I give an account. Annual balance sheet

The heading of the annual report of the Reader's Ombudsman must be one of gratitude to the 235 people who have sent me their complaints, both to those who have seen them commented on in my chronicles and to those I have not been able to address publicly, but which I have read, valued and, as much as I could, conveyed to the editorial staff. The time frame of the analysis runs from May 5, 2025, to June 7, 2026, and the results and assessments were presented to the editorial board on September 17.You will find the data in the infographic, so I am conveying my reflections accordingly.The preliminary idea is that the Reader's Ombudsman, being a container for criticism, inspired by the Ombudsman's Office and in general by the ombuds, one must not fall into the synecdoche syndrome, where the negative part is extensible to the entire newspaper; quite the contrary, we start from the premise that the journalistic product is good and that the criticisms have great qualitative value and help us to improve it. I find this consideration in various communications, as well as, a contrario sensu, there are readers who give us one last chance not to stop reading us or to cancel the subscription.The complaints referring to management are high not because of inherent deficits but because, although they occasionally refer to sections, they raise inductive, global, editorial line issues rather than a specific topic. I will provide two of the most frequent cases. The primarily metropolitan outlook to the detriment of certain regions, especially of the “New Catalonia,” as if a historical curse were reincarnated in an ink ectoplasm. The second case is that of the contradiction of sponsored content which, nevertheless, is signed corporately by ARA or the editorial staff. I will dedicate more attention to this very complex issue, which affects the Code of Ethics and has more scope at the Catalonia Information Council, contrasting it with the delicate position of some newspapers –not only ARA– that must manage this generalized demand for advertising, which is a source of income that contributes to the viability of the free press.I highlight the high level of the criticism I receive, which involves us in an intellectual recycling of journalism. And I thank the management for having addressed them all, just as I equally appreciate the fair play of the journalists who have always responded to my requests for verification, even though attending to the Readers' Editor who brings some correction is not a flattering interaction.I also thank the twelve professional experts in various subjects to whom I have asked for opinions of auctoritas and who, placed side by side in this balance mode, paint a true roll of honor of different areas of knowledge, an expert list of quality that provides an external look at the dialogue-debate between readers and journalists.The comments in the language section go beyond grammatical corrections, which have other channels of expression. However, for the damage control that I see from the proscenium, regarding errors not only of language, I have suggested recycling the old figure of the "galley proofreader," an experienced professional who performs a final reading at least before the printing press perpetuates blunders until the enduring life of the newspaper archives.Comments about the language show a special interest from readers and demonstrate linguistic militancy, the language factor as content in itself. The Catalan language comes from having had to fight to stay alive against the linguistic annihilation policy of a dictatorship, and it still carries problems of intolerance. However, the need for self-affirmation responds with great dynamic potential, with activism, with constant regeneration, with diverse visions in agreements and disagreements, but always enriching, and newspapers, as the main producers of language, are a key part of it. That is why I also thank the readers who raise linguistic questions with me, in my balance sheet practically neck and neck numerically with those related to the mothers of all controversies: politics and opinion.The criticisms of the subscription department refer to poor distribution, digital re-identifications to read an article, and advertising intrusions. “My kingdom is not of this world,” to put it evangelically: logistics are not within my remit, which is focused on content, but, even so, I have taken note, I have passed the criticisms on to the appropriate people, and I have expressed my concern about all of this to the management.I end by redoubling my gratitude to all the readers who have placed their trust in me, who are the essence of this section that has now been running for two years.The Reader's Editor takes note of doubts, suggestions, criticisms, and complaints regarding the newspaper's content in its digital and print editions, and ensures that the treatment of information is in accordance with codes of ethics.To contact the Reader's Ombudsman you can send an email to eldefensor@ara.cat or record a message of no more than one minute to the WhatsApp number 653784787. In all cases, identification with name, surname and ID number is required.