76 SOCIAL RESPONSABILITY
AND SUSTAINABILITY
REPORT
2018
CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT
The chief social responsibility of a media group
such as PRISA is to defend and practice, truthfully
and vigorously, the right to information and
freedom of expression. In this way we contribute
to the growth and development of democratic
societies everywhere we operate. With a view to
guaranteeing the fulfillment of these duties and
the exercise of these rights, El País was a pioneer
from the very outset in Spain in adopting a series
of professional and ethical frameworks such
as the Editorial Statute, Style Book and the independent
Readers’ Editor, which have been subsequently
embraced by all the businesses across
the group and even by other media groups. These
ethical standards have fostered the growth of a
business culture that is rigorous, critical and of
high quality, and that have set the gold standard
in Spain and in the Americas.
Our credibility and prestige are among our greatest
assets, which we place at the service of society.
Since the very outset, PRISA has played the role of
“responsible opinion leader” and watchdog, working
in defense of pluralist democracy, and creating
awareness around the issues that affect us. Our
media have spoken loudly and eloquently – either
through special coverage or by providing free advertising
spaces for NGOs and Foundations – on a
wide number of campaigns and in defense of human
rights.
PRISA content strives to provide truthful, complete,
engaging, timely and high-quality news and
information on a daily basis that enable readers
to understand the world around them and to form
their own opinions. To this end, all Group products
are governed by rigorous quality control when it
comes to the creation and distribution of our content.
The management teams and the editors of
each media outlet evaluate all original content,
bought or syndicated content and advertising,
for both print and digital editions, following the
guidelines set forth in the El País Style Book. The
Style Book establishes the procedures and criteria
that allow us, for example, to check facts and
distinguish news information from opinion, which
must be clearly differentiated at all times. It also
establishes how news and sources must be credited,
whether or not it was written in the field, must
identify the source of both the text and images,
and must be on guard for possible manipulation.
Independence and non-manipulation are not the
only guarantee we offer readers and users, however,
and the treatment and correct use of language
and images are monitored at all times to avoid stereotyping,
discrimination and vulgar expressions.
PRISA Noticias’ news media reject all external
pressure, since the aim of its newspapers and
magazines is to safeguard the interests of readers
by offering quality products and avoiding any type
El País Style Book.