El Mundo (Spain)

Infobox Newspaper
name = El Mundo (El Mundo del Siglo Veintiuno)


caption =
type = Daily newspaper
format = Tabloid
foundation = 23 October 1989, as "El Mundo del Siglo Veinte"
ceased publication =
price = €1.30 daily in Spain
owners = Unidad Editorial S.A.
publisher = Pedro J. Ramírez
editor = Pedro J. Ramírez
language = Spanish
political = Classical liberalism (self-described)Fact|date=July 2008
circulation = 330,634 daily in 2006 [Figures covering January to December 2006 from [http://www.introl.es/f_alta.htm Oficina de Justificación de la Difusión] , accessed April 26, 2007.]
headquarters = Pradillo 42, 28002 Madrid ESP
ISSN =
website = [http://www.elmundo.es/ www.elmundo.es]

"El Mundo" (Spanish for "The World", full name "El Mundo del Siglo Veintiuno", "The World of the 21st century") is the second largest daily newspaper in Spain and one of the newspapers of record in this country, with a circulation topping 330,000. It first appeared on October 23, 1989, founded by Alfonso de Salas, Pedro J. Ramírez (who still serves as publisher and editor), Balbino Fraga and Juan González. It has maintained a self-defined liberal (in the sense of classical liberalism) editorial line.Fact|date=July 2008

It has its headquarters in Madrid, but maintains several news bureaux in outlying cities and different editions are printed for regions such as Andalusia, Valencia, Castile and Leon, the Balearic Islands, Bilbao, etc. Unlike other Spanish newspapers, its editor, Pedro J. Ramirez, is a very prominent public figure who has become totally identified with the paper in the eyes of the public.

Political impact

"El Mundo" has played a key role in uncovering several scandals. Among them was embezzlement by the Guardia Civil commander, Luis Roldán, and the governor of the Central Bank of Spain, Mariano Rubio, who was accused of insider trading and tax fraud. "El Mundo" also gave publicity to connections between the terrorist Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación (GAL) and the socialist administration of Felipe González, a news story that contributed to the defeat of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party in the 1996 elections.

In October 2005, "El Mundo" revealed that Nazi Aribert Heim (aka "Doctor Death") had been living for 20 years in Spain, probably due to help to ODESSA network, among whom were the henchmen of Otto Skorzeny, who had helped set up one of the most important ODESSA bases in former dictator Francisco Franco's Spain.

Since the 11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings, "El Mundo", "La Razón" newspaper, the regional Telemadrid TV station and radio station COPE alleged that there were inconsistencies in the explanation given by the Spanish judiciary about the bombings; other Spanish media, such as "El País", "ABC" and radio station Cadena SER accuse "El Mundo" and the other media of manipulation over this issue.

The allegations made by "El Mundo" were dismissed by the final report of the investigation committee.

External links

* [http://www.elmundo.es/ Official site]

References