The Spanish newspaper El País has released a video featuring actors reading a curated selection of reader-submitted letters to the editor [1].

This initiative transforms traditional print correspondence into a performance, giving new life to the personal stories and social concerns of the newspaper's audience. By utilizing professional actors, the publication highlights the emotional weight of public discourse in Spain.

Actors including Eva Ugarte are among 10 performers [3] who lend their voices to the project. The video focuses on a variety of submissions, ranging from personal hopes to the introduction of new words that were later accepted by the Real Academia Española (RAE) [1].

The "Carta al director" column has served as a forum for public expression since El País published its first such letter on May 7, 1976 [1]. Over the decades, thousands of people [2] have sent letters to the publication to share their perspectives on current events, and societal shifts.

The project aims to bridge the gap between the written word and oral storytelling. The selection process focuses on letters that capture the essence of the human experience, spanning concerns, hopes, and the evolution of the Spanish language [1].

“The Spanish newspaper uses actors like Eva Ugarte to voice curated letters.”

By converting archival reader correspondence into digital video content, El País is adapting its legacy print traditions for a social-media-driven audience. This move reflects a broader trend in journalism where traditional 'letters to the editor' are reimagined as multimedia storytelling to maintain relevance among younger demographics while preserving the historical record of public sentiment.