Last Friday, 3rd February, journalist Iñaki Gabilondo demanded ‘a good journalism, addressed to human beings. A journalism which seems to be lost in the big amounts of money, burocracy, politics, vested interests and power wars.’ These Gabilondo’s were part of his appointment ceremony as doctor ‘honoris causa’ by Universitat de València. The Principal, Esteban Morcillo, stressed that Gabilondo is the first journalist receiving this mention in the academic institution.
The event took place in the Facultat de Medicina i Odontologia’s Aula Magna, filled to capacity. The ceremony could be followed in the Facultat de Filologia, Traducció i Comunicació as well. Josep Lluís Gómez Mompart, full university professor in journalism, was in charge of the ‘laudatio’.
In his speech, Gabilondo expressed his ideal of perfect journalism, a field where he has excelled for forty decades: ‘a journalism which passionately embraces human vicissitudes. A real wold journalism, where noble causes don’t make laugh.’ ‘A journalism daring to deal with today’s world transformations and attrackting people to let them know what affects them crucially: our wold and human race’s challenges, climatic change, water scarcity, food war and emigration.’ All in all, it should be ‘a journalism discovering the new great narrators, who will be in charge of following the wonderful innovations generated in the macrocosm and microcosm turning our lives upside down.’ He concluded that ‘Good journalism helps humans to change from conscience to consciousness-raising.’
Iñaki Gabilondo’s speech can be read clicking here.
In his turn, The Principal, Esteban Morcillo, explained that Iñaki Gabilondo ‘is the first journalist’ receiving the mention in the Universitat. ‘The Universitat de València wants to enhace the university level status of journalism studies as well as claims the role of the university in educating these professionals.’ He added that ‘At the same time that we are paying a tribute to a great journalist, we are showing our respect and recognition to the profession he represents.’
According to Esteban Morcillo, ‘it is not possible to have a quality journalism without well trained journalists, who are able to work in an ethical and autonomous way, who are decently paid and work in entities willing to face their social responsabilites. No modern society can wash its hands of its responsabilities with journalists without being damaged.’
The Principal’s speech can be read clicking here.
Josep Lluís Gómez Mompart defined Gabilondo’s professionality as ‘a result of intelligence, commitment, talent and a rigorous dedication.’ Iñaki Gabilondo, said Gómez Mompart, ‘does no falsify or distort words, he complies with the principles governing clear communication as this is his responsibility as a professional.’ He concluded that ‘Curiously, Gabilondo’s credibility is based on doubt, which is an unequivocal signal of modesty and intelligence. It shows either having no revealed truth nor all-encompassing ideology.’
The ‘laudatio’ can be read clicking here.
José Ignacio Gabilondo Pujol (known as Iñaki Gabilondo, born in San Sebastián in 1942) is a television and radio from 1963. He graduated in journalism at the Universidad de Navarra. He has been in leading positions most of the time, like his post in Radio Popular in San Sebastián, Radio San Sebastián, Radio Sevilla, Cadena SER in Madrid, Televisión Española, Radio-TV 16, Cuatro TV, Canal plus and currently he participates in El País and on Cadena SER with the blog "La voz de Iñaki".
Among his most popular programmes are ‘Hora 25’ and ‘Hoy por hoy’ (during 19 years) in the Cadena SER, ‘Noticias Cuatro’ and ‘Hoy’ de Canal +. He has also been head of the TVE news when the 1981 coup d’état took place. He has written some books, as ‘Testigo de la historia’ (2005), ‘Verdades como puños’ (2009) and ‘El fin de una época. Sobre el oficio de contar las cosas’ (2011).
He has received many national and international awards because of his outstanding career like Premio Ondas (six times), the radio prize Ortega y Gasset, Gonzalo de Berceo prize, the Turia prize of journalism, the Club Internacional de Prensa’s prize, Francisco de Cerecedo, the Luis Carandell for parliamentary journalism or the Clara Campoamor prize. His professional integrity and democratic willingness has been also recognized with several mentions and honours such as Ghandi, the most important mention from UNESCO for peace and non violence actions.
Last update: 6 de february de 2012 09:11.
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