This editorial initiative, presented as a new vertical of Línia, the metropolitan newspaper, aims to address the communication gap and media void affecting the migrant community, which accounts for over 300,000 residents in Barcelona. The project seeks to establish itself as a service, dialogue, and social fabric-building space between migrants and local and national institutions.
“"Barcelona is indebted in terms of building a communicative tool that reclaims the narrative sovereignty of the city, while bringing it closer to one of the fastest-growing and most demographically and economically significant groups. To do it well, one must speak with the communities and not just about them from the distance of statistics or paternalism."
The general director of Grup Comunicació 21 emphasizes the importance of broadening the perspective on migration, understanding it as a struggle for shared prosperity. He adds that the Latin American community contributes significantly to the city's economy and innovation, revitalizing neighborhoods and providing skilled talent to the technological and business sectors.
“"Barcelona cannot afford for a substantial part of its human capital to remain silent or on the informational periphery."
The new media outlet is conceived as a communication vehicle specifically designed for this community, offering a space for representation, connection, and belonging. The goal is to facilitate the participation of the Latin American migrant community in public debate on urban challenges such as housing, education, healthcare, and public services.
El Mercurio de Barcelona will have a clear commitment to Catalan as a tool for integration, with 100% Catalan content and twin editions in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. In addition to news, it will offer a weekly interview with prominent figures, a space for learning Catalan, and opinion columns on migration, integration, and local issues, always from a migrant perspective.
The project also includes the creation of the MERCURIO Award, which will be presented annually to recognize the trajectory of Latin American migrants and the efforts of Barcelona-based entities or individuals in the integration of the community. The Minister of Equality and Feminism of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Eva Menor, will present the first award on June 15 at Espai Línia in Barcelona.
