The image of El País: between seriousness and indoctrination
The country is presented as a bastion of serious journalism, fighting disinformation and fake news. However, under this appearance, a publishing line is often hidden, which is often diverted to systematic indoctrination, similar to the strategies of totalitarian ideologies. The distinction lies in its selection of topics, focusing on issues that Taboo considers.
Examples of manipulation: the Catholic Church as a goal
A remarkable case is the constant coverage of El País on the Catholic Church, which is often presented as the main focus of sexual abuse of minors. This narrative ignores that documented cases are relatively scarce compared to the total abuse. Despite this, the newspaper has stated that 430,000 people were victims of the Church, a figure that is not based on the report of the people’s defender and has been disseminated by other means without any verification.
LGTBI Groups: A new stage of misinformation
Currently, the country has resumed its indoctrination strategy with topics related to LGBTI groups. A report from an observatory linked to the state states that the aggressions to these people have increased exponentially, reaching 800,000 incidents reported. This statement is based on a survey of a company that also works with the country, and the result is a manipulation of the data that distorts reality.
Inflation of numbers and lack of foundation
The methodology of this survey is questionable, as it applies percentages to a population that is considered greater than what is really. Estimates on the LGBTI population in Spain are much lower than it is presented, with a figure that does not exceed 5%. Thus, the number of aggressions has been swollen considerably.
The case of Begoña Gómez: a significant omission
Another example of this misinformation is in the treatment that the country has given to the case of Begoña Gómez, wife of President Pedro Sánchez. An article in the newspaper focused on a court ruling that limited Judge Peinado’s investigation, but he omitted crucial details that questioned Gómez’s conduct. In contrast, other media presented the information much more completely, revealing the serious implications of their behavior.
The need for citizen consciousness
The misinformation that surrounds us is a worrying reality. In a context where power can manipulate information at will, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the average citizen to discern the truth. Resistance to this manipulation is essential to guarantee an informed society, which can enjoy real democracy and significant freedom.