luck because I know that the beginner's luck does not set a trend. But the results we are getting are satisfactory in line with what we had marked and that encourages us to continue this background race in which all the media will enter. "

Regarding the editorial line of the newspaper, Rosell highlighted its two pillars: the defense of the liberal economy and territorial integrity of Spain. But, at the same time, he prided himself on the diversity of opinions that find his headline shelter. "There is no newspaper more plural in signatures than THE WORLD and that is the great wealth of the newspaper."

In addition to leading representatives of Spanish political and business life, Rosell has been accompanied by the president of Editorial Unit, Antonio Fernández-Galiano ; the general director of Publications of the group, Aurelio Fernández ; the general director of Advertising, Jesús Zaballa ; the deputy directors of EL MUNDO Joaquín Manso and Martí Saballs , as well as representatives of other group heads such as the director of MARCA, Juan Ignacio Gallardo ; the deputy director of EXPANSIÓN, Manuel del Pozo , or the director of YO DONA, Marta Michel , among others.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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  • Spain
  • Teodoro García Egea
  • Ana Pastor
  • Journalism

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