My name is Sally Edwards, and this summer, I had the pleasure of working as a research fellow at Ethosfera. As an undergraduate studying Government at Harvard and writing for the student paper, The Harvard Crimson, in my spare time, I knew it would be difficult to find an internship which merged both my interests in journalism and political philosophy. When I learned of the fellowship opportunity at Ethosfera, it immediately seemed too good to be true. Spending eight weeks in Madrid, researching ethical journalistic practices and good governance — all the while practicing my Spanish skills — sounded almost unbelievably perfect.
Nevertheless, when I arrived for my first day at the office sandwiched perfectly between Madrid’s Paseo del Arte and Retiro Park, the opportunity proved tangible and authentic. Sitting with office views of Cibeles Palace, I spent my summer working on a host of different research projects for Ethosfera. From conducting in-depth research for Ethosfera’s ethical deliberative space Mejores Empresas, Mejor Democracia to learning the ins-and-outs of the world of think tank start-ups, I was given the privilege of diving head-first into Ethosfera’s world. I had the opportunity to join co-founder and director Dr. Elena Herrero Beaumont and Board President Dr. Julio Aranovich at various meetings, including the launch of Ethosfera’s Ethics Guide for Good Corporate Governance and a meeting of distinguished journalists and editors for Ethosfera’s Media Observatory.
Throughout the summer, I was constantly struck by Ethosfera’s unique guiding philosophy, their fundamental belief that critical thinking and applied ethics held the key to improving individual businesses, communities, and even democracies. At an event at the University of Navarra, senior research fellow Rocio de Lange put it best. She reflected that Ethosfera’s role was not to simply instruct companies or individuals on what the correct course of action is, but rather, accompany them on the journey to identify the moral and ethical course of action – to “Do the right Think.”
The most rewarding part of my time at Ethosfera was writing a 30-page report on the editorial impact of various impactful publications in the U.S. media market. As a senior reporter at The Harvard Crimson, it was fascinating to learn about various media companies’ ethical practices in major print and television outlets. Building on the research conducted by past interns, I analyzed the journalistic capability and content reach of various outlets using the pre-established methodology of Fundación Haz. Under the instructive guidance of both Dr. Herrero-Beaumont and Ms. de Lange, I was able to analyze and rank companies based on their ethically reported editorial impact, as well as develop recommendations to improve companies’ transparency. I know that as I return to campus in a few weeks, I will continue to actively scrutinize the outlets which I read, as well as ponder how I can integrate ethical standards of editorial impact into my work as a reporter.
Beyond the 9-to-5 commitments of working at Ethosfera, I was able to use my time exploring all the art and culture that Madrid had to offer. After leaving the office for the day, I had no shortage of museums, monuments, and exhibitions to explore. I spent my afternoons wandering the halls of the Prado museum, enjoying churros con chocolate at Chocolatería San Gines, or touring the Royal Palace. I even got to celebrate the Spanish EuroCup victory in the Plaza de Colon — an amazing experience which I won’t soon forget! Every day before work, I loved walking through the stately Retiro park, finding a bench in front of the Crystal Palace or the pond and settling in to read a few chapters of a book before the work day. The moment of quiet reflection before the work day was one of my favorite parts of my experience.
Before we went our separate ways, Dr. Herrero-Beaumont invited the Ethosfera team to enjoy a rooftop lunch at the Círculo de Bellas Artes, Ethosfera’s institutional partner. As we enjoyed the views of the city over a sumptuous lunch of boquerones en vinagre, jamón Iberico, and pulpo a la gallega, we took a moment to reflect on the past months’ progress. After Dr. Aranovich congratulated her on the success of her company, Dr. Herrero-Beaumont declared that Ethosfera didn’t belong to her, nor to any of us. Rather, it was a concept that the team had cultivated and shared with the Spanish and international communities. It was my privilege to share in this process over the summer. I know that as I continue my academic career and make my way into the professional world, I will look back on my time at Ethosfera with the utmost fondness and nostalgia.
