On Wednesday 13 June, Vanity Fair, advised by Proa Comunicación, held a #DesayunoVF at the Hotel Orfila with Iñaki Gabilondo and the Director of Vanity Fair, Alberto Moreno, on the occasion of the awarding of the II VANITY FAIR INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM AWARD to the prestigious journalist.
During the breakfast, a tribute to journalism, as well as calling for the immediate dismissal of the current Minister of Culture and Sport, Gabilondo reviewed various current issues such as:
- Women in journalism: "women are the most dynamic group in society". The journalist believes that "we will remain in prehistory as long as we do not resolve key issues in the feminist struggle, such as work-life balance".
- The future of the news business: "I believe that journalism needs to invest and spend, but only by paying can journalism be world class. Free everything is a charming illusion, but it is totally impossible.
- The Lopetegui case to which he expressed his surprise: "Lopetegui has all the ingredients of madness".
- Political news: "tax fraud cannot be considered a problem of the past". Moreover, he recalled that this argument was also used in the past with the GAL.
- The Royal Household: "Some branded Felipe VI a radical because of the firewall he established with his sister, but it has been shown that he was intelligent.
- Even his current "real curiosity in the context of the extraordinary effervescence of the ever-changing world we live in". He also stressed the need for research and resources to be devoted to education.
Iñaki Gabilondo, for decades the favourite voice of the Spanish people, received from the hand of Vanity Fair the award in recognition of a successful and professional career, a reference for several generations of journalists.
During his professional career, it should be noted that his radio and television programmes have enjoyed large audiences, marking a milestone with the radio show Hoy por Hoy, has been a leader for almost 20 years. In these years, he has tried to convey the restraint and reflection that has always characterised his journalism, acting as the backbone and integrator of all voices.
He is the protagonist of three books: Witness to History (selection of interviews), The truth as a truism (a review of current politics) and The End of an Era (a book that analyses the threats and greatness of journalism). He has received and continues to receive numerous awards, including four Doctor Honoris Causa degrees in Madrid, Valencia, Lérida and Burgos. A list to which we add our recognition of the man who modernised Spain with a radio station where his indispensable voice always treated his guests, whether they were ordinary citizens or presidents of the Government, as equals.
Presentation of the award
The award ceremony took place during a dinner held last night, 12 June, at the Hotel Santo Mauro, in collaboration with Johnnie Walker Blue Label.
In attendance:
Ángel Garrido, President of the Community of Madrid; Miguel Ángel Oliver, Secretary of State for Communication, Jaime de los Santos, Regional Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sports of the Community of Madrid, Ángel Gabilondo, PSOE Spokesperson in the Assembly, Ignacio Aguado Spokesperson for Ciudadanos in the Assembly, Begoña Villacis, Councillor for Ciudadanos, Andrea Levy, Deputy Secretary for Studies and Programmes of the PP; the designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada with Luis Miguel Rodriguez; the journalists Luis del Olmo, Maria Guerra, Daniel Gavela, Sandra Barneda, David Jimenez; the Excmo. Marquis of San Vicente del Barco, Fernando Martinez de Irujo, as well as representatives of the film industry such as producer Fernando Bovaira and director David Trueba, among others.
Photograph:
Leticia Díaz and Elena Olay.