The journalistic 'match' of ARA and the subscribers

BarcelonaHow is a newspaper made? What does the person hiding behind the byline we read every day look like? These questions, and many others, were answered at the ARA's Summer Party, which took place this Wednesday and included original speed dating sessions between subscribers and journalists from the company. It was the first time this activity had been held, and on both sides, the same nerves were detected that surface on a romantic date, although in this case the participants were not risking as much as supposed sentimental happiness.

In the Machine Room of the Antiga Fàbrica Damm, thirteen tables were set up, each with two chairs. On one side, a prominent signatory of ARA, such as Empar Moliner, Ignasi Aragay, Jordi Nopca, Juanjo Sáez, or the newspaper's director, Esther Vera. On the other, a subscriber who had four minutes to chat and ask any questions they had about the newspaper. And, as is the norm for speed dating, four rounds to meet as many people as possible.

As in real life, the rapid journalistic quotes were an example of diversity. There were subscribers from all over: Martorell, Sabadell, and Olot, among other places. There were readers from the very first issue, but also new members of the ARA community. One of the veterans recalled the excitement he felt when he experienced the birth of ARA and realized that he had finally found "his newspaper" after many years of reading other publications that didn't quite suit him. "I've been a subscriber since day one," he exclaimed, while confessing his favorite daily article: "I'm a big fan of the "Stop machines, seems like a very meritorious column".

The admiration and fascination between journalists and readers were reciprocal. Empar Moliner ended the first meeting excitedly recounting the story of the first subscriber she had met, a man with a visual disability who had to make great efforts to read, but who did not give up. "I read with the computer, because that way I can make the font large. I can't read on paper, only the headlines," the subscriber explained to Moliner. Jordi Nopca was talking with two women who declared themselves fans. "I read everything you write, line by line," says one of the interlocutors, who was accompanied by a friend who had just become a subscriber.

After four rounds of speed dating, the journalistic love was already palpable and the matches were certified with photos that immortalized the moment, such as the one requested by one of the readers to the head of the International section, Francesc Millán.