The afternoon session of the first day of the seminar "The challenges of media self-regulation in the face of disinformation", organised by the Faculty of Humanities and Communication Sciences of the CEU Cardenal Herrera University, reflected on self-regulation in the journalistic profession. A round table discussion moderated by Julio Monreal, Director General of Institutional Relations of Levante-EMV/Prensa Valenciana, with the participation of Francisco Javier Galán, member of the Board of Directors of FAPE; Ángel Fernández Millán, Vice-Dean of the Andalusian Association of Journalists; and Agustín Yanel, Secretary General of the Federation of Journalists' Unions (FESP).
During the colloquium, Francisco Javier Galán outlined the major challenges facing the journalistic profession, with an emphasis on social networks and the influence of mobile phones. For Galán, "the telephone is breaking the pre-established model of communication", since when we talk about journalism, we are talking about mobile phones, given that this is "where journalism is done today". However, he also reminded the other speakers that, although journalistic activity has changed, journalism cannot change because "it is part of humanity, as it is an inalienable right".
For his part, Agustín Yanel, who has more than 35 years' experience at Europa Press, agreed with Galán's interpretation when he spoke of the "tyranny of clicks" which, according to him, generates an atmosphere of competition that ends up affecting the final product. However, Yanel focused his reflection on the "lamentable" situation of the journalistic profession due to the "job insecurity suffered as a result of the economic crisis of 2008". Yanel said that the reduction in staff that occurred in the media as a result of the crisis meant that there was no distinction between media, while defending the fact that the media "do not handle a market product, as communication is a constitutional right".
The Vice-Dean of the Andalusian Association of Journalists, Ángel Fernandez, in his speech, gave his view from experience, denouncing the intrusiveness that exists in journalism, as well as stressing the need for the public to know how to differentiate the "large information structures from the disinformation chiringuitos" which, in his opinion, "only contribute to the discrediting of the profession". To this end, and as an example of mechanisms to guarantee the quality of information, he cited an initiative promoted by the Professional Association of Journalists of Andalusia, which has created the Official Register of Digital Media of Andalusia (ROMDA) to ensure that the new digital media follow the code of ethics when it comes to producing quality, fair and contrasted information.
After the individual interventions of the three speakers, a debate was opened among the guests themselves, in which the attendees participated. A debate in which Monreal questioned the role of large corporations in the world of journalism and their duty to society, in response to which Yanel assured that the private media "must carry out a social action, but right now the companies are only going to make money".
The round table concluded with a reflection by Ángel Fernandez, who advocated the prohibition of anonymity on the internet, especially on social networks, as a necessary tool to eradicate fake news which, in the words of the deputy dean of the Andalusian Association of Journalists, "pose a great risk to the credibility of quality journalism".
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