Aniol Rafel's right to be tired

Barcelona"Being an editor may not be the best job in the world, but it is the best job in the world for me." Aniol Rafel, the founder and creator of Periscopi, said this in this same newspaper in 2016. At that time, he had only been publishing under his own label for four years, but he had already established a connection with readers that has continued to grow. the stir caused by the acquisition of Periscope by Group 62 and, therefore, from Planeta: it's news that could have been merely "industry-related," but which I've seen commented on by many people who have no connection to it, beyond being loyal readers of the publisher (who, now that I think about it, God grants them that connection).

To all of them, to all these readers, I'd like to congratulate you. It seems we'll have Periscope for a while, and this is excellent news. Now I see it very clearly, but I'm not hiding it; my initial reaction didn't immediately lead me to this conclusion. Like so many people I've spoken to, I went through an initial shock. Periscope seemed to me to be one of the most solid independent publishers on the Catalan scene, and I needed to read the statement and the interviews that have been conducted with Aniol Rafel in recent hours to understand his reasons. In the Periscope article announcing it, terms like "strategic partner," "structure," "guarantees," and "resources" were already present, and Rafel explained it very well to the journalists who spoke: the passion for publishing doesn't diminish, but financial management and treasury, in the times we live in, become tiresome. It reminded me of what some booksellers tell me: contact with customers, the recommendation side, reading to find out what they recommend—a delightful job. On the other hand, returns, delivery notes, or sales that don't meet expectations can become a nightmare.

Aniol Rafel's explanations exude fatigue, and his words speak of precariousness. In the interview I cited at the beginning, Rafel said he felt lonely working; in 2016, he couldn't afford to keep a team. Currently, there are six people, which is undoubtedly a success and a reflection of their growth, but, at the same time, it will also have an impact on the decision to sell. A team is a huge responsibility, and the publishing market is unstable. It's clear that it's necessary to assess the sector based on this sale, which unfortunately reflects how little it's read, and how little it's read in Catalan. If not even Periscopio can survive as an independent publisher, things are going badly. Today, however, allow me to congratulate Aniol and his team for a decision that will allow them to continue and will surely save them many sleepless nights. Living more peacefully is no small feat. It hurt me to see some phrases saying "Periscopio has been sold," a mixture of disappointment and reproach. I don't think they deserve it. They've given us so much, and now they're trying to hold on in whatever way they see fit. If Aniol Rafel says they'll maintain their identity, it's because he knows it can be so. Let's hope and wish them all the luck in the world. We never lose sight of the fact that being an editor is the best job in the world for them.