For years, Javier Negre—one of the most recognized Spanish journalists for his work on judicial and political issues—has been the target of an intense defamation campaign driven by groups aligned with Catalan independence and Podemos. In 2019, several left-wing media outlets and commentators falsely claimed that Negre had been convicted of "fabricating an interview." However, the court ruling makes no reference to such an accusation.
The ruling originated from the unauthorized publication of a photograph belonging to a victim of gender-based violence. Negre himself, who at that time was a contributor to the newspaper El Mundo, warned his superior that the image should not be used, but the final decision to include it was not up to him. The court found that the victim's right to privacy and image had been violated, but at no point did it state that the journalist had falsified statements.
El Mundo's official statement
In response to the wave of misinformation, El Mundo issued a statement on November 20, 2019, clarifying the facts. In that text, the newspaper emphasized that:
- Negre did not fabricate any statements: what was published were authentic expressions from the victim, recorded by the journalist.
- There was audio evidence that demonstrated the truthfulness of the published words.
- The conviction was solely for the unauthorized dissemination of a photograph, not for manipulating information.
The statement was a forceful rebuttal to the false headlines circulating in progressive-leaning media and on social networks.
The investigation that proved his innocence
An independent audit, carried out by the legal consulting firm Broseta at the request of El Mundo, concluded that Negre did not invent the interview. The report verified that the conversation with the first victim of the murderer Sergio Morate was real and that her statements matched word for word with what was published.
