“Honest, rigorous journalism that seeks the truth”, in tune with cooperation and solidarity with countries in the process of developing This is how the director of EL PAÍS, Jan Martínez Ahrens, defined the work of the newspaper in the first, which was attended by the philanthropist, billionaire and co-founder of Microsoft, this Monday in Madrid. “We thank you for joining us in the 50 years of EL PAÍS. Thank you for your fight with the most disadvantaged,” highlighted Martínez Ahrens during his welcome speech, in which the board of directors has supported this meeting that was attended by nearly 400 people, including subscribers, journalists and leaders of
“Five decades later, we are the first Spanish-language newspaper in the world because readers trust us,” founded on May 4, 1976 and today has more than 450,000 subscribers and a community of 27 million followers on social networks.
Martínez Ahrens began his speech by extending his condolences to the relatives of the at least 40 deceased and dozens of injured in the accident, which occurred last Sunday.
The idea that success, beyond economic benefit, implies the obligation to improve society and commit to progress, makes Bill Gates an especially close and admired figure for us.
Jan Martínez Ahrens, director of EL PAÍS
Next, the director highlighted the career of the American philanthropist, from his contribution to the digital revolution of the 20th century to his leadership in the . “Someone who, being the owner of an immense fortune, never lost sight of his commitment to the most disadvantaged,” recognized Martínez Ahrens, who mentioned the key role of the foundation in the fight against diseases in the Global South. “This coherence with values, this idea that success, beyond economic benefit, implies the obligation to improve society and commit to progress, make Bill Gates an especially close and admired figure for us,” he added.
“In these confusing times in which everything seems to be shaky, in which war is growing, in which international solidarity is so scarce, Bill Gates remains true to his values,” he said about the man who was the richest man in the world and who in 2025 announced that he will dedicate his fortune, 200,000 million dollars (171,609 million euros) to humanitarian causes in the next two decades. Bill Gates “has spent most of his life looking forward, trying to change a future that he considers is not etched in stone,” Martínez Ahrens added, drawing a parallel between the work of the philanthropist and the daily desire of EL PAÍS: “The world not only has to be understood and explained: it has to be changed.”
In these confusing times in which everything seems to be shaky, in which war is growing, in which international solidarity is so scarce, Bill Gates stands by his values
Jan Martínez Ahrens, director of EL PAÍS
In addition, he has highlighted the work of Planeta Futuro, the sustainable development and global health section of EL PAÍS that receives support from the Gates Foundation. “He is a reference for the Spanish-language press on issues that affect millions of people in the country: He talks about what almost no one talks about and goes to places that Western journalism hardly frequents,” he said. Planeta Futuro and journalistic alliances in Africa, Latin America, Asia and other regions. Ana Carbajosa, the director of this section, has moderated the conversation with Gates, focused on topics such as the challenges of global health and the possibilities offered by health innovations and
This event with Bill Gates is the first in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of EL PAÍS, which celebrates its first century of life in 2026. After the meeting with the American philanthropist in Madrid, the anniversary events will continue in the Colombian edition of the Hay Festival, which will be held in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) starting on January 29.
