(Originally Published in Barcelona Metropolitan, March 2008)

A silent battle rages on the streets of Barcelona as the sparse forces of Vendor volley against those of the mighty Distributor, enforced through its secret alliance with the Fourth Estate. It has all the makings of a historic drama, except that the characters are people that few would choose to think about: The news-seller who grimaces in the shade of hanging magazine racks and Chupa-Chup displays; the bespectacled newspaper directors who spend their days either in meetings or preparing reports; and the tubby, dusty bosses that distribute their newspapers and magazines.

The opening sally of this battle began on December 20th, 2007, when “in response to an announced surcharge for delivery”about one-hundred kiosk owners refused to accept the Catalan daily, Avui, from its distributor, Marina Press. Only for one day. The next day, it was Mundo Deportivo. The day after that, it was La Vanguardia. Then, a variety of magazines. Marina Press responded by cutting off delivery completely to these kiosk owners; and it was joined by its other major competitor, Logistica de Medios Catalunya, who distributes El Periodico, among other publications.

Up until that point, kiosk owners were fragmented in their stance regarding this sudden and unprecedented charge for delivery. But the unified response by the two major distributors was viewed as Draconian by all and a general strike was called for the last three days of the year. Eighty percent closed their persianas while the rest refused to accept delivery from Marina Press and Logistica de Medios. Thus, from the 29th through the 31st of December, 2007, the only way to get La Vanguardia and El Periodico in Barcelona was through home delivery.

On the surface, it appears to be a dispute between distributors and kiosk owners. So it would seem odd that the major newspapers would publish absolutely nothing at all about a total freeze-out of the largest-selling newspapers in Barcelona. It would seem odd, that is, if you didn’t happen to know that the distributors and the publications involved can all be jumbled together under one of two umbrellas: Grupo Godó and Grupo Zeta.

La Vanguardia and its distributor, Marina Press, are owned by the same parent holding company, Grupo Godó ³, which also owns Avui, Mundo Deportivo, and Què Fem, among other magazines. And in a strange manifestation of symmetry, El Periodico and its distributor, Logistica de Medios, is owned by Grupo Zeta, which also owns Diaro Sport, Interviú, and Tiempo, among many others.

Kiosk owners are now unified in their stance against these giants. A lawsuit has been levelled at the distributors by La Asociación Profesional De Vendedores De Prensa De Barcelona. None of the parties involved is willing to talk to the press, apparently through fear of compromising its position with public comments. However, Agusti, a quiosquero who preferred to remain anonymous, was more than willing to explain his side.

“Monopolies are supposedly illegal in this country, but” Agusti cut himself off and gave a meaningful stare. “Technically they’re not a monopoly. But they sure act like it. We work 363 days a year, all day long. We get 20% of what we sell and the cost of living doesn’t rise on a newspaper, it’s been a euro since 2002. Altogether, the distributors want 600€ a month. We’d have to sell one-hundred papers a day just to pay the distributor. Impossible. It doesn’t coincide with any other sector. I couldn’t imagine Coca-Cola charging a bar to deliver their product. Here, in this sector, they act like they’re doing you a favor to let you sell their merchandise.”