In an interview marking the upcoming 50th anniversary of El País, Jan Martínez Ahrens, the newspaper's director, speaks to the profound changes in journalism today, particularly in combating the surge of misinformation that has been notably exacerbated by the Trumpist wave. He argues that good journalism—characterized by truthfulness and diversity—serves as the best countermeasure against the dangers posed by political misinformation and the normalization of falsehoods in public discourse.

Martínez Ahrens highlights that the media's responsibility extends beyond mere reporting to actively debunking false narratives and restoring public trust in journalistic integrity. He insists that journalists must unequivocally declare falsehoods as such and engage in fact-checking to maintain credibility. The emphasis on rectification within journalism is underscored by his belief that accepting errors is vital to the profession's accountability and authenticity.

As El País approaches its milestone anniversary, Martínez Ahrens stresses that the fight against misinformation is urgent and ongoing. The challenge lies not just in presenting facts, but in reinforcing a trust-based relationship with readers. This approach, he argues, is crucial in a landscape where the media is often challenged by competing narratives that seek to undermine established truths, making the defense of good journalism more essential than ever.