The Salou City Council inaugurated the new municipal Press Room on May 4th after a comprehensive renovation of the space.
The opening coincided with the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day and served as a stage for a debate on the current challenges of journalism.
A space for critical thinking
The mayor of Salou, Pere Granados, presented the facilities as a place designed to foster knowledge. We are inaugurating an open and functional space, he stated during the opening ceremony.
The councilor highlighted that the room is designed to host conferences and activities that promote critical thinking among citizens.
Councilors, the director of the Territorial Services of Justice of Catalonia, and police representatives attended the event. Also present were the president of the Observatory of Human Rights of Spain and members of the local associative fabric.
The risk of fake news
A round table moderated by journalist Javier Díaz analyzed the impact of disinformation. Participants included judge Diego Álvarez de Juan, Diari Més director Marc Just, journalist Norián Muñoz, and writer Carlos E. Bayo.
"Fake news has always existed" - Norián Muñoz, journalist for Diari de Tarragona
Muñoz warned that social networks have represented a qualitative leap in the dissemination of hoaxes. For his part, Carlos E. Bayo placed the phenomenon in a historical perspective by stating that they are older than demagoguery.
The judge Diego Álvarez de Juan explained that there is a principle of legitimacy that leads to trusting what is published. The magistrate appealed to a society capable of not applauding only what it wants to hear.
"The citizen often assumes that what is published is true" - Diego Álvarez de Juan, judge
Marc Just defended that the current population possesses more judgment and education than in previous eras. Nevertheless, he recalled that all users are victims of fake news.
The speakers agreed that the immediacy of information and the lack of contrast generate extreme situations. The rise of artificial intelligence adds new questions about the veracity of sources.
The inauguration marks the beginning of a Conference Cycle promoted by the Salou council. The initiative seeks to create spaces for reflection open to all citizens.