Separating the Noise From the Substance

Pablo Pardo discusses with the FOREIGN PRESS the differences between reporting in the U.S. and Spain, the importance of community in journalism, and his book “El Monstruo: Memories of an Interrogator”. 

Where are you currently reporting and with what outlets? 

I am currently reporting from Washington, D.C. for El Mundo. 

Where did you study? 

Universidad de Navarra (Pamplona, Spain) and SAIS (Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC). 

How long have you been a journalist for? 

28 years and 9 months! 

How long have you been reporting in the U.S.? 

Exactly today is my 18th anniversary since I sent my first piece to Spain. 

What are some major topics you’ve covered recently in reporting from the United States? 

A lot of economics, finance, Wall Street, and energy; and then the usual D.C. stuff: White House, Congress, and campaigns. 

Why do these topics interest you in particular? 

I am weird -- I like Economics. Even more so -- I think Economics can be fun (not economists, of course). Politics in the U.S. is more fun than in Europe because here there aren't really political parties, so everything is more dynamic (or chaotic, it is in the eye of the beholder). 

Are there any parallels you can draw between covering the U.S. government and your own?

Little, really. The U.S. political system is in my view rather different from Spain's. Also, when I was in Spain my beat was international economics, so I have limited experience in dealing with the Spanish government other than in summits, IMF, etc. 

What were some challenges you faced while covering the Trump administration? Did you ever feel censored in the U.S.? 

The biggest challenge during the Trump administration was the gigantic amount of news, and the often contradictory policy statements and positions in the administration. It was difficult to separate the noise from the substance. I had problems covering the 2016 campaign when I was barred from Trump's meetings for reasons that I still don't know, and that have probably more to do with chaos and disorganization than with anything else (still, I snuck into the rallies as part of the public, which was more fun). 

Over the past few years there’s been a growing popularity of mistrust in journalists and mainstream media. Do you feel your country is affected by this?

Totally. I have been widely insulted in social networks and in the comments section of my pieces. 

Do you feel your own reporting is affected? 

Not really. 

Do you think that with the Biden administration, these feelings may change?

To some extent, yes. But Trump/QAnon followers will continue to be very aggressive. 

What do you enjoy about being a foreign correspondent in America?

Everything. This country is a lot of fun. Americans used to be more accessible than Europeans (I think this has changed in the last few years). 

Pablo Pardo

What was the most interesting part of writing your book “El Monstruo”?

Everything. It was an opportunity to know about how it is really being in a war. The most shocking thing was seeing how haphazard and clumsy the intelligence operations in Afghanistan and Iraq were -- carried out by twenty-somethings with little training and understanding of the local culture, very far from what we had seen on tv.

What was your introduction to the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents? How do you feel their work benefits journalists? 

I think I discovered the Association through Bricio Segovia. I think it is a critical organization. Foreign correspondents are oftentimes ignored by the U.S. Administration and Congress, especially if we do not come from English-speaking countries or, perhaps, Mexico. The huge workload we have makes it very difficult to invest time and resources in cultivating sources, contacts, etc., and navigating all the bureaucracy for credentials and so on. Having a network of support and exchange is of paramount importance.