El País

El País is a prominent Spanish-language daily newspaper based in Madrid, Spain. It serves as a national newspaper of record, meaning it is a primary source for official and important news within the country. Owned by the Spanish media conglomerate PRISA, it holds the distinction of being the most circulated daily newspaper in Spain. Furthermore, it is the most widely read newspaper in the Spanish language online.

The publication plays a critical role in the media landscape of the Spanish-speaking world.

The newspaper operates through a complex network of editorial offices and bureaus. While its headquarters and central editorial staff are located in Madrid, the paper maintains a presence in several other Spanish cities. These include Seville, Valencia, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, and Barcelona. To provide international coverage, El País maintains bureaus in Mexico City, Bogotá, Santiago de Chile, and Washington, D.C. It also employs a reporting team in Brussels. This global structure allows the paper to produce various editions, including an America edition with specific sub-editions for Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina.

Historically, El País was founded in May 1976 by a team at PRISA. This group included Jesus de Polanco, José Ortega Spottorno, and Carlos Mendo. The paper's design was handled by Reinhard Gade and Julio Alonso. It published its first edition on May 4, 1976. This timing was significant because it occurred six months after the death of the dictator Francisco Franco. As Spain began its transition to democracy, El País emerged as the first pro-democracy newspaper. At that time, most other Spanish newspapers were still influenced by Franco's ideology. The first editor-in-chief was Juan Luis Cebrián.

The paper's early years were marked by both rapid growth and political instability. In its first year, circulation reached 116,600 copies, rising to 138,000 by 1977. However, the paper faced danger in 1978 when a far-right terrorist attack caused structural damage to its building and resulted in one death and several injuries. Despite this, the paper's reputation as a defender of democracy grew. This was solidified during the attempted coup d'état on February 23, 1981. During this crisis, when parliament members were held hostage, El País published a special edition called "¡Por la Constitución!" to support democratic processes. For its role in the transition, it was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Communication and the Humanities in 1983.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, El País maintained high circulation numbers. In 1993 and 1994, it was the best-selling newspaper in Spain, with circulations of 401,258 and 408,267 copies respectively. By the period of 1995–1996, circulation reached 420,934 copies. In 2001, the paper reached a circulation of 433,617, and it hit 435,298 the following year. The paper has also been recognized for its journalistic standards. It was the first Spanish daily to establish internal quality control and create the role of "Reader's Advocate." In 1986, it received the Four Freedoms Award for the Freedom of Speech from the Roosevelt Institute.

The newspaper has faced various challenges and controversies over the decades. In 2004, following terrorist attacks in Madrid, the editor-in-chief incorrectly attributed the bombings to the group ETA before correcting the report the next day. In 2013, the paper published a report regarding the health of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez that included an incorrect photograph. It also faced criticism from the UK Parliament's fake news committee regarding its reporting on the 2017 Catalan independence referendum. Additionally, the paper has dealt with political polarization, facing accusations from the People's Party and other media regarding its relationship with the PSOE government. In 2021, the Brazilian edition was discontinued due to a lack of financial sustainability.

Today, El País continues to expand its reach to different audiences. In 2024, it developed El País US, a new edition aimed at Hispanic readers in the United States. This edition provides news to help them interpret their reality and aspirations. The paper also offers El País English, which is a selection of articles from its various editions. The leadership of the paper has evolved over time, including the appointment of Soledad Gallego-Díaz as the first female editor in 2018. The publication remains a central pillar of Spanish journalism and a key connection for Spanish speakers globally.