Yesterday, June 10, the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), in unison with the Gabo Foundation and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), presented the new Master of Continuing Education in Journalism and Democracy. The unprecedented alliance of these three institutions is now going to address 30 pressing contemporary journalistic dilemmas.

The event got underway at the Plaça de Baix with a panel discussion moderated by master program co-director, Laura Ardila; program coordinator and associate professor of journalism, José Luis González-Esteban; President and Vice President of RSF, respectively, Alfonso Bualuz and Edith Rodríguez; director general of the Gabo Foundation, Jaime Abello; and its director of programs, Miguel Montes.

Throughout the discussion, the speakers reflected on the importance of supporting exiled journalism, something that the UMH and Reporters have precisely been doing for the past two years with their ‘Elche, RSF-Safe Space for Freedom of the Press’ initiative. They also emphasized the importance of having 30 distinguished instructors in the program, including renowned figures that include Paloma del Río, Laura Zommer, and Roberto Deniz.

The alliance between these three institutions was formalized in a framework collaboration agreement signed by UMH Vice Rector for Internationalization and Cooperation, Vicente Micol; Director of the Gabo Foundation, Jaime Abello; and the President of RSF-Spain, Alfonso Bauluz.

This event continued with a special program broadcast at the digital studio of Radio UMH and an institutional welcome led by Vice Rector for Economics and Society, María José López; Director of Volunteering, Juana Aznar; Deputy Vice Rector for Communication and UMH Brand Positioning, Alba Ortega; and Director of the Department of Social and Human Sciences, Alicia de Lara González.

The UMH Master of Continuing Education in Journalism and Democracy, given in partnership with the Gabo Foundation and RSF-Spain, is an innovative continuing education program on journalism. This program is bringing together 30 “instructors” from around Ibero-America, including two recipients of UMH honorary doctorates, Rosa María Calaf and Paloma del Río. Over this program’s 30 hands-on training workshops, some of the world’s finest journalists are going to tackle 30 key journalistic dilemmas that are essential to better understanding the current challenges facing both the journalism profession and democracies during these complex times.

Journalist and UMH alumnus, Pablo Miranzo, presents his book, ‘Hasta aquí llegó el agua’ (The Water Was up to Here).

This event also featured the presentation of the book, ‘Hasta Aquí llegó el agua’ (The Water Was up to Here), written by journalist and UMH alumnus, Pablo Miranzo. This book is a compilation of photographs he took in the days after the storm and flash flooding that devastated numerous communities within the Province of Valencia. This book serves as a tribute to the 227 people who lost their lives in the storm.