El Faradio

"You are really reflecting the city I live in." When he read this message from a reader, journalist Oscar Allende knew he was sailing in the right direction. In 2012, convinced that the way of telling the reality by traditional media did not fit with what was happening in the streets of his community, he decided to found an independent digital media, El Faradio.

Allende and fellow journalist Guillem Ruisánchez founded it to change the news agenda and talk about issues that were not in the traditional local media, such as the stories of the most vulnerable people, those affected by the financial crisis, or those affected by evictions. The media outlet also gives visibility to people in the cultural and social sphere who do not appear in the traditional media. "We also bring a more critical voice to companies and institutions," Allende said.

El Faradio employs two people and a part-time collaborator. It is supported by the contributions of its 180 members and by income from advertising and communication services.

It has a daily morning radio programme in which the organisation reviews the life of the province of Cantabria and its capital, Santander. The radio is an additional channel to reach the audience and diversify advertising revenues.

During its first 10 years, the organisation has created a community of people with whom the newsroom interacts by email, telephone, or face-to-face. The team also holds an annual meeting with its members. "Our most important milestone has been to survive," Allende acknowledged.

The organisation has received awards for its work on disabilities, the environment (special mention), the LGBTIQ+ community, social rights, and development cooperation, as well as an investigative journalism award aimed at the publication of a book on urban planning and its social impact in Santander.

Last updated: January 2023