Today, 1.7 million inhabitants live in Barcelona. And if we look at its metropolitan area, it's almost four million. Less than half of the people living in Barcelona were born in the city itself. The rest, 55%, come from other parts of Catalonia, Spain, and the world. In fact, one out of every four people living in the city is of foreign origin, with Italy and Colombia leading the ranking. Well, and if we look at who lives here... we should also talk about dogs: there are nearly 175,000 dogs registered in Barcelona. That is, there is almost one dog for every 10 inhabitants. More figures?
In macroeconomic terms ---I'll be brief--- Barcelona represents 34% of Catalan GDP, with 107,699 million euros. The Global Power City Index 2024 (The Mori Memorial Foundation) places Barcelona's global competitiveness in 19th position worldwide and 9th in Europe. There are more than 171,000 companies registered in the city ---by the way, almost the same number of companies as dogs---, 453,568 in the province of Barcelona and 600,000 in Catalonia. The city is a hub of innovation, entrepreneurship, and international talent: it occupies, in fact, the fifth position in Europe in terms of the number of startups. The main sectors? Health (16.9%), business services and software (15.2%); ICT and mobile (5.7%); food (5.2%) and sustainability and energy (5%). It is the most emerging economy in the city and the breadcrumbs that will mark its future.
And I'd like to continue, you know? But I don't want to lose you halfway through the reading, and the deluge of figures that complete the city's photograph is extensive, or infinite if you look at it with curiosity: number of university students (more than 240,000), tourists (15.6 million in 2024), tech hubs, congresses, foreign investment, imports and exports; number of museum visitors, theater premieres, film productions, art galleries, new gastronomic openings ---or centenary restaurants!---, bookstores, social and cultural clubs...
We are talking about a city full of success stories, that could boast much more about its figures, but that often gets lost in self-demand and in the poisoned criticism of political or partisan interests that contaminate the collective imagination of the city. Don't get me wrong, we have transcendental problems and challenges to face, but let's do it from a positive and constructive narrative. Without losing urgency, without falling into complacency. Let's do it with Good News, that remind us that there is a long way to go, yes, but that many things work every day and that should fill our chests with pride. And we are talking about the city of Barcelona, but, on closer inspection, it is extrapolable beyond the cities that embrace the Besòs and Llobregat.
In fact, people are tired of reading negative news. In recent years, in Europe, the number of people who have abandoned the press to escape the excess of negative news has grown. In Spain, for example, 3 out of 10 people avoid reading or watching news "often or very often."
The reason? According to a report by the Reuters Institute, 36% of respondents state that these have a negative effect on their mood. Others point to an excess of information and feel exhausted by the amount of content (29%), and almost 30% point to a lack of credibility. It's no news: the press is suffering a credibility crisis, which will not improve precisely with the disruption of artificial intelligence in the information ecosystem. In fact, Marc Basté recently said in an interview with the Col·legi de Periodistes de Catalunya: "the real battle will be for trust."
"36% of respondents to the Reuters Institute say that news has a negative effect on their mood"
We need good news, true, but also true stories. True Stories. To win back, journalists and media, the trust of those who read us, and of those who have stopped doing so. It is not about whitewashing reality, much less about painting it the color that suits best. Neither pink, nor yellow, nor blue…
The will to have a positive narrative cannot override the truth. Nor should entertainment so often disguise itself as news to reach the general public. People demand truth, and are starting not to swallow many of the pseudo-truths that invade their screens every day, like those idyllic lives presented to us on many social networks while we scroll.
It's simple: Good News. True Stories. This is how we open the doors to this new season at The New Barcelona Post. Welcome to those who read us often, and to newcomers. Very happy to open these doors.