The King of Spain praised the career of Argentine Jorge Fernández Díaz by awarding him the Mariano de Cavia Prize.

The King of Spain, Felipe VI , praised this Tuesday the extensive career of Argentine writer and journalist Jorge Fernández Díaz , who received this afternoon the 'Mariano de Cavia' award granted by the Spanish newspaper ABC.

The Spanish monarch participated in the presentation dinner for the 'Mariano de Cavia', 'Luca de Tena', and 'Mingote' awards, which in their 105th edition went to Fernández Díaz, Spanish journalist Carlos Alsina, and Spanish photographer Txema Rodríguez , respectively.

Felipe VI had words of recognition for the three award winners and, regarding Fernández Díaz, who received the award for the article "Welcome to Right-Wing Populism," published in La Nación on April 14, 2024, he highlighted the "audacity" with which he expresses himself, as well as the fact that "he analyzes everything he observes with complete sincerity."

"Nothing is foreign to him in his profession as a columnist, and he always communicates with direct, respectful, and straightforward prose ," he added.

During the gala, the king urged journalists "not to give in to noise and acceleration" and to report responsibly, since, in his words, "only in this way are democracies strengthened."

"In a context in which society constantly demands information and the news supply is overwhelming, journalism must retain its essence: reporting truthfully, promoting public debate and stimulating critical thinking ," requested Felipe VI.

Accompanied by his wife, Queen Letizia, the Spanish head of state recognized the good work of journalists , which he described as "responsible, honest, and rigorous." Without it, he asserted, "society would lose the very foundation of its capacity to discern and decide."

"You, as information professionals, must continue promoting the best journalism , the kind that does not renounce its principles," he argued.

Moved, the Argentine journalist and writer read a speech of acceptance and stated: "It is a great honor for me to receive this award in the land of the greatest columnists this language has ever produced, masters of whom I was and remain a fervent reader ."

The author of the unforgettable Mamá , explained that he received the distinction " on behalf of the faithful infantry of journalism : I was once one of them too and I grew up in a newsroom; I am referring to the reporters who are on the ground all day long, who manage to filter to us the most sensitive information hidden by those in power and who keep this uncomfortable and cursed profession alive , yet so essential to a democracy."

The award fortuitously served as a remarkable birthday present, as the journalist celebrates his 65th birthday this Tuesday.

Fernández Díaz is one of the country's most influential political analysts and a notable writer , a two-pronged career that spans 40 years as a police reporter, editor and media director, and a narrator of thrilling fictions such as the police trilogy starring Agent Remil ( El puñal, La herida and La traición ) and unforgettable family novels such as Mamá (2002), a fictionalized chronicle about his mother that received the Medal of Hispanic Heritage. This year, his novel El secreto de Marcial won the latest Nadal Prize.

" We are also heading toward a world of lies , in which not only governments and their online fanatics will deceive, but also pressure and interest groups: all of them will make massive and malicious use of Artificial Intelligence," Fernández Díaz warned at the end of his speech.

And he added: "Reliable, old-fashioned journalism will continue to be the only way to effectively determine what is reality and what is fake. In a world where lies are the law, truth will continue to be a noble business ."