El País hosted the 2026 Ortega y Gasset Awards in Barcelona on May 4 [1] to celebrate the publication's 50th anniversary [3].
The event marks a significant milestone for one of Spain's most influential newspapers as it addresses the evolving threats to journalistic integrity. By combining a celebratory anniversary with the launch of a new initiative against fake news, the organization seeks to redefine its role in a digital era plagued by misinformation.
Presented by Marina Fernández Torné, the ceremony took place at the Saló de Cent del Ayuntamiento de Barcelona [4]. The event began at 1:30 p.m. local time [2]. During the proceedings, the organization announced the creation of an Observatory against disinformation to track and combat the spread of false narratives [5].
Mayor Jaume Collboni attended the event and spoke on the necessity of protecting those who report from dangerous environments. "Barcelona siempre defenderá el trabajo de los periodistas que arriesgan," Collboni said [6].
Writer Svetlana Alexievich also provided reflections on the importance of documentation in turbulent times. "Quizá no entendamos la locura de hoy, pero tenemos que dejarlo por escrito," Alexievich said [7].
The anniversary edition also looked toward the future of the awards. Organizers announced that the 2027 edition of the prizes will accept works published during 2025 and 2026 [8]. This extension allows for a broader scope of reporting to be recognized in the coming cycle.
The ceremony served as both a retrospective of five decades of reporting and a strategic pivot toward the systemic challenges of the modern media landscape, specifically the rise of AI-generated disinformation and the physical risks faced by reporters in conflict zones.
“"Barcelona siempre defenderá el trabajo de los periodistas que arriesgan"”
The establishment of an Observatory against disinformation suggests that El País is shifting from traditional reporting to a more active role in media monitoring. By linking this initiative to its 50th anniversary, the publication is positioning itself as a guardian of truth in an era where the speed of digital misinformation often outpaces traditional fact-checking processes.
