The Catalan government has unveiled a draft law to guarantee the editorial independence of the Agència Catalana de Notícies. The measure aims to end political control and secure stable funding for the agency.
The Catalan government has taken a decisive step to protect the editorial independence of the Agència Catalana de Notícies (ACN), presenting a draft law that would establish the agency’s own legal framework and end direct political oversight. The proposed legislation, expected to be approved by Parliament in 2027, is designed to reinforce ACN’s role as a public news service and ensure its long-term stability.
For the first time in its 26-year history, ACN’s mission, objectives, and legal status will be formally defined. The agency, which began in 1999 in Girona with Carles Puigdemont as its founding director, has evolved from a consortium of local institutions into a fully public company under the Generalitat. The new law responds to a parliamentary mandate to strengthen ACN’s institutional and editorial independence, a move that has been under discussion for nearly a year.
One of the most significant changes is the restructuring of ACN’s governance. The agency’s president will no longer be a government official, but instead will be appointed through a public competition and required to report annually to Parliament. The board of directors will be composed of up to six independent members, with two additional seats chosen by the regional government. The presidency of the board will rotate, aiming to foster pluralism and reduce political interference.
Currently, ACN employs 75 staff members across Barcelona, regional offices, Madrid, and Brussels, led by journalist Eva Arderius. The agency’s annual budget stands at €4.7 million from public funds, supplemented by €1.5 million from subscribers. The new law introduces a program contract to provide a more stable financial framework, allowing ACN to plan beyond a single fiscal year. According to Joan Maria Morros, dean of the Catalan College of Journalists, this financial security is crucial for the agency’s future viability.
The draft law has entered the public consultation phase, with sector organizations invited to submit feedback until mid-September. The text is also available on the Generalitat’s Transparency Portal for public comment. This process is part of a broader trend in Catalonia to address the relationship between politics and public institutions, as seen in recent legislative efforts to regulate other sectors. For example, the region has also moved to restrict speculative housing purchases, a measure detailed in this recent report on Catalonia’s housing market reforms.
ACN’s transformation reflects ongoing debates in Spain about the independence of public media and the need for transparent governance. The agency was originally created to provide news coverage in Catalan for local media outlets, and its credibility has grown steadily over the years. With the new law, ACN is set to gain legal and financial stability, better shielding it from political shifts and ensuring its mission as a public service provider. The legislative process, which began nine months ago, is expected to culminate in parliamentary approval in 2027, marking a significant milestone for media governance in Catalonia.
For context, public news agencies in Spain and across Europe have faced similar challenges regarding political influence and funding. The move to formalize ACN’s independence aligns with broader European standards for public media, which emphasize editorial autonomy and accountability. As the draft law advances, its implementation will be closely watched by media professionals and policymakers interested in the future of independent journalism in the region.
