A lamentable derby

The occasional elbow-barrel exchange between the media is normal, especially in a media landscape where major newspapers are more entangled in politics than necessary. But when the spat ceases to be between newspapers and becomes one between professionals, it is a clear sign that the degradation of formalities has reached a new level. The Country published this Tuesday a note signed by the editorial committee in which it deplored an anonymous article that appeared in The World in which the names of several journalists from the Prisa group were mentioned who, according to their account, participated in a rescue operation to assist Attorney General García Ortiz. They say that these professionals only testified as witnesses and that, therefore, they stuck to the truth because this is their democratic duty (well, and because lying is a crime). And they emphasize that the judge's ruling does not contradict their account. But in Can Mundo, the account is different: they emphasize the doubts about their credibility that they raise in the investigative judge and accuse them of trying to divert attention with an allegedly false news story that has nothing to do with the procedure. They don't say so, but it is a news story published by The World titled "The Prosecutor's Office offers Ayuso's partner a deal to admit to two tax offenses." The note fromThe Country He insists on calling it a "ball".

The case is only understandable to the very experienced. Between what's left unsaid about the miseries themselves and some insinuations, only those with a PhD in hermeneutics can grasp the detailed implications of it all. But amidst this barely intelligible crosstalk, one undeniable feeling surely remains: that journalism is mired in politics up to its neck. Not all the drama in the sector is social media.